Laura,
Bottle mouth syndrome is the result of the mechanics of bottle feeding as
well as the content of the bottle. The liquid will continue to drip and pool
around the teeth even when the baby is not actively sucking. Heredity and
weaning foods can also play a role. There ARE breastfed babies with dental
caries (as evidenced by recent discussions on LLLOL). However, I would list
bottle feeding (especially at night) as a significant risk factor for dental
caries.
Lesley Robinson, IBCLC, LLL Leader
Corning, NY