Breastfeeding doesn't cause early teething, but early teething can certainly have an effect on breastfeeding. It's quite possible to breastfeed even when your child has a full set of teeth, since a baby who is actively nursing can't position his teeth to bite. However, early teething may make your baby more likely to chomp down on the breast to relieve teething pain. You may have trouble convincing a very young infant that biting the breast that feeds him isn't a good idea.
Signs
Early teething can catch a nursing mom off-guard. Most babies get their first tooth between 4 and 7 months, KidsHealth from Nemours explains. Some babies emerge from the womb with a tooth or two in place; others don't have teeth for the first year. Babies often drool more than usual before the first tooth appears. You may notice that the gum is more swollen in one spot before the tooth breaks through.
Corrections
A teething baby bites because it feels good to bite when your gums hurt. She doesn't realize it hurt you, especially if she's very young. A nursing baby doesn't usually bite when she's hungry; the nipple is placed too far back in her mouth to bite. However, she may bite at the end of the feeding when she's full. Removing her promptly from the breast when she shows sign of being finished may help prevent biting. If she does bite, your natural reaction of pain and initial upset may startle her enough not to do it again, although a very young infant may not be able to make the association.
Complications
Excess drool from teething can irritate your nipples. Washing your nipple off after feedings removes the enzymes in saliva that can cause irritation, lactation consultant Kelly Bonyata suggests on her website, KellyMom. Don't pull a clamped-down baby off the breast, or you can cause more pain and injury to the nipple. A very young baby won't understand to let go of the nipple on his own. Put your finger in his mouth to break his grip on the nipple and then remove him, lactation consultant Anne Smith recommends on her website, Breastfeeding Basics.
Considerations
Don't let teething become your benchmark for stopping breastfeeding. Most of the time, you can continue to nurse no matter how young your baby is when he gets his teeth. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first 12 months of life. Most babies will sport at least a tooth or two by that age.
