How Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups Affect Your Child's Teeth

As your baby grows and develops, parents and children alike will pass through many developmental milestones. One major milestone for small children and their parents is transitioning from using a baby bottle to drinking from a cup. Many children find comfort in their bottles or sippy cups, which makes the transition to a “big kid” cup feel intimidating and seem like a slightly daunting transition for parents. However, parents need to understand the importance of properly managing the use of and transition away from baby bottles.

Making this transition smoothly and correctly is actually crucial for your child’s oral development. Why is this transition important? Drinking from a bottle or sippy cup inappropriately or for too long can have many adverse side effects on a child's oral health and development. What are the oral and dental health concerns associated with baby bottles and sippy cups? How can parents ease the transition for infants and toddlers? Learn more about this developmental milestone and discuss any questions or concerns you may have with our board-certified pediatric dentists at any of our four, Houston-area pediatric dental clinics.

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Important Rules About Baby Bottles and Sippy Cups to Protect Your Child’s Health

Rule 1: Do not let your baby go to bed with a bottle.

As mentioned before, many children find comfort in the sucking motion using a bottle or sippy cup. Parents may even let their children take these items to bed to help them fall asleep. 

When a child falls asleep with a bottle of milk or juice, the liquid can pool behind the child’s front teeth and become a breeding ground for acids and bacteria that can cause decay and adverse health conditions.

Baby Bottle Tooth Syndrome is the name given to tooth decay that develops from using a bottle filled with juice or milk as a sleeping aid. The sugar in these liquids feeds bacteria, which can cause cavities and erode the enamel on your baby’s teeth. 

For specific recommendations regarding your child’s sleeping habits or use of a bottle at bedtime, please consult our dentists or your child’s pediatrician. 

Rule 2: Avoid the prolonged use of sippy cups.

Sippy cups are intended to be used only as a transitional cup for just a few months as your baby stops drinking from a bottle. This transition should typically take place around 6 to 12 months old as a baby learns how to use a toddler-appropriate cup. Prolonged use of sippy cups encourages an unhealthy mouth and jaw position, which can cause children to develop incorrect swallowing positions. 

Prolonged use of a sippy cup can have the following adverse effects:

• Crooked teeth

• Tooth decay

• Misaligned teeth

• Speech delays

• Bite problems

Some of these adverse effects of sippy cups can be created by the liquid in the cup, and some by the unhealthy mouth and jaw position. However, both can and should be avoided by choosing alternative cup options and not allowing your child to take a sippy cup with juice or milk to bed, either during naptime or at bedtime. 

Healthy Tips to Transition From a Bottle to a Cup

Consider these alternatives to sippy cups.

Using the right cup to help your child transition from the bottle is extremely important. A variety of training cups are available and parents may wonder which options is ideal for their child. Here are some recommended alternatives to sippy cups as your toddler transitions away from breastfeeding or bottles.

Spill Proof Cups

Many spill-proof alternatives are available for parents to try in place of a sippy cup. One great alternative is to use a sealed cup, which allows a child to learn how to hold and drink from the edge of the cup. Spill-proof cups have a 360-degree seal that keeps it from spilling when it falls over but still allows the child to develop dexterity and familiarity with using a traditional cup.

Straw Cups

Another great solution is to use a straw cup. Straw cups are a step up from sippy cups and can help older babies and toddlers learn to sip before moving on to an open cup. 

While straw cups may seem similar to sippy cups, as they both require a sucking motion, they can better help improve the muscles around the mouth and tongue as well as protect teeth alignment. Using a straw will help your child’s speech development and swallowing skills, which are needed later in life for eating and drinking out of regular cups.

Follow the ADA recommendations to prevent early cavities.

According to the American Dental Association, early childhood cavities are entirely preventable by doing a few simple things to ensure your child's teeth are clean, healthy and strong.

• If your child needs a bottle to fall asleep, fill it with water instead of milk or juice.

• If your child falls asleep during a feeding, remove the bottle from your child as soon as you notice he or she is no longer sucking. 

• Teach your child to drink from a cup early. By around 12 months, your child should begin transitioning from a bottle to a cup.

• Bring your child to a dentist after his first tooth erupts and before age one. The board-certified pediatric dentists at Greater Houston Pediatric Dentistry can warn parents of any potential problems with their child's teeth and gums.

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Are you looking for a pediatric dentist near Houston, TX? Book an appointment at Greater Houston Pediatric Dentistry today to give your child the oral and dental healthcare they need for a healthy, happy mouth.