1. Teeth can withstand exposure to breastmilk for only so many months. (I
don't remember the number she said, maybe 18?). After that time, they will
decay. (Since my son hadn't reached that theoretical time, yet, her point
was: his teeth are OK now, but it's only a matter of time as long as you
continue to bf.)

This is the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard in my life.  Well, OK, maybe not
the VERY dumbest, but RIGHT UP THERE.  Send me her name and address and I
will write her an excruciatingly polite letter, and send her a copy of "A
Time to Wean" and ask her to please explain why bioarcheologists report that
it is extremely rare to find ANY cavities in the deciduous teeth of children
from prehistoric times.  Likewise, why do children in Third World countries
manage to nurse for 3-5 years without having their teeth rot??

My Alex has crummy enamel, as do I, as does my mother -- it's a genetic
thing, folks -- and also had very crenellated (lots of pits and fissures)
molars and had to have anesthesia and multiple cavities filled at around age
2.5.  He nursed until just over 5, has not had any further decay.  His teeth
are all just fine.  Miranda did not inherit the crummy enamel (thank
goodness, neither did Peter), and nursed until she was 4 and has had two
cavities in her whole life.

I suppose this dentist tells mothers to wean at 18 months, but doesn't tell
them they shouldn't give their children Pepsi, or Kool-aid, or apple juice,
or raisins (cavity causer extra-ordinaire), or candy or cookies or Twinkies.
These sorts of ideas DRIVE ME NUTS.  CAN YOU TELL????  Send me that woman's
name and address.  She won't know what hit her.

Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology and Nutrition
Texas A&M University
Co-editor of "Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives"