Get an Early Start for a Healthy Smile

Did you know that your child’s baby teeth are at risk of decay as soon as they begin to show through the gums?  Healthy baby teeth play an important role in your child’s healthy growth and development.  For example, baby teeth hold the place for your child’s permanent teeth to grow in straight. 

Tooth decay in small children is a disease called Early Childhood Caries or is also commonly referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.  It is a disease that can begin when cavity-causing germs are passed from the mother or other family member to the baby. This might happen when an adult shares a spoon or drink, cleans a pacifier with their mouth, or even kisses baby on the mouth.

 Another cause of tooth decay is frequent contact with sugary liquids like fruit juice, milk, and formula.  When a baby or child is put to bed with a bottle or sippy cup filled with one of these liquids, the sugary liquid collects around the teeth while the child is asleep.  Bacteria in the mouth use the sugars as food and produce acids that break down the teeth causing decay. 

A good rule of thumb to remember is that every time your child drinks a sugary drink or eats a sugary snack, acids are at work for at least 20 minutes on their teeth.  If you allow them to walk around with a sippy cup with juice or other sugary drink, this allows repeated attacks on your child’s teeth all day! 

Follow these guidelines to help keep your child’s teeth pearly white and healthy:

·         Introduce a cup when your baby can sit up by themselves and seal their lower lip around it, usually around 6 months of age. 

·         By the age of one, wean your child from the bottle and have them drink from a cup only.

·         Sippy cups were meant to be a transition between the bottle and a regular cup.  They should only be used for a short period of time because they could interfere with proper speech development in addition to causing tooth decay.  Switch to a straw cup as early as possible.

·         Only use sippy cups at meal time or snack time.  Your child will produce more saliva during meals and this will help to wash away food particles from their mouth. 

·         Only allow your child to drink from the sippy cup in their high chair or at the table.  Toddlers who are not yet steady on their feet may fall and cause injury to their mouth. 

·         Offer your child water between meals instead of a sugary drink if they are thirsty between meals.

·         Encourage healthy eating habits for your child including a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Offer nutritious snacks rather than sugary treats.

·         Brush your child’s teeth two times a day with an age-appropriate soft toothbrush.

·         Schedule visits to the dentist every six months beginning when your child’s first tooth appears, but not later than their first birthday.

·         Take advantage of the free fluoride varnish for your child if your WIC office offers that service.



This child has baby bottle tooth decay. This can be prevented by weaning from the bottle
by age one and never putting a child to bed with a bottle or a cup.



- Faye Krause, Dietetic Intern