Tooth Calendar Blog
Cutting Back on Night Feedings: How to Prevent Cavities Once Teeth Are In
Once teeth are in, night feeds raise cavity risk a lot. Why nighttime is riskier, how to drop one feed every few days, cleaning after feeds, and warning signs.
At a glance
- Little saliva at night, so milk lingers on the teeth
- Bedtime bottle or sippy cup? Water only
- Fed at night? Clean the teeth before settling back down
Lots of kids still wake up a few times a night asking for the breast or a bottle, even after the first birthday. Feeding gets them back to sleep fast, so it's hard to stop. But once teeth are in, night feeding easily leads to cavities. Here's why, and how to cut back in a way that's easier on your child.
Why eating at night is harder on teeth
During the day, saliva keeps flowing. It washes away leftover food and helps harden teeth that were weakened by eating. But during sleep, very little saliva flows. So milk, formula, or breast milk from a night feed stays on the teeth for a long time.
When a child falls asleep with a bottle in their mouth, it's as if the teeth soak in milk all night. If night feeds continue after teeth come in, this happens every night. That makes early childhood cavities, which start on the front teeth, more likely. At first they look like a white band on the upper front teeth near the gums, and as they get worse, they turn brown.
Here are a few common myths.
- "Milk isn't sugar, so it's fine": Milk and formula contain sugar too. When it sits on the teeth all night, it feeds cavities.
- "Breast milk is fine": Breastfeeding has many benefits for your child. But once teeth are in, it's best to cut back on on-demand nursing all night and clean the teeth after feeds.
- "My child wakes up because they're still hungry": After the first birthday, night feeding is often more habit than nutrition. If your child is used to feeding to fall asleep, they may need to feed again every time they wake.
- "A straw cup isn't a bottle, so it's fine": If it holds milk or juice, a straw cup is just the same. Only water goes in a cup that comes to bed.
A habit is also something that can change. If you cut back slowly, a little every few days, your child will adjust.
Drop one feeding every few days
- Feed, clean, then put down. Set a bedtime routine like "feed, brush, read a book, sleep." The first step is not letting your child fall asleep with a bottle or at the breast.
- Only water goes in a bedtime bottle. If your child needs a bottle to fall asleep, switch what's in it to water.
- Drop one night feeding every few days. Start with the one your child asks for least. When they wake, spend a little more time each night soothing with cuddles or pats.
- If you do feed at night, clean the teeth before settling back down. Gently wipe or brush the teeth with gauze or a toothbrush. Even softly cleaning just the front teeth so your child doesn't fully wake helps.
- Also tidy up grazing during the day. If you cut back at night but your child keeps sipping all day, the teeth still never get a break.
It's natural for your child to cry and fuss for the first few days. If feeds creep back up after you've cut back, because your child is sick or something changes, that's okay. Once things settle, start again slowly. It matters that everyone uses the same approach, so agree on the routine ahead of time with anyone else who cares for your child.
While cutting back on night feeds, keep brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. The most important brushing of the day is before bed.
Frequently asked questions
By when should night feeds stop?
Rather than a set date, the key is whether teeth are in. Once teeth are in, and especially after the first birthday, it's best to cut back on night feeds gradually. Drop one every few days, at your child's pace.
I'm breastfeeding. Does that mean no feeds at night?
Not at all. Once teeth are in, cut back on on-demand nursing all night, and clean the teeth with gauze or a toothbrush after feeds.
Should I wake my sleeping child to clean the teeth?
There's no need to go that far. Gently wiping the teeth with gauze after the feed, before they fall asleep, is enough. Best of all is moving the feed to before sleep, then cleaning the teeth and putting your child down.
No matter what I try, it's so hard to stop.
That's understandable. Every child's sleep habits are different, so no one method works for everyone. Your pediatrician or dentist can help you find an approach that works for your child.
When to see a dentist
- You see a white band on the upper front teeth near the gums
- A brown stain or spot appears on the front teeth
- Your child avoids eating because a tooth feels sensitive or hurts
- Night feeds are hard to stop and you're worried about cavities
- It's been 6 months since the first tooth and you haven't been to the dentist yet
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Sources
The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.