Thanks, Melissa, for suggesting contacting Betty Crase at LLLI Center for
Breastfeeding Information for dental and other information.  I have done
that a few times (was co-panelist with Marian Tompson this topic years ago)
and found it helpful.  Unfortunately I did not receive enough references to
recent published information to satisfy some dentists who are advising
weaning by 12 months.  I will recontact Betty, as a year ago she provided me
with information last year from a dentist (Dr. Torney ?spelling) who was
looking at prenatal risk factors including maternal illness, diet and
stress.  Hoping something will be published.  There is a published study
looking at large groups of exclusively breastfed children in Africa which
pointed to the presence of linear hypoplasia (a band of weak enamel, usually
white and running along gumline) as a precursor to nursing pattern decay.

On May 16th, Rita, you posted regarding her child who had anterior decay
with a history of thrush being the difference between that and and her other
three caries free children all of who were breastfed for 3 years.

It is a possiblity that sugary oral medications may have been contributors.
Teeth at the time of erruption are most suseptible to decay as they continue
to mineralize and harden through bathing in salivary minerals in first
months post-erruption.  This is why sealants (if indicated) are best applied
soon after erruption when teeth most vulnerable.  Oral medications could be
a risk factor, especially non-bacteriocidal ones.  My third baby was on oral
antibiotics from 5 mo. to 3 years.  She had 3 weeks of IV antibiotics from
age 9 days (suspected meningitis),  heminephrectomy at 6 mo. ureteral
reimplantation at 2 years.  Never had a bottle, brfed through next pregnancy
and tandem brfed briefly to 3 yrs. 3 mo.  She has never had decay.  In your
case, Rita, besides providing a cariogenic food for bacteria, fungal
medication, if used, could have affected the balance of oral flora and may
have caused a strep mutans overgrowth (conjecture on my part).

Will do my homework, and if I learn more will share with you all.

Suzanne

Mother of three cavity free children, and one with two samll molar pit
fillings (to keep her dental hygienist mom  humble and grateful that,
perhaps thanks to breastfeeding, they are healthy in more important ways!