Unlike the majority of media outlets, my initial reaction to this photo was not to judge how well adjusted or possibly how much therapy this child might need someday. Due to the fact that I am a Pediatric Dentist, and therefore a tooth nerd, my first thought when I saw this photo was, "Good Lord, I really hope his mom is a good brusher".
The article and many news pundits have labeled the behaviors involved in this style of parenting "extreme". From a dental standpoint the frequency of food intake, often multiple times per hour during infancy, qualifies as such. Although attachment parenting has become controversial partly because of the frequency and duration of breastfeeding, it is not the only parent behavior that includes "extreme" frequency feeding or as some call it "grazing". Many American parenting styles lend themselves to frequent feeding. This includes ad lib breastfeeding, ad lib bottle use, sippy cups, frequent snacking and using candy as a reward. That's not to say that these things are wrong when used appropriately. It's just important to pay attention to how often you are using them. Several of you, who have been in the office, may have heard me talk about how cavities are a disease of frequency. Simply put, the more often you eat or drink, the more often the bacteria that live in your mouth get to eat and drink. The acids that make holes in your teeth are a normal byproduct of bacterial metabolism. Therefore, the more often you eat, the more often bacteria get to make acids, and the more likely you are to get cavities. Think of it this way; if children only ate three times per day, then the bacteria in their mouths would only get three chances to make cavities. When children get frequent snacks or ad lib feeding, there are many more opportunities for them to get cavities.
So what is the best strategy to prevent cavities in the face of frequent feeding? The best approach is to pay attention to how often your child is eating. In addition to their regular three meals a day, the two snacks in daycare, the lollipop reward for being quiet at the grocery store, and the sippy cup of juice that they nursed all afternoon, all count as meals. The ideal way to minimize your child's risk for cavities would be to limit the amount of times per day that they eat. I would recommend three meals and one snack with only water to drink in between meals. If you find this to be unrealistic or challenging to do, then your next best option is to adjust your oral hygiene regimen. Brushing two times per day is not going to be enough for a child who eats this frequently. Consider brushing or at least wiping your child's teeth with a moist cloth after every "meal", and fluoride tooth paste twice per day is a must for frequent feeders. If in doubt, consult your child's Pediatric Dentist.
Parenting is a challenging undertaking. My opinion and understanding has changed multiple times over the lives of my 7 year old daughter and 4 year old son. When choosing your style, it is important to consider how the behaviors affect all aspects of your child's health and routine. The take home message here is this; if you choose a parenting style that is "extreme" in regard to feeding, then you need to adjust your child's oral health care to that "extreme". Good luck and happy brushing.
