I noticed that my 19 month-old daughter had a spot on her tooth where the enamel was starting to come off. I called the kids dentist and made a appointment. Of course he couldn't get her in for a month! 
That place is so hard to get into, but he is wonderful and I have to drive 40 minutes to get there. So in between a month, all her teeth has started losing enamel. Her appointment was yesterday, and he said she is going to have to have 7 caps!! 
He is going to have to put her asleep to do the work and wants to wait till after she is two because the risk of something happening goes down after then. He told me that breastfeeding caused it. ??? I didn't breastfeed my oldest sons (wish that I had!) He said that breastmilk was loaded with carbs and when I feed her at night, she would fall asleep and not sallow that last drink and it sat on her teeth...and that was causing all her problems. But I always made sure we brushed her teeth (even though she doesn't like it and fights me on it!) So I'm wondering if there is any breastfeeding moms that has went through/going through this? Last night she fell...and broke her front tooth off!!!!! Going to call the dentist this a.m. to see what he saids. 
Thanks for listening guys!!! ~Denise
I have never heard this about breastfeeding. In fact, I have always heard that bottle feeding could do this. I didn't breastfeed my two oldest but did my last one and none of them have problems like that. I guess it depends on the teeth. These are still her baby teeth so I'm sure it won't effect her permanent teeth.
I'm sorry she's having these problems! Genetics plays a big part in teeth. I think your dentist is crazy for blaming on breastfeeding. Many people are shocked when a woman breastfeeds this long, and will use any excuse to make the mom feel bad. I nursed my oldest for 23 months, and my other for 27 months. I wouldn't let the dentist make you feel like it's your fault. You're giving your child a wonderful gift. Congrats for keeping it up this long! It's an accomplishment!
My youngest son had this problem, get those teeth fixed asap, and start weining(sp?) her off the breast, she is old enough to get what she needs from a cup.
My son had 3 of his front teeth done when he was 18 months old, and he did very well with it. My advice is to have someone go with you to the dentist. My sons dentist gave him something that wound him up before it knocked him out, so we had to get to the office an hour before the visit and let me say that had my mom not gone with me, i couldn't have handled him. Then i had a friend whos daughter, woke up on the drive home and was flipping out climbing out of her car seat going down the highway (my son slept for the rest of the day and wasn't any problem at all, but you never know you don't want to wreak the car on the way home) I have a 45 minute drive to the dentist when traffic is good, so i feel for you.
If her teeth are getting worse that fast you need to tell the dentist and see if he will do it earlier.
My son is 14 now and doesn't have any problems with his teeth, except he will need braces with in the next year. (that has nothing to do with the teeth problem from when he was little)
Thanks guys for all your advice and sweet words!! You know...I'm thinking that genetics is a big part of it too...and I guess the breast milk added to it?? My sons had problems with their baby teeth, but nothing like Maddie is having. Bless her heart... I'm feeling so sad for her!
I'm trying to wean her...but it is soooo hard!! My hubby said he didn't know if it was harder on me or her. I feed her while we look at and read books and we both just love doing it. When she is ready to eat, she'll go grab a book and bring it to me....lol I've been giving in to her. So does anyone have any tips for me on weaning??
Thank you sooo much!! ~Denise
you dentist said what! my husband does computer work for multiple dentists and he asked the same question to them and they said to breastfeed and as long as I brushed them they would be fine. Over 10 dentists said the same thing! It has to be the genetic line on this one. just my opinion.
If you wean her, she'll just get the sugar from regular milk. I don't think that it's the breastmilk doing it. If thetwo of you aren't ready, I wouldn't wein yet. If you are ready, and she isn't, it's going to be very difficult for you to do. My youngest was over two, and I had been nursing for 4+ years continuously, and was tired. He wasn't ready yet though. I ended up having to put a teeny bit of liquid soap on my nipples so that they tasted bad. He cried and it broke my heart . Even with the soap, it took him a couple of weeks to stop. Good luck if you are trying and she doesn't want to stop!
I agree with everything jen1977 said! I just flipped through my La Leche League books and they say that studies show that breastfeeding itself does not lead to tooth decay or defective enamel. You can search for more specific articles at their website http://lalecheleague.org/
I find that so many health professionals are so ignorant about breastfeeding. Many are quick to blame ANY problem on breastfeeding and want you to quit. I'll quit right there before I climb on my soapbox! 
I don't see any reason to wean unless you are ready to. With my two girls, I went with the "don't offer, don't refuse" method, which worked for us. My youngest just weaned herself in the past week.....she was so DONE with nursing.....and I noticed that she needs lots more snuggling during the day. She hasn't asked to nurse at all, but does want to sit in my lap and just cuddle.
I'm so sorry for little Maddie. I'm sure a broken tooth must feel strange to a little one. Hang in there. You've done a great job 
Here is another link about breastfeeding and tooth decay.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html
I wish I had been able to nurse my little one longer.
But I had gone back to work and pumping breastmilk when you work at a fast food restaurant is just not my idea of being ideal (nor clean). So I weaned him...he must of been ready because he had no problems with the weaning...he was about 10 months old.
Genetics definetely plays a factor in your teeth. I think in your case it is playing a role in it.
Maybe to help wean, instead of nursing, give her a teddy bear of some type of stuffed animal to hold onto while you are reading a book together.
Denise...I didn't breastfeed my daughter at all and she had the same problem with her teeth. The dentist told me that it was from giving her juice in her sippy cup. I had been giving her half juice half water combo and brushing her teeth 2 times a day, but he said it didn't matter. I was devastated & felt really guilty. She had to have her 2 front teeth pulled at age 2 and had caps put on some others.
When I switched dentists she said genetics more likely caused this than the juice...she says no matter what sometimes this stuff happens.
Sorry so long, just wanted to let you know that alot of us have been there.
I was just about to post the kellymom links...don't feel bad! There is no conclusive evidence that breastmilk causes decay, and she is getting awesome nutritional benefits from it! I also agree that many, many so-called experts are very uninformed about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Please don't feel bad-you gave your baby a great start!
(And for the record, I am pro-breast AND pro-bottle...I did both! We all do the best we can!)
Oh you guys are just wonderful! Thank you!! I don't know what I would do without CC!!! I've been so upset since yesterday and have cried and cried. I felt so guilty that I did something wrong. You guys have made me feel a lot better!!
Thanks camcat and Eliza for the links! It had some very good info. there for me.
Big hugs, ~Denise
Hey girl chin and boobs up!! 
When you guys are ready-wean! And not before! I weaned little man at about 15/16 months but that was when he was ready. I'll talk to dh tonight (he's a dentist, sounds great right-if only he didn't want to specialize-more school=no money but I digress 
) It could be what they call bottle caries which happens if the milk pools on their teeth like at night or if they hold the bottle/cup in their mouth alot. BUT, that doesn't mean you need to wean. I'll ask him for some strategies for you. His good friend is a resident in pediatric dentistry and he'll definitely know (without giving you grief over it!!).
Boobs up...lol I wish they still were!! HAHAHA!!
Oh thank you sooo much Dodi!!! Any info. you can give would mean so much!!! I'm still feeding her, but afterwards I make sure that I clean her teeth. I hope that helps.
Hugs, ~Denise
I was fairly young when my front teeth had problems. Part of it was from the Pepsi my mom gave me...lol. Anyway, my front 4 teeth were capped for years. Until they fell out and permanent replace. When all my permanent came in, I didn't ever have any problems until I was almost 18. Then I had 2 cavities filled and wisdom teeth removed. After my ds was born, I had to have a broken one fixed. Broke while I was pregnant. Since then no problems except a little enamel wear.
Denise... Take a look at this link.
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/sweettooth.htm
Dale...you naughty boy!!
Thanks Eliza and butterfly!!!
Thanks Dori!!!! I've started doing water and watered down diet 7 up and so far okay....knock on wood! Hopefully we can keep on the right track and things won't get worse for her.
I appreciate everyone's help and advice!! Thank you guys!!!!! 
Hey denise2434 (Kentucky Neighbor) ~
Take a trip ! Actually that helped my 3rd child give up breastfeeding when she was 15 months old. We took a big family vacation (grandparents, aunts, cousins) and stayed in a big cabin. My MIL swung with my daughter on the front porch swing every night and got her to sleep. We were so busy during the day that she hardly thought about it. When we returned home from vacation she was out of our normal nightly routing and she just wanted to go straight to bed. (She in now 5 and has 2 cakes in my pics - Sponge Bob & Dora)
As far as bad teeth. My children are 18, 11, & 5. I breastfeed all of them. The 18 & 11 year olds have had one cavity each. My 5 year old has none (yet). (My 11 year old son also has a cake in my pics).
The site some of the others mentioned are great! Please don't be discouraged. Doctors/dentists are not always right. Do your own research and know that God supplies the best. He made the breastmilk perfect. Even formula companies know that breastmilk is best and encourage it. You've done the right thing with your children! You should be commended! 
have you thought about a second opinion? is this a pediatric dentist? i'm not saying this to cause extra concern, but if you aren't comfortable with what he's telling you has to be done, it might be worth it
People can say some really dumb things about breastfeeding. I live in a reservation area and the nurses at the hospital claim that babies who are nursing need water or extra formula.
I don't understand why a medical professional is telling you that your choice to breastfeed was bad, they're supposed to encourage it.
Genetics, genetics, genetics!!! My 8 year old got 8 cavities filled when she was 7 (first time we'd been to the dentist with her) and at her 6 month cleaning they found two more. My 7 year old had one tiny canity which the dentist chose to just watch and this time around nothing, perfect teeth. My 5 year old broke a huge chunk off one of her molars and had to have it pulled and a spacer put in (that's how bad the decay was) and the same molar on the other side has a stainless steel cap on needed for strength because there's so little tooth left.
My point is that genetics plays a HUGE role it it. The dentist that saw our 7 and 8 year old said it's very common in families.
So pretend that breastfeeding isn't even in the picture, treat the teeth as you would if you weren't breastfeeding. Wean when you're ready not when some nitwit tells you to. (Yes, I get a little heated when professionals in the medical field have no clue about breastfeeding)
Genetics not breastfeeding. Some dr's can be such dorks lol. The breastfeeding probably added to it but I think it would have happened with formula also. I breastfed my baby to sleep for over a year and she still does a before bed nursing and her teeth are fine. We do brush them in the morning & before her night time nursing. Good luck and don't feel bad, you did NOTHING wrong (((HUG)))
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