Sippy cups and their impact on your child’s health Published Feb. 8, 2013 By Capt. (Dr.) Amber Miller 377th Dental Squadron KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. -- With the abundance of new items that come onto the market for babies and toddlers, it is prudent to be aware of their potential risks and benefits. One of the more common items used by toddlers is the convenient "sippy" cup that prevents spills and helps youngsters as they transition from a bottle to a regular cup. However, parents need to understand that this added convenience can come at a cost to the child's oral health. In many instances, a child is given a "sippy" cup at nap or bedtime as a way to soothe them until they fall asleep. This action can rapidly lead to what is known as "baby bottle decay" once the child's first tooth appears. Baby bottle decay, also called "nursing mouth syndrome," is caused by frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby's teeth to liquids, such as fruit juice, milk or formula, which contain sugar. As a rule, infants and toddlers should finish their naptime or bedtime bottle before going to bed. If a parent feels they need to give a bottle or cup to their child at nap or bedtime, it should contain water. Children should be encouraged to drink from a regular cup by their first birthdays. Many training cups, also called "sippy" or "tippy" cups, are available in stores. They differ from other cups in that there is a valve included beneath the spout to stop spills. These cups should only be used temporarily, since the child gets the liquid from sucking on the cup, much like a baby bottle, and therefore, the child does not learn to properly sip from a regular cup. Another item to consider is to avoid allowing your child to carry the training cup around. Toddlers are often unstable and can fall quite frequently as they are learning to be mobile. This means they are at higher risk for potential injury to the mouth if walking and drinking at the same time. As the changeover from bottle to training cup occurs, be aware of the following points: What kind of training cup you choose What goes into the cup How frequently your child sips from it That your child does not carry the cup around If your child has not had a dental examination, we recommend that you schedule a "well baby exam" for his or her teeth. The American Dental Association recommends the first dental visit to occur within six months of the appearance of the first tooth, and no later than the child's first birthday. Active-duty dependents receive their dental care through the Family Member Dental Program run by MetLife. To find a dentist in the MetLife network, go to https://mybenefits.metlife.com/tricare and click the link for "Find a Participating Dentist" or call 855-638-8371 for more information.