Is frequent nursing bad for baby's teeth? By Gregory F. George
Q: My 11-month-old daughter still nurses frequently throughout
the night. Is this going to damage her teeth? I brush them twice
daily with a baby tooth cleanser. Also, at what age can I start
using fluoridated toothpaste? I breastfed my oldest daughter
until she was 18 months old and so far her teeth are beautiful.
A: If you are nurse at night I would suggest wiping your
daughter's teeth with a damp cloth or small toothbrush. We did
this with our own children and they didn't wake up.  I'm happy
to hear that you're not using fluorinated toothpaste on your
baby. Children this young swallow toothpaste, so they risk
developing a condition called fluorosis, which is an unsightly
stain on the permanent teeth that are forming. You should hold
off using fluoride toothpaste until your daughter is at least 3
years of age or older—and only when she demonstrates that she
can spit out her toothpaste rather than swallow it.