Breast milk may protect against tooth decay
SINGAPORE – Breast milk is not a major contributing factor in the development of dental caries in young children (“Breast milk can harm baby’s teeth”; Mind Your Body, last Thursday).
There are many reasons for dental caries in children. These include overindulging in sweetened foods, poor dental hygiene, going to sleep with a bottle, prenatal smoking and having a genetic predisposition to dental caries.
Breast milk may actually protect against tooth decay. Research suggests it contains antibodies that impede the growth of bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, a cause of dental caries. Lactoferrin, a breast milk protein, has a bactericidal effect. Also, decay-causing bacteria may not be able to use lactose, the sugar found in breast milk, as readily as sucrose, which is found in formula and infant foods.
The act of breastfeeding does not cause tooth decay. This is the stand of paediatric and dental organisations worldwide, and is supported by large population studies.
During breastfeeding, the mother’s nipple is drawn deeply into the baby’s mouth, behind the teeth. Contact between the teeth and breast milk is reduced. In contrast, milk from a bottle is released into the front of the baby’s mouth.
When a baby breastfeeds to sleep, breast milk is not released unless the breast is actively suckled. Whereas in bottle-feeding, milk flows with slight pressure on the teat, allowing milk to pool around the teeth during sleep.
When breastfeeding is supplemented with formula-feeding or when solids are introduced into the baby’s diet, breastfeeding’s protective effect against tooth decay decreases. The choice of foods also influences the baby’s dental health.
Source: The Straits Times
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
