>Also, does anyone else remember reading a study done on dental carries
>where teeth were dissolved in water, sugar water, breastmilk, and
>breastmilk mixed with sugar water.  The teeth in breastmilk and the teeth
>in water showed no decay, the sugar water showed decay, and the
>breastmilk with sugar water had the worst decay of all.  Did I read this
>on one of LLLI's Breastfeeding Fact sheets?  I did a Medline search and
>wasn't able to find the study...
>

Erickson P.R. & Mazhari E.  Investigation of the role of human breast
milk in caries development.  Pediatric Dentistry 1999 21(2):86-90

"Conclusions
 From this study, we conclude that:
1.  Human breast milk (HBM) does not cause a significant pH drop in plaque.
2.  HBM supports moderate bacterial growth.
3.  Calcium and phosphorus are actually deposited onto enamel powder
after incubation with HBM.
4.  The buffer capacity of HBM is very poor.
5.  HBM is not cariogenic in an in vitro model, unless another
carbohydrate source is available for bacterial fermentation."

The paper is well worth reading in its entirety.

Margaret
Longmont, CO

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