Sippy Cups: Important Tips for Choosing & Using Your Child's Training Cups

November 04, 2011
Category: Oral Health
Tags: Pediatric   Infant   Kids  

A baby’s teeth are at risk for tooth decay as soon as they erupt. Prolonged exposure of a child’s teeth to sugary liquids is a leading cause of decay.

Once a child reaches his or her first birthday they should know how to drink from a cup to reduce the damaging effects of tooth decay. The American Dental Association (ADA) offers the following tips for choosing a training cup.

  • Avoid “no spill” cups. This type of training cup works the same as a baby bottle, requiring the child to suck on the valve rather than learning to sip from the cup.
  • Choose training cups with a snap-on or screw-on lid and a spout.
  • A cup with two handles and a round, weighted base that helps prevent spills is best for young children or those just learning to sip.
  • A small plastic cup filled with only a small amount of liquid may also be used to help teach a child how to sip from a regular drinking cup.

What parents put into the cup is also important.   Excessive consumption of sugary drinks, like formula, milk and juices promotes tooth decay.  Offer your baby water between meals instead, and limit milk and juices to mealtimes when the mouth produces more saliva.  Frequent sips of sugary drinks throughout the day increase the risk for decay.

To prevent injury, it is also important that toddlers just learning how to walk do not play or run around with a training cup.  Falling while drinking from a cup may injure the child’s teeth or mouth.

A training cup should only be used temporarily until your child has learned how to sip from a cup. Combined with regular dental visits starting no later than your child’s first birthday, regular brushing and good nutrition, parents can promote good oral health habits that lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles.

 

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