The Misuse of Sippy Cups

Sippy cups are meant to help children transition from bottles to cups.  They are a convenient way to prevent spills as children learn this new skill.  However, sippy cups are often overused and misused, leading to tooth decay among toddlers and preschoolers.  Sippy cups can cause tooth decay when they are filled with sugary beverages that children are allowed to sip on throughout the day.  This constantly coats their teeth in sugar which allows bacteria and plaque to form causing tooth decay.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers these tips to help parents know how to properly use sippy cups:

•  The sippy cup is a training tool to help children transition from a bottle to a cup. It shouldn’t be used for a long period of time - it’s not a bottle and it’s not a pacifier.
• Unless being used at mealtime, the sippy cup should only be filled with water. Frequent drinking of any other liquid, even if diluted, from a bottle or no-spill training cup should be avoided.
• Sippy cups should not be used at naptime or bedtime unless they only have water in them.

Your dentist can further explain the proper use of sippy cups and can evaluate your child for tooth decay.  Use the sippy cup appropriately and let kids try real cups too.  They will be excited to be a big kid and will get the hang of it faster than you may think!

Is Fluoride Safe for Kids?

The use of fluorides for the prevention and control of caries is documented to be both safe and highly effective.

Fluoride is important in your child’s dental health as it helps prevent and control tooth decay.  However, it is important that your child gets the proper amount because too much fluoride can actually cause problems.  

Fluoride can be found in drinking water, toothpaste, and mouth rinses. Having fluoride in drinking water is a safe and cost effective way to reduce tooth decay.  You can ask your dentist or local public health department if fluoride levels are optimal in your area’s drinking water.  

Toothpaste is another important way to protect teeth.  It is important to teach children to spit out toothpaste rather than swallow it, as swallowing fluoride toothpaste will cause children to get too much fluoride and result in problems.  Fluoridated toothpaste should be used twice daily as a primary preventive procedure.  According to the American Academy of Pediatric dentistry use only a smear of fluoridated toothpaste (left toothbrush) for children less than 2  years of age and a 'pea-size' (right toothbrush) amount of fluoridated toothpaste for children 2-5 to decrease the risk of fluorosis (or too much fluoride).

To learn more about the right amount of fluoride for your child ask your dentist.

the juice on juice

fruit is nature's candy. it's super sweet and tasty. and bonus it's a part of a healthy diet. even the USDA recommends fruits and vegtables for half our plate. but believe it or not juice (even 100% fruit juice) is not an essential part of a kid's diet. with the high sugary content and the high acidity, it makes the perfect formula for cavities. i recommend, along with the AAPD, that juice not be a daily part of a meal but instead only given as a treat. juice should be limited to 4-6 fluid ounces, or 1/2 a cup per DAY, given only in a cup (not a sippy or bottle).   besides cavites, excessive juice intake can lead to other health problems for your little ones such as diabetes and obesity. have you noticed any unusual spots on your child's teeth? set up an appointment with my office and i'll be happy to take a look.