Maybe it sounds reasonable but it really isn't necessary.  At all.
 Breastmilk doesn't pool in the baby's mouth.  Bacteria feeds on sugar
and the sugar in breastmilk is not the ideal food for the bacteria that
causes cavities.  Breastmilk has an antibacteria component, as well.
 Breastfeeding at night helps the mouth to stay moist--a dry mouth
lowers the pH which makes the mouth a better environment for bacteria.
 I also don't think that a wipe of gauze would remove all bacteria from
a mouth--that's simply not logical, as bacteria is in all parts of the
mouth, the tongue, gums, etc.

I just did a lot of research on this very issue, for the article that
appeared in the last issue of New Beginnings.  Mothering also had an
article on this topic in September, I think.  Also go to
http://www.brianpalmerdds.com/Default.htm.  Maybe share this information
with your dentist.  I think his information is at the least outdated.
 Caries are called by lots of things, but they are not caused by
breastmilk or breastfeeding, even at night.

Respectfully

Joylyn

EDG wrote:

>I just had this discussion with our pediatric dentist yesterday.  He is so
>pro-breastfeeding ( his wife breastfeeds indefinitely, co-sleeps, and he is
>the one who clips frenula when needed), but he still says that he sees
>"bottle mouth" in totally breastfed babies too often.    His solution is
>simple.  If the mom would only clean the baby's teeth before sleep time,
>this would prevent this problem. Gauze on her finger is enough.  He can feed
>on and off all night if he wants, but first wipe those excess bacteria from
>his teeth so that when milk does pool in the baby's mouth ( he says that he
>watches his baby and it definitely does pool in her mouth) it will not have
>all the bacteria from the day to feed on.  This sounds reasonable enough.
>
>Esther Grunis, IBCLC
>Lis Maternity Hospital
>Tel Aviv, Israel
>
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