Proper Sippy Cup Use to Prevent Tooth Decay

There is no doubt about it – saving your floors and carpets from spills is a huge benefit to having your child use a training cup, a.k.a. sippy cup, when they are toddling around. Unfortunately, you may not be saving your child’s teeth from developing tooth decay. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the use of sippy cups filled with liquids containing sugar has been linked to tooth decay in the tiniest of teeth.

How does Tooth Decay Develop in Babies and Toddlers?

Tooth decay (dental caries or cavities) may first appear as white spots at the baby’s gum line on the upper front teeth. It develops when a baby’s mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria passed to a baby through saliva. Parents and caregivers can pass along the bacteria by sharing utensils or cups with the baby, testing foods before feeding them, and cleaning off a pacifier in their mouth. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that tooth decay also develops when a child’s teeth and gums are exposed to any liquid or food other than water for long periods or frequently throughout the day. Natural or added sugars in the drink or food are changed to acid by bacteria in the mouth, and this acid then dissolves the outer part of the teeth, causing them to decay.

Putting a baby to bed or naptime with a bottle of formula, milk, juice, or watered-down juice can lead to this acid forming in the baby’s mouth. The use of sippy cups can also aid in this acid production.

How do Sippy Cups Cause Acid Production in the Child’s Mouth?

The ADA defines sippy cups as baby bottles in disguise because the cups include a valve beneath the spout to stop spills. However, cups with valves do not allow your child to sip. Instead, the child gets liquid by sucking on the cup, much like a baby bottle. So, throughout the day, if a child carries around and sips from a cup filled with liquids that contain sugar, their teeth are at a greater risk for developing tooth decay.

How to Properly Use a Sippy Cup to Prevent Tooth Decay

Parents don’t have to think of sippy cups as enemies in the battle against tooth decay if they use them properly.

Here are some tips to follow from the ADA for sipping success:

• Carefully choose your child’s training cup.
• Only use water in the cup throughout the day and offer liquids with sugar only at mealtimes.
• Use training cups for only a short time. Once your child has mastered how to sip, it’s time to set the sippy cup aside.
• Try to get your child to drink from a cup by their first birthday.

If you are concerned about your child developing tooth decay, the ADA recommends a child’s first visit to the dentist before their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth.

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*Source: American Dental Association, ada.org
*Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, aap.org