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Home › Articles › Breast is Best › The Sweet Tooth Truth

The Sweet Tooth Truth

Does Breastfeeding Cause Cavities?

By Gwen Morrison

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Some researchers believe there is a link between infant caries and breastfeeding. Some have even suggested that mothers wean their babies before the first teeth erupt. This research is being challenged by new studies that show no link to an increased risk for caries in breastfed babies. Contrary to the earlier belief, research now indicates that there may actually be a reduced risk for caries in nursing infants.

Early childhood caries (ECC) is tooth decay that affects babies and young children. Infant caries very often appears as a white, chalky area on the enamel of the tooth. If not treated, the area can soften and cause the breakdown of the tooth structure.

Human Breast Milk Is Not Cariogenic
"I see no relationship between breastfeeding and cavities," says Dr. Brian Palmer, a family dentist from Leawood, Kan. "The fact that we are basically the only mammal that has significant dental decay proves it is what we eat that causes decay not breast milk, [since other mammals exclusively breastfeed their infants]."

Dr. Palmer hasn't been able to find any research that indicates breast milk, when used as the control, causes decay in infants. Most of the studies that suggest a link between breastfeeding and infant caries are population-based studies.

"Figures are juggled, and breastfeeding just happened to get thrown in the numbers as a possible contributing factor," Dr. Palmer says. "Breastfeeding is accused of causing decay based on 'guilt by association' rather than true laboratory studies."

In a 1999 review article on breastfeeding and infant caries, Dr. Pamela Erickson concluded that human breast milk is not cariogenic. It was Dr. Erickson's research which indicated that some infant formulas dissolve tooth enamel, causing tooth decay.

"Statistically, artificial feeding is linked to poorer outcomes in dental health and oral development," says Margaret Wills, IBCLC, a certified lactation consultant from Silver Spring, Md. "Because breastfeeding is just normal and not some magic bullet some breastfed children are going to have dental problems despite being breastfed, but not because of it."

Bacteria Transmission
Wills explains that the selected feeding method is just one variable to consider in dental health. "Sometimes parents or siblings share cavity-causing bacteria early on with a baby," she says. "Sometimes the tooth enamel is imperfect to start with due to heredity or a mother's illness or nutritional deficiencies during gestation."

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