Sippy Cup Tips for Kids Dental Health

Sippy Cup Tips for Kids Dental Health from Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental in Richmond, TXPediatric dentists believe that the prolonged use of sippy cups has an adverse effect on your kids dental health. While sippy cups are great tools for a toddler’s transition from baby bottles to adult drinking cups, they should not be used for a long time. Dentists will advise you to bring the kids to the dentist after the first tooth emerges. The dentists will give a guideline on using sippy cups for toddlers.

Effect of sippy cups on kids dental health

Sippy cups have hard spouts that can affect the structure of the kids’ mouth, jaw, palate, and oral cavity. When this happens, the kids may need orthodontic treatments in the future. Prolonged use of sippy cups can lead to other conditions. Kids can have a speech impairment and sleep concerns.

Misuse of sippy cups

Parents should use sippy cups the way these are intended to be used. It should be transitional. However, many parents use them for a prolonged period out of convenience. Transition the kids to an adult drinking cup when they begin eating solids at around six months to one year.

Using sugary drinks

Some parents even use sippy cups to introduce sugary drinks to the kids. Pediatric dentists frown at this practice because sugar can cause cavities and tooth decay. The taste will even discourage kids from eating vegetables, fruits, and other essential foods. The kids will likely be dependent on the sweet taste of juice for their meals.

Naps with cups

Out of convenience, parents may leave sippy cups with the kids during bedtime. Kids use the sippy cups as a replacement for baby bottles. However, this practice can also impact the kids dental health. Aside from being unhealthy to take sugary drinks before bedtime, kids may suffer from cavities when they sleep without brushing their teeth.

Use a straw instead

When parents want to teach kids about drinking like adults, a good way to do this is by using a straw. Unlike the rigid spout of the sippy cup, the straw will bend and mold to the shape of the mouth. Kids will also find it easier to drink with a straw than a sippy cup. This practice is a great transition to adult cups.

Rinse the sippy cups frequently

Parents may sometimes miss out on cleaning the sippy cups. When kids are attached to the cups, parents may just let them because it is easier that way. The inside of the cups and the hard spout may grow bacteria. Parents need to rinse the cups regularly and keep the kids dental health in check.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Richmond, TX

Make sacrifices for the kids

Parents use sippy cups to comfort the kids. The cups are also great at preventing spills when the kids are just learning how to drink from adult cups. Remember that it is way better to clean up the mess than watch the kids suffer from dental health problems. As a rule of thumb, bring the kids to a pediatric dentist at around six months to one year old.

Request an appointment or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at 832-579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

Recent Posts

Visit A Pediatric Dentistry Office For A Tongue Or Lip Bite

Visiting a pediatric dentistry office with your child ensures his or her future relationship with oral hygiene and dentists, in general. Whenever your child suffers from oral injuries, consider making an appointment with your pediatric dentist to uncover any underlying problems. For instance, injuries to the tongue and teeth could indicate a deeper jaw or…

Why A Pediatric Dentistry Office Would Recommend Fluoridated Water

Fluoridated water is part of pediatric dentistry. It is a convenient and easy way to strengthen and protect teeth at an early age. Many areas have fluoridated water, which is a definite advantage. If you want to know why a dentist will likely recommend fluoridated water, here are the details.Studies show that almost all sources…

Pediatric Dentistry: How Nutrition Is Important For A Child’s Oral Health

Nutrition is an important part of pediatric dentistry. Having balanced amounts of vitamins and minerals can strengthen and protect the teeth. Proper nutrients also fuel dental function. If you want to know how important nutrition is for your child’s oral health, here are the details from a pediatric dentistry professional.Children are still developing. They need…

Recent Posts

Dental Checkups For Kids: Why Baby Teeth Are Important

Dental Checkups For Kids: Why Baby Teeth Are Important

Regular dental checkups for kids are essential for keeping baby teeth healthy. Though these primary teeth eventually fall out and are replaced by adult teeth, they are still crucial to a child's current and future oral and overall health. A pediatric dentist can help protect your child's baby teeth so they can enjoy lifelong oral…

Reasons You Should See A Kid Friendly Dentist

3 Reasons You Should See A Kid Friendly Dentist

Children’s experiences with a dentist shape how they view visiting the dental office when they are teenagers and adults. A kid-friendly dentist helps children feel more comfortable. They also offer specialized dental services and educate children on oral health in a manner they understand. This article will show parents the many advantages of choosing a…