Hi all. Wow. I resub today, and I already need answers to two separate
questions.  This is a local mom who i have dealt with thru LLL meetings
and she emailed me today. (She can't ge thru on my telephone since i am
perpetually online!)

I am not even close to an expert in the area of dental health.  From
speaking with her, she also had very bad teeth as a child.  She is a
vegetarian, as is her child.  I have explained that i have seen research
on caffein in mom's diet and subsequent caries in exclusively breastfed
babies, but that the nursing itself is unlikely the cause of the problem
with her daughter.  In fact, I cannot be sure this is even a case of
dental decay- could it be a congenital flaw in the enamel or something
similar?

Any of the pedi dentists who can shed some light, I would be very
thankful!

I have suggested she make a dental visit, but she feels (from hearing
horror stories of the local dentist) they will in some way restrain her 22
month old.  She is quite scared (and I don't blame her.)

So anyways, thanks for any info i can share with her that may ease her
concerns!

Heidi Murphy
Peer Counselor, BSN Student


---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Organization: InfiNet
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: nursing caries
>
>Hi. My daughter is 20 months old and nurses frequently during the day and
>night. I have recently found brown places on her back upper molars. I am not
>sure if it is cavities or just the beginnings of decay. I am not even sure
>how decay begins. I am considering taking her to the dentist but I am not
>sure yet. She is in a stranger awarness phase right now and I am sure it
>would not be a good experience. I am not willing to night wean her or wean
in
>any way at this point. Do you believe night nursing causes dental caries?
>Instead of the conventional route are there holistic ways to reverse
cavities
>or at least stop the progression? I am concerned about floride, where can I
>find the pro's and con's?
>
>I basically need any and every peice of information about nursing caries. Or
>cavities in baby teeth in general.
>
>I am working through my own fears of the dentist and this is a plea for
help.
>I want as much info as I can possibly get on this subject because right
now I
>am scared.
>