Does breast milk cause tooth decay? Why should deciduous teeth be treated?

Breast milk is a food that is rich in fat, protein and carbohydrates. It contains protective factors of body’s defense mechanism; however, tooth decays can be seen in children, who are frequently breastfed after teething period, due to lactose in breast milk. To prevent formation of cavities in this period, teeth must be wiped and cleaned with clean and damp gauze after breastfeeding at evening.

There are totally 20 deciduous teeth and the primary function of those teeth is to ensure chewing and feeding. Smooth development of speech is also dependent on the presence of deciduous teeth.

Deciduous teeth conserve the room they cover and guide the permanent teeth while they erupt. When deciduous teeth are extracted early, space-conserving function is eliminated. Therefore, deciduous teeth must be treated to maintain their presence in the mouth cavity until permanent teeth erupt.