Dental Health During Breastfeeding

Breast milk that is also called 'liquid gold' is like armour for the child from several health threats in present and future. Breastfeeding is one of the first (and most personal) decisions a mother makes for her baby.

- Dr Irfana Sulthan

As a new parent, you probably knew that breastfeeding can help your baby's body fight infections and reduce health risks like asthma, ear infections, SIDS and obesity in children. But often, the dental health of children is not a top priority for new parents. You may not know much about how breastfeeding, formula, or other factors affect the health of your child's quickly growing baby teeth.

1. What should breastfeeding mothers know about their dental health?

Many simply brush in a hurry or worse still, don't brush at all. When you breastfeed, your body doesn't go through as many physical changes as it did during pregnancy. However, it needs to compensate for the nutrition you make for your baby. During lactation, your bones break down to send more calcium into your bloodstream, and your kidneys release less calcium into your urine to save it for your milk. If your mouth bones break down too much, though, you can experience problems with your gums and teeth. Much of the impact that breastfeeding has on your oral health comes from less self-care.

2. What is the common dental issue the breastfeeding mother faces?

Nursing moms often deal with oral health problems such as: