Drinking From A Bottle

When children drink from a bottle, the liquid sloshes around their teeth and gums, and any drink with sugar in it (even watered-down fruit juice) will increase the chance of decay. So the best advice we can offer is to only put milk and water in the bottle. At bedtime, it’s important to only put water in the bottle. That’s because prolonged exposure to the sugars in milk can cause cavities, too.

Of course, kids are kids, and there will be times when they want a sugary drink. At these times, use a cup and a straw angled away from the teeth so that the liquid goes straight to the back of the mouth. If possible, it’s best to limit these occasions to mealtimes.