Sippy Cup 101 Published June 15, 2010 By Compiled from American Dental Association 354th Medical Operations Squadron Dental Clinic EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Tooth decay can occur as soon as teeth appear in a child's mouth making it imperative that the proper care techniques are taken to ensure children's health. One of the risk factors for early childhood caries, also called baby bottle tooth decay or nursing mouth syndrome, is frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby's teeth to liquids. Liquids such as fruit juice, milk or formula, which all contain sugar, can cause tooth decay. Tooth decay can occur when a baby is put to bed with a bottle. Infants should finish their nap time or bedtime bottle before going to bed because decay can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child. One way to battle childhood caries is by encouraging children to drink from regular cups. Many training cups, also called sippy or tippy cups, are available in stores. Many are no-spill cups, which are essentially baby bottles in disguise. No-spill cups include a valve beneath the spout to stop spills. However, cups with valves do not allow children to sip; instead the child gets liquid by sucking on the cup, much like a baby bottle. This practice defeats the purpose of using a training cup, as it prevents the child from learning to sip. Children shouldn't carry the training cup around. Toddlers are often unsteady on their feet and are taking an unnecessary risk if they try to walk and drink at the same time. A child that falls while drinking from a cup has the potential to injure their mouth. A training cup should be used temporarily. Once a child has learned how to sip, the training cup has achieved its purpose. The cup should be set aside when no longer needed. Tips: For sipping success, carefully choose and use a training cup. As a child's first birthday approaches, encourage the child to drink from a cup. As this changeover from baby bottle to training cup takes place, be very careful: - What kind of training cup is chosen - What liquids the child drinks from the cup - How frequently your child sips from it - That your child does not carry the cup around Talk to the dentist for more information. If your child has not had a dental examination, schedule a well-baby checkup for their teeth. The American Dental Association says that it is beneficial for the first dental visit to occur within six-months of the appearance of the infant's first tooth, and no later than the child's first birthday. By maintaining dental health for Eielson's youth, parents establish healthy habits for their child's future.