The Dangers of Sippy Cups
Mar 27, 2012

As parents we make decisions everyday to keep our children safe and healthy. We use aids such as sippy cups to help them develop. But, most parents do not know the dangers sippy cups have on their child’s dental health. Dentists and pediatricians have been cautioning parents for years not to put a child down for a nap with a bottle filled with liquid other than water. The most prominent reason is that it puts the child at increased risk for cavities. But what and how often a child drinks during the day is just as important. Sippy cups are designed to be used as a transitional drinking device for a child graduating from a bottle to a regular glass. Unfortunately, all too often they are being used for convenience.

Consequently children are allowed full access to their sippy cups all day long. This can be dangerous for children learning to walk. Falling while drinking may injure the child’s teeth and mouth. It’s important to monitor the liquid that goes into a sippy cup. Frequent sips of sugary drinks like formula, milk, and juices throughout the day will increase a child’s risk for cavities. A safer alternative is to offer a child water between meals and limit milk and juice to mealtimes when increased salivary activity helps clean teeth.

Try to avoid “no spill” designs. This type works the same way as a baby bottle, requiring the child to suck on the valve rather than learning to sip from a cup. A safer option is to choose one that has a snap or screw-on lid and spout. However, a sippy cup is not necessary for child development. Parents can choose to use a small plastic cup filled with only a small amount of liquid. Children may even learn to sip from a regular drinking glass faster this way.

 
A child should be encouraged to drink from a cup as soon as they are able to sit without support. Cavities can occur as soon as teeth appear in the mouth. The American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommend that children have their first dental visit by age 1. This is a time when a dentist will check to make sure teeth are developing properly and will provide information about proper sippy cup use. The Doctors at Glen Cove Dental offer parents the following guidelines on using a sippy cup properly:

  • Sippy cups should contain water unless its mealtime. Limit sugary beverages like milk and juice to once or twice a day at mealtimes.
  • 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.
  • Children should be taught to drink from a cup when they sit up without support.
  • Avoid “no spill” sippy cups. Instead choose designs with a screw-on lid and spout. Parent can also chose to use a small plastic cup instead to teach the child to drink from a regular glass.
  • Sippy cups should be used with supervision. If a child is having a drink with snack, have them sit down at a table until they are finished. This will limit accidents.
  • Children should see a dentist by age one so a dentist can check to make sure teeth are developing properly.

 

 

Happy Drinking!

The Importance of a Properly Fitted Mouthguard
Aug 15, 2011

The Maine Principals’ Association requires mouthguards be worn to play football, ice hockey, field hockey, and soccer. Sadly, in our opinion, this requirement is inadequate. There are many other sports and activities that carry an inherent risk of injury that necessitate the wearing of a mouthguard. Every year, we see injuries from basketball, baseball and softball that could have been minimized or prevented had the athlete been wearing a mouthguard. We also see dental injuries from other “non-contact” sports such as skiing and mountain biking.

The American Dental Association strongly recommends some type of mouth protection for any sport (or activity) that carries the risk of a blow to the mouth or face. With that in mind, we have some suggestions as to who does or does not need a mouthguard:

  • Football: yes
  • Soccer: yes
  • Field hockey: yes
  • Ice hockey: yes
  • Basketball: YES! (elbows are everywhere)
  • Wrestling: yes
  • Gymnastics: probably a good idea
  • Baseball/Softball: YES!
  • Downhill Ski Racing/snowboarding: yes
  • Mountain Biking: Yes
  • Equestrian events: maybe
  • Karate/MMA: Yes
  • Chess: No (!)

Unfortunately, the word “mouthguard” is universal and generic, and includes a large range and variety of products, from “over the counter” models bought at the sporting goods stores to professionally manufactured and dentist prescribed custom made mouthguards. Presently, over 90% of the mouthguards worn are of the variety bought at sporting good stores. These tend to be bulky, resulting in poor fit, difficult speech and difficult breathing. The other 10% are of the custom made variety (what we fabricate here at Glen Cove Dental Associates). The difference in fit and comfort between any of the “stock” variety of mouthguards and a custom fitted guard is night and day!

We strongly believe a properly fitted mouthguard should be considered an essential piece of equipment for most athletes. A properly fitted guard must be protective, comfortable, resilient, tear resistant, odorless, tasteless, not bulky, cause minimal interference to speaking and breathing, and (possibly the most important criteria) have excellent retention, fit, and sufficient thickness in critical areas. To satisfy all these criteria, only a dentist prescribed custom fitted mouthguard will do.