An important milestone for parents is when babies transition from their bottles to sippy cups. This marks a step closer to independence as babies become toddlers, however, if not used carefully, sippy cups can often lead to early childhood cavities. Here’s what you need to know about sippy cup tooth decay and what you can do to prevent it.
Sippy Cup Tooth Decay: What You Need to Know
Many parents turn to sippy cups so that their toddlers can drink liquids independently without spilling. However, when toddlers sip on drinks for long periods of time, it can increase their risk for baby bottle tooth decay, or early childhood cavities.
Common culprits include drinking juice, milk, and flavored, sugary drinks from a sippy cup. The sugar and acid in these drinks will pool around toddlers’ upper front teeth, which can cause sippy cup tooth decay if not properly rinsed.
Why Baby Teeth Matter
It’s a common misconception that because we lose our baby teeth, they’re not that important. Baby teeth actually play a vital role in your child’s development, as they:
- Help your little one with speech clarity
- Encourage proper chewing and nutrition
- Are placeholders for future adult teeth
- Keep their jaws and teeth in alignment for the future
- Contribute to their ability to smile, affecting their self-esteem and confidence
When you make sure that your child’s teeth are healthy, it sets the stage for good oral health as they get older.
Good Sippy Cup Habits
If you’re a parent who uses sippy cups, that’s wonderful! Here are some ways to make sure that your toddler’s teeth stay healthy with regular sippy cup use.
Timing
Instead of letting your child drink from a sippy cup all day, keep sippy cup use to only during meals or snack time. This will help prevent all-day build-up. Additionally, make sure they don’t fall asleep with a sippy cup.
Make Sure They’re Drinking Water
It’s ok to let your child drink other beverages of course, but in-between meals it’s important that they are drinking water, too. If they prefer a sugary drink out of their sippy cup, you can dilute beverages like juices with water to help offset the sugars. It’s important to rinse your child’s mouth as much as possible if they are drinking sugary or acidic drinks so they don’t get sippy cup tooth decay.
Choose Sippy Cups without a No-Spill Valve
This may seem counterintuitive as you likely don’t want your toddler to spill on themselves, but choosing a sippy cup without a no-spill valve can help ward off tooth decay. No-spill valves encourage constant sucking, which traps bacteria more than other cups. If you do choose a cup that doesn’t have this, you can find ones that are weighted at the bottom and have handles on the sides to help avoid spills.
Transition to Open Cups When Ready
When they are old enough (usually around 12-18 months), it’s important to switch them from a sippy cup to an open cup or even one that uses a straw instead. This will help train their tongue and jaw muscles to function properly as adults.
Establishing Good Oral Health As a Toddler
As soon your child’s first tooth emerges, you should start brushing their teeth to maintain good oral health. To do this properly, here are some tips:
- Use a soft toothbrush made for littles
- Supervise and help with teeth brushing until they are older (6-7 years of age)
- Schedule their first pediatric dentist visit early (around 1 year of age)
Looking for a Pediatric Dentist in Bloomington, MN or St. Louis Park, MN?
Need help establishing dental care for your toddler? We’re a pediatric dentist with locations in Bloomington, MN and St. Louis Park, MN and would love to help you and your family. You can learn more about dentistry for kids here. You can make an appointment online and we’d be happy to help teach your littles important oral health habits.
