How Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby's Oral Health
Posted on 5/23/2022 by Dr. Sebastien Murphy
If you are pregnant or have previously given birth to a baby, you're probably aware of a few of the advantages of nursing. But were you aware that breastfeeding has a number of advantages for your baby's dental health?
Breastfeeding Benefits
Breastfeeding has a host of benefits, including reducing the risk of childhood obesity and ear infections and improving intelligence and digestion. Breastfeeding benefits not only the baby but also the mom. A mother's breasts shrink, cancer risks are reduced, and breastfeeding helps her bond with her baby.
Nutrition
In infants, breast milk is better digested than formula or cow's milk making nutrients more useful and digestion better, including passing the baby's first bowel "goo," meconium. The foundation for healthy tooth and bone development is a healthy diet.
Tooth Alignment
Teeth alignment problems are less common in breastfed newborns. Breastfed newborns, however, may still necessitate orthodontic treatment because nursing is not the sole factor that contributes to misaligned teeth.
Tooth Decay
When a baby drinks from a bottle of formula, milk, or juice for an extended period of time, he or she may create tooth decay. Because breastfed newborns have little or no exposure to baby bottles, they are less likely to develop this kind of tooth rot. Cavities in an infant's teeth are still possible regardless of whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed. As soon as your teeth appear, you should brush them, whether with a little toothbrush using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste or a cold towel. It is also suggested that your child sees a dentist for the first time between the eruption of teeth and your baby's first birthday.
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If you are pregnant or have previously given birth to a baby, you're probably aware of a few of the advantages of nursing. But were you aware that breastfeeding has a number of advantages for your baby's dental health?