Someone recently posted on Lactnet about this topic. Here are the results
of a study published in PEDIATRICS Vol. 116 No. 4 October 2005, pp.
921-926.
The conclusion is not the one that many of us expected to see.
Laura Hart, Winter Park, FL
Comparison of the Cariogenicity of Cola, Honey, Cow Milk, Human Milk, and
Sucrose Conclusions. Our data show that the use of honey, cola, and sucrose
water in nursing bottles should be discouraged. Although human milk is more
cariogenic than cow milk, it is no more cariogenic than are common infant
formulas.
Protracted exposure to human milk or formula through allowing an infant to
sleep on the nipple should be discouraged, and the need for oral hygiene
after tooth eruption should be emphasized.
I have not read the study but this raises a lot of questions in my mind:
Were they comparing breastmilk (in a bottle?) with cow's milk? Were they
assuming that the sugars in breastmilk were similar to the sugars in cow's
milk? Did they take into consideration that the process of breastfeeding,
which delivers the milk to the back of the mouth, does not allow the milk to
pool around the teeth? Was the breastfeeding exclusive for at least six
months and continued for at least a year or two? Were the solids that were
introduced after six+ months healthy and not cariogenic? Were there other
liquids (such as juice, colas, etc) introduced later when the breastfeeding
was still going on or discontinued, and given with bottles?
I guess I always question studies that contradict well-constructed research
that I am familiar with and don't trust the conclusions as evidence of
logical deductive or inductive reasoning. I'll be interested to see what
others on LACTNET think.
Lee Galasso, MS, IBCLC, RLC
Lactation Specialist
Westchester County, NY State
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