You can have a check-up, a clean, a filling or a dental X-ray while breastfeeding, and in most cases feed your baby afterwards as usual. There is no need to put dental care on hold until weaning. Tell the dentist you are feeding so any medicine is chosen with that in mind, and book the appointment that suits your baby's routine.
The rest of this article covers the questions that tend to come up next: pain relief, whether night feeds affect a baby's new teeth, and how to look after both mouths when sleep is short.
Dental treatment and your milk
Routine treatment does not affect breast milk. Dental X-rays use a small dose of radiation aimed at the teeth, and nothing from them passes into milk.
Local anaesthetic is the question parents ask about most. In a small study of seven nursing mothers who had dental treatment with a commonly used local anaesthetic, only low levels were found in their milk, and the authors concluded the mothers could safely continue breastfeeding (Giuliani and colleagues, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2001). For routine dental work, pumping and discarding milk is generally unnecessary.
If you had dental problems during pregnancy that were put off, the months after birth are a good time to deal with them. Our pregnancy dental guide covers what is usually done before the baby arrives.
Pain relief and other medicines
Paracetamol is the usual first choice for dental pain while breastfeeding, and ibuprofen is commonly used for short periods. If antibiotics are needed for an infection, there are options that are considered compatible with breastfeeding, and your dentist will choose with that in mind.
Medicines and doses vary from person to person, so check with your dentist, GP or pharmacist before taking anything, and always mention that you are feeding. If your baby was premature or has health problems, ask your doctor too.
Elective cosmetic treatments such as whitening are not urgent, and many dentists suggest leaving them until after breastfeeding because there is little research in nursing mothers.
Breastfeeding and your baby's teeth
Breastfeeding in the first year is not something to worry about for teeth. A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis (Tham and colleagues, Acta Paediatrica) found that breastfeeding up to 12 months was associated with a lower risk of decay. The picture changed after the first birthday: children breastfed beyond 12 months had a higher risk of decay, and the risk was higher again in those fed at night or very frequently. The authors noted that the studies could not fully separate feeding from other factors, such as sugary foods and how the teeth were cleaned.
That does not mean you need to stop feeding at 12 months. It means that once teeth are through, the usual decay prevention habits matter: cleaning the teeth twice a day, keeping sugary food and drinks to mealtimes, not letting a baby fall asleep with a bottle of milk or juice, and wiping or brushing the teeth after the last feed where you can. Our guide to baby bottle tooth decay covers feeding habits in more detail, and how cavities form explains why how often sugar reaches the teeth matters so much.
Cleaning the first teeth
The Australian Dental Association suggests starting to use a toothbrush around six months of age, or when the first tooth appears. Before then, you can wipe the gums with a damp cloth if you like.
Under current Australian guidance, babies do not need toothpaste before 18 months unless a dentist advises it. From 18 months to six years, use a smear of low-fluoride children's toothpaste, then a pea-sized amount of standard fluoride toothpaste from age six (ADA, teeth.org.au). Our fluoride guide explains why fluoride is used.
The bacteria that cause decay can pass from adults to babies, so avoid cleaning a dummy in your own mouth or sharing spoons where you can. The Australian Dental Association recommends a first dental visit when the first teeth come through. Our first visit guide describes what happens.
Your own mouth in the newborn months
Broken sleep and new routines make it easy to skip brushing or cleaning between the teeth, and hormonal changes around pregnancy can leave gums more reactive. Bleeding gums, sensitivity or a chipped tooth are worth having checked rather than left for months. If your gums bleed when you brush, our article on bleeding gums explains what usually helps.
Snacking more often while feeding, especially at night, is common. Choosing water and less sugary snacks between meals helps protect your own teeth during this time.
What new parents ask
Do I need to wait after an anaesthetic before feeding?
Generally no. Only small amounts of dental local anaesthetic reach breast milk, and feeding can usually continue as normal. Some parents prefer to feed just before the appointment so the baby is settled.
Can I bring my baby to my appointment?
Yes. Parents are welcome to bring their baby, and we have private rooms if you need somewhere quiet, for example to feed. A check-up and clean is a fairly short visit, and many parents bring a pram or a support person. Let reception know when you book.
Should I stop night feeds once teeth appear?
That is a personal decision. If you continue, clean the teeth twice a day, avoid adding sugary drinks, and have your child's teeth checked from when they first appear.
Breastfeeding and dental care fit together well. If you are due for a check-up or something has been bothering you since the baby arrived, our dentists and oral health therapists at Lumi Dental can see you, and your baby is welcome too. You can read about general dental care in Melrose Park, see the current offers or get in touch.
