For a 15-month-old child who is continuing to breastfeed, what practice is recommended to protect the child's dental health?

For a 15-month-old child who is continuing to breastfeed, what practice is recommended to protect the child's dental health?

• A. Breastfeed only at bedtime to establish meal patterns.
• B. Clean the toddler's teeth each time after breastfeeding.
• C. Offer the breast just prior to meals to maintain milk supply.
• D. The toddler should continue to be breastfed 'on demand'.

Answer: (B)

Preventing early childhood caries in a toddler who is still breastfeeding is the focus. Milk sugars that remain on teeth after a feeding provide fuel for oral bacteria. These bacteria produce acids that can demineralize enamel, and the risk is higher when feeds occur frequently, especially at night when saliva production drops. Cleaning the teeth after each breastfeeding session helps remove milk residues and reduces the substrate available for bacteria, lowering the chance of caries as the child’s dentition develops. Other approaches don’t address the ongoing exposure in the same way. Limiting breastfeeding to bedtime doesn’t acknowledge the cumulative exposure throughout the day. Feeding on demand or offering the breast right before meals doesn’t specifically reduce the lingering sugars on teeth, and frequent feeding at night continues to raise caries risk. Cleaning after each feed directly targets the problem by removing sugars from the tooth surface.

Preventing early childhood caries in a toddler who is still breastfeeding is the focus. Milk sugars that remain on teeth after a feeding provide fuel for oral bacteria. These bacteria produce acids that can demineralize enamel, and the risk is higher when feeds occur frequently, especially at night when saliva production drops. Cleaning the teeth after each breastfeeding session helps remove milk residues and reduces the substrate available for bacteria, lowering the chance of caries as the child’s dentition develops.

Other approaches don’t address the ongoing exposure in the same way. Limiting breastfeeding to bedtime doesn’t acknowledge the cumulative exposure throughout the day. Feeding on demand or offering the breast right before meals doesn’t specifically reduce the lingering sugars on teeth, and frequent feeding at night continues to raise caries risk. Cleaning after each feed directly targets the problem by removing sugars from the tooth surface.