Don’t Put off Dental Care While Breastfeeding

If you are currently breastfeeding and are postponing your dental work because you are fearful of affecting their breastmilk, we have some good news. All dental material used is safe for breastfeeding mothers and will not affect your breast milk. This means, you definitely have laser dentistry and use nitrous oxide and local anesthesia during treatment. So this means you can continue nursing without pumping and dumping your milk.

For example, when it comes to using local anesthetics, rest assured that it doesn’t affect breast milk. Even the anesthetic bupivacaine, which remains in the system longer than carbocaine or lidocaine, is safe to use because it’s milk levels are still “zero”. This is according to Dr. Thomas Hale, who researched and wrote the book, Medications & Mother’s Milk.

What about valium? Valium can be taken as an oral sedation and you can still breastfeed your child. This is because the levels of anesthetic in your breastmilk after taking one dose is still considered minimal –  zero. Rest assured that most medications used in dental work for oral and IV sedation are compatible with breastfeeding an infant.

What about laughing gas? Yes, even laughing gas, or nitrous oxide sedation is safe. This is because it is mostly insoluble when in your bloodstream. Because the nitrous oxide travels from your brain to your lungs and then back into the room air after you stop breathing it in, your milk is safe. The gas is gone within 3-5 minutes after you stop breathing it in so it likely isn’t transmitted into your milk.

You can even safely have X-rays done without worry about affecting your breastmilk. We encourage you to stay on top of your dental care while breastfeeding your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to speak with our dentists, Dr. D. Robert Haas, Dr. Sarah Haas, or Dr. Melvin Burns. Our Family Dentistry, Inc. team in Lebanon, Ohio, can be reached at 513-932-6991. We care about you and your child!