Is it okay to breast feed my infant at night after her teeth have started coming in?
On-demand breast feeding at night can be a problem if the child falls asleep without having her teeth cleaned. When carbohydrates and sugars found in milk are introduced to the mouth, the bacteria naturally inhabiting the mouth will convert these sugars into sticky plaque and acid waste, which eats away at the enamel on the teeth, causing decalcification of the enamel and eventual decay. Breast milk is very sweet, and even these “natural” sugars are utilized by bacteria just as any other sugar. Usually, the problem only occurs if the child is feeding frequently during the night. If your baby wakes up in the middle of the night and feeds for a few minutes, then falls asleep again, it will probably not be a problem if the mouth is generally cleaned 1-2 times a day. However, if the child nurses all night long—either on the breast or with a bottle of milk or other sugar-containing drink—or feeds 4-5 times a night, this can cause problems leading to tooth decay.
