Ask the Pediatric Dentist with Dr. Jonelle Anamelechi

#1 Does breast milk really cause cavities?

The answer is NOT ALONE! So breastfeed as long as you want! Once a child has teeth, it is important to start the oral hygiene routine from the first tooth and a first dental visit by age 1. If a child is breastfeeding, getting the food off the teeth before their nighttime rest is very important. If food is left on the teeth, breastmilk in its wonderfully sticky state can make food stick to the teeth more and trap it under. if left like that for extended periods of time, that food that’s been stuck on by breastmilk can cause cavities. What to do? You can use disposable tooth wipes (We love Spiffles!) at night or a dedicated cloth beside the nightstand. As a mom, I always found the disposable tooth wipes handier than the dedicated cloth that possibly harbored more germs.

#2 What if I don’t get a tongue or lip tie released?

If you have a team working with you, lactation, pediatric dentist, chiropractor, we will advise you on what the limitations may be if a tongue tie is not released. There are infants that can “compensate” via growth and development and mask some of their tongue tie symptoms. If that is the case and parents decide to monitor, you must understand there are many milestones beyond breastfeeding like mature feeding, speech and language, and airway development that we are also looking out for. It is about so much more! We cannot predict what will happen more infancy, but you need a team that can guide you through.

Meet Dr. Anamelechi of Children’s Choice Pediatrics

As the owner of Children’s Choice Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Dr. Anamelechi is passionate about creating not only a phenomenal dental experience for children in the area but being partners with families in the oral health of their child. Her areas of expertise come from years of additional training to include but not limited to laser dentistry, maternal and child health, dental trauma, growth and development. She is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina Schools of Dentistry and Public Health. Following graduation, she completed the specialized Pediatric Dental Residency Program at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.