Dear Chris,
    The type of decay you described is common as we age (yes, it's always
something!) and I cannot see this dentist's correlation to a decade of
breastfeeding being the cause.
    Normal tooth shape of the crown part of the tooth usually mirrors the
gumline.
So the enamel part is the portion above the gum.  The root  is made of a less
hard portion called cementum.
    Normal wear, aging and attrition can cause recession of the gums, and
also teeth grinding, he is correct.  Malocclusion (teeth out of line in a
row) can cause recession.  Years of hard brushing with hard unpolished
bristles can cause recession.  A pronounced labial frenum (esp on the bottom)
can pull the tissue and cause recession.  This usually requires a graft of
gum tissue.
    Because the gum is recessed it then exposes the cementum-covered root.
This easily decays.  It can appear notched.  It is not as hard as enamel.  It
is sensitive to heat and mainly cold.  It is common on cuspids since they are
on the curve and get brushed hard and have more bony prominence against the
gingiva.  Hence, the saying "Long in the tooth".
     I did my dental hygiene internship at a VA hospital and saw my fair
share of recessed and decayed teeth.  These men had not been breastfeeding!!!
 I hope your friend will get the treatment she needs but I would bet my eye
teeth the etiology is NOT lactation.

Jan Ellen Brown RDH, IBCLC
Charlotte, NC

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