Hi Everyone,

Re: dental problems caused by breastfeeding ?

> {snip}...during the first month of lactation with her first baby, her teeth
> began to loosen significantly...{snip} The consensus
> was that she was suffering from "severe calcium depletion" due to
> lactation.  She was advised to stop breastfeeding immediately...{snip}
>
> I am quite skeptical of this diagnosis and I would be interested to hear
> some feedback.  Have any of you run across this diagnosis before, and if
> so, what did you make of it?

I haven't come across this diagnosis, but I have come across similar symptoms,
in formula-feeding mothers, in the dental department of a hospital I worked in.
The diagnosis they were given was severe gingivitis, exacerbated by the
hormonal fluctuations of pregnancy.

My own personal experience is that I had this kind of gingivitis (although not
so severely) after my first birth. My dentist assured me it was nothing to do
with breastfeeding, but to do with pregnancy. With regular appointments with the
dental hygeinist, the problem gradually cleared up over the next 6 months.

I too am skeptical of this diagnosis. If it was caused by calcium depletion,
wouldn't a calcium supplement be better than not nursing? We definitely need to
find out more about this from a dental expert who understands that just putting
the baby on the bottle is no answer. Perhaps she should get a second opinion
before she has this baby, and perhaps she could take you along with her to
speak with the doctor?

-
Anna (mummy to Emma, born 17th Jan 1995 and Alice, born 11th Sept 1996)
Web Page: http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna