Introducing a sippy cup to your young child can be quite a milestone. Though it is exciting when your baby starts to hold their bottle, drinking out of a sippy cup brings a new level of independence. Don’t be surprised if your toddler wants to carry a sippy cup around the house all day. And though this can make life a bit easier for mom and dad, there are things you should be aware of when it comes to sippy cups and dental health.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from HEORSHE.

What You Need to Know About Sippy Cups and Dental Health

Your baby will most likely be ready to transition from a bottle to their first sippy cup a few months before their first birthday. Bottles can increase tooth decay risk because the sugar stays on teeth longer when consumed by sucking from a bottle. Further, children who still drink from a bottle at age two have a higher risk of obesity later in life. And of course, the longer your child relies on their bottle, the harder it will be to break the habit, as sucking on a bottle can be a very comforting activity.

6 Tips to Transition Your Toddler to a Sippy Cup

1. Plan to fully transition your baby to a sippy cup when they are between 12 and 18 months of age and begin the transition around the age of six to nine months.
2. Ensure that there aren’t any other stressful occurrences happening in your life at the time of the transition. For example, if you have just moved your child from a crib to a toddler bed, if you are in the middle of moving homes, or if you have made a change in the daycare situation, etc., it is best to make only one significant change in your child’s life at a time.
3. Show excitement about the sippy cup to help your child get excited too.
4. When overtired, toddlers can be a bit more clingy, and thus they will be more likely to fuss when you take away their bottle. So, introduce the sippy cup at lunchtime or when your child is at their best and most cooperative behavior. If your child cries, remind her that she can have her bottle again at bedtime.
5. Stick to fluoridated water, milk, or diluted juice. Remember that juice has no nutritional value for children under the age of one, and sugary drinks can lead to cavities, especially if your toddler is drinking juice between meals. If you want to provide your child with juice, it is best to do so during meals, as the saliva generated from chewing can help to rinse the sugar away. Selecting the right beverages for your kids’ teeth will also help your child make better choices later.
6. Don’t go cold turkey and toss the bottles out with the trash while your toddler is napping. Though this trick can work when trying to nip the pacifier habit in the bud, it isn’t the best tactic to use when introducing the sippy cup. If it is indeed time to toss the bottles, let your child be part of the process. Try a scavenger hunt and let your child hunt down the bottles. Then, together you can donate the bottles to another baby who will need them more.

Making Informed Decisions When it Comes to Sippy Cups and Dental Health

Bottles and sippy cups can both lead to tooth decay. Therefore, parents must understand that sippy cups are a temporary solution until your child is old enough to drink out of an open cup. Though sippy cups themselves don’t cause tooth decay, sippy cups filled with sugary liquids do.

Though sippy cups are a smart, progressive step for your child to take after moving on from the bottle, parents must remember that sippy cups only reduce a small amount of liquid at a time. This is great when you want to prevent a beverage from spilling on your carpets or furniture, however, the sugars in the drink are continuously swished around your child’s mouth, making constant contact with their teeth. Oral bacteria then feed on these sugars, creating acids that can be harmful to your child’s dental health.

Monitoring the amount of time your child has access to their sippy cup and being mindful of what goes in the cup are some of the best ways to help keep your kids’ teeth cavity-free. It is also highly recommended that your child brushes their teeth after meals and especially before bedtime. Lastly, make sure that you take trips to the kids’ dentist at least twice per year for a cleaning and oral assessment.

Talk to the We Make Kids Smile team about sippy cups and dental health.

Sippy Cups

Many pediatric dentists believe that frequent, prolonged sippy cup use contributes to toddler tooth decay.  Sippy cups are an excellent tool to help ease the transition between baby bottles and regular adult drinking glasses.  However, sippy cups have become so effective in preventing spills and leaks, that the majority of parents continue to use them - often well into late toddlerhood.  As a consequence, pediatric cavities (often called “baby bottle cavities”) are becoming increasingly prevalent in children between the ages of two and five.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advises parents to make a “well-baby” checkup with a pediatric dentist approximately six months after the first tooth has emerged.  At this visit, the pediatric dentist is able to educate parents about sippy cup use and general oral care routines – as well as provide strategies for eliminating unwanted oral habits.

When should my child use a sippy cup?

A sippy cup should be introduced when the child is first physically able to grasp it.  Its use should be discontinued as soon as the child has enough motor control to use an adult-sized cup – usually around one year of age.  Children are at risk for tooth decay as soon as the first teeth emerge from the gums, making it crucial to implement a good oral care routine as early as possible.

During the sippy cup period, pediatric dentists provide the following guidelines for parents:

Additional reading:
The 10 Best Fiber Laser Cutting Machines In 2024 - zltech laser
Round vs Flat Drip Emitters: Which Type Is Right for My Business

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Dental-Care Sippy Cup. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

• Don’t fill sippy cups with sugary liquids (opt for water whenever possible).
• Don’t let children sip continuously from a sippy cup (remove the cup when the child has finished drinking).
• Don’t let the child take a sippy cup to bed (unless it contains water).
• Don’t use sippy cups to comfort a distressed child (especially one containing sugary liquids).
• Frequently rinse the sippy cup with water to eliminate germs.
• If the child must drink sugary liquids, let them do it at mealtime (when saliva production is at its highest levels).

How do sippy cups cause tooth decay?

Sippy cups alone do not cause tooth decay.  Oftentimes, the real problem is that parents tend to fill them with sugary, decay-promoting liquids.  Examples of such liquids are: breast milk, baby formula, fruit juice, soda, and sweetened water.

Since sippy cups only emit a tiny amount of fluid at a time, the sugars in the fluids are continuously being swashed in and around the child’s teeth.  Oral bacteria feed on these sugars and produce harmful oral acids. Acids attack the tooth enamel, weakening it and rendering it susceptible to decay.  Sometimes cavities (caries) form between the teeth, which are hard to see.  Biannual appointments with the pediatric dentist are the best way to monitor the condition of the teeth, and to ensure that cavities are not developing.

Which sippy cup should I choose for my child?

All sippy cups are not created equal.  The American Dental Association (ADA) provides the following guidelines for choosing a good sippy cup:

Avoid “no-spill” valves – In essence, sippy cups with no-spill valves do not advance the child’s sipping.  They only release a tiny amount of liquid, meaning that sugars are swilling around the mouth more often.

Choose a spout – Cups with a snap-on or screwing lid with a spout are preferable to the alternatives.  These cups promote good drinking habits, as opposed to being “glorified baby bottles.”

Two handles are better than one – The goal of the transition is to make the child feel comfortable enough to grasp an adult-sized cup.  Since larger cups require the use of two hands, it is better for the child to get into this habit early.

If you have questions or concerns about tooth decay or the use of sippy cups, please contact your pediatric dentist.

Want more information on silicone baby product? Feel free to contact us.

Back