Sippy cups? Really choosing one caused me incredible amounts of stress. Kids are great, they are totally amazing. I love my girls but I ask myself 25 x a day if I did the right thing with whatever earth shattering decisions I made that day for them. I know as a hygienist I did tonnes of research into what I should choose for a cup. I don’t know about you but sippy cups have saved me from having to clean up countless messes. My girls are 4 and 2 and have the ability to turn a relatively tidy home into something out of a horror movie in under 10 mins.

There are ridiculous amounts of child paraphernalia available out there. I get boggled every time I step into the kids section. It’s too much. How do you pick something when you have so many options. Research and talking to the experts. We dental folk have definite opinions on which sippy cup to use. We also have a definite opinion on what to use it for and when to use it. Sippy cups are an aid to get our babies from breast or bottle to drinking out of a cup. Without destroying your house, your car and well basically anywhere your children spend time. They are more for convenience than necessity. That being said I used and am still using sippy cups.

Dental professionals recommendations for the best cups are made to encourage healthy tooth and jaw development, minimize the risk of injury and prevent tooth decay. As a dental professional my recommendations are to choose BPA free plastics, metal or tempered glass materials. Choose sippy cups with soft flexible spouts. This prevents damage to the teeth and the gums due to falls or clumsiness. Avoid cups that encourage strong suction when drinking. The more freely the liquid flows the less force placed on the teeth and jaws. This results in less interference in the formation of the jaws as your child grows. This also eases the transition to straws and cups. There are some great recommendations for the best cups here.

On a side note about what to put in sippy cups…I strongly recommend that you don’t give kids juice...ever. Putting sugary liquids in a sippy cup and allowing a child to drink it slowly through the day equals dental death. I know your saying “What no juice ever?”…I’m nodding my head yes. Give your kids fruit with a glass or sippy cup of water it’s the far healthier option. Steer clear of fruit juices. Energy drinks, the “p” word even flavored waters are very dangerous and should be banned for children under 10 in my opinion. I’m fine with milk in a sippy cup. But given at mealtimes only. Milk also contains high amounts of sugar and creates tooth decay. To prevent both tooth decay and an unhealthy amount of sugar the only liquid available on demand to a toddler should be water. I know my girls are so deprived:) But their teeth are cavity free.

If you have questions about these recommendations or how to avoid cavities call me, email me or message my facebook page. I want to help your child grow up with strong healthy teeth and never experience a cavity. 519-736-1100 or [email protected]

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