You are here:

Breastfeeding/breastfeeding and gingivitis

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/15/2006


Question
My sister-in-law has been breastfeding her daughter for 10 months now.  She regularly brushes and flosses her teeth but on her recent dentist visit they told her that she has gingivitis and it must be because she's not getting enough nutrients while she's breastfeeding.  She eats very healthfully and usually takes her pre-natal vitamins.  Does she really need to stop breastfeeding becuase of gingivitis?  They told her in three months to come back and they might have to do this special cleaning procedure to help get rid of the gingivitis.  She really wants to continue to breastfeed her daughter.  Thanks, Evie

Answer
Dear Evie,

As I promised, here I am with advice for your sister-in-law from Brian Palmer, DDS, who has studied dental issues in lactation extensively. This is what he says:

>>What the dentist told your sister-in-law is a little alarming to me. There is no reason she needs to stop breastfeeding. Did she just start seeing a new dentist? He may have a different ‘philosophy' from her other dentist.

“Regular brushing and flossing” does not mean much to me if she is not doing it correctly. I have had patients tell me the same thing and their mouths looked like they never brushed or flossed.

I would recommend she get an Elite Sonicare electric toothbrush – It may be a little too aggressive initially because her gingiva might be quite sensitive, but within a couple of weeks it should be good. They do cost close to $150, but she can shop around to find the best price. There are various models, just don't buy the cheapest model. Compare the price of the best model.

She may have some calculus under the gingival – and yes, a hormonal response might be greater than if she was not breastfeeding, but this is very unlikely. Hormonal responses are more prone to occur during pregnancy.

If she does have pocket depths (sulcus around the teeth) greater than 3 mm. and she does have calculus below the gingival line, then deep subgingival cleaning is usually recommended. This is a pretty common procedure. To stop breastfeeding because of this is not necessary.<<

Best wishes,

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.  

Breastfeeding

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Sally Wendkos Olds

Expertise

What do you want to know about breastfeeding? I can tell you what`s good for the baby, what`s good for the mother -- and the father, how it`s related to a woman`s sexuality, how working moms can nurse, how to overcome obstacles, and lots more. As the author of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING and author or coauthor of 8 other books and more than 200 articles about child and adult development, I can offer sound, sensible advice on breastfeeding, child care and family issues.

Experience

I nursed my 3 daughters and am the grandmother of 5 breastfed children. My book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING (written in consultation with pediatrician Marvin S. Eiger, M.D.) was first published in 1972, and in 1999 came out in an updated 3rd Edition by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books. It is now a classic, with over 2 million copies in print. I am now revising this book for a fourth edition, consulting with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D. This new edition will be published September 2009. I welcome any and all suggestions for the new edition. I coauthored college textbooks A CHILD'S WORLD: INFANCY THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, and HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; both are leading texts in their fields and have been read by 2 million students. I am the coauthor of HELPING YOUR CHILD FIND VALUES TO LIVE BY and RAISING A HYPERACTIVE CHILD, and author of THE WORKING PARENTS' SURVIVAL GUIDE & THE ETERNAL GARDEN: SEASONS OF OUR SEXUALITY. My newest book, A BALCONY IN NEPAL: GLIMPSES OF A HIMALAYAN VILLAGE, published in 2002, tells the story of the way of life in a remote village in Nepal, where all the women breastfeed! My book, SUPER GRANNY: COOL PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER GREAT STUFF TO DO WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS, will be published March 2009. I speak often to professional, parent and general audiences and make many radio and TV appearances.

Credentials I received my B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where I minored in Psychology, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude.

Other points of interest I have received national awards for my writing, and am a former president of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. I am listed in the World Who's Who of Women, International Authors & Writers Who's Who, and Contemporary Authors, and am a member of several professional and civic organizations. I believe: that all parents are working parents; that parents employed outside the home need special support; that mothers' well-being is crucial to their children's welfare; and that the family is the best institution in the world and the one for which we are least prepared. My thrills come when parents or kids tell me they were helped by my writing or speaking or just understanding. To find out more about me, go to

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.