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2.01.2026
February Is National Children’s Dental Health Month
Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health for children. Developing healthy habits early—along with scheduling regular dental visits—helps children build a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Below are ADA-recommended tips to help families with young children reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Sipping, Snacking, and Tooth Decay
Today’s children face a wide range of food and beverage choices, from fresh produce to sugar-laden processed snacks and drinks. What children eat—and how often they eat—affects not only their overall health but also their oral health.
Americans are consuming foods and beverages high in sugar and starch more frequently and in larger portions than ever before. In fact, the average person in the U.S. consumes approximately 50 gallons of sugary beverages each year. A steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can be especially damaging for children who snack or sip throughout the day.
Common habits that increase the risk of tooth decay include:
- Frequent snacking on foods with little nutritional value
- Constantly sipping sugary drinks
Sugar fuels bacteria in the mouth, which produce acid that attacks tooth enamel. Over time, repeated acid exposure can lead to cavities. While nearly all foods contain some form of sugar—and many provide important nutrients—diets high in sugars and starches increase the risk of tooth decay. Starches can be found in foods such as bread, pretzels, and even salad dressings, making label reading and balanced meal planning especially important.
Excess sugar intake can also affect overall health, contributing to overweight and obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
How to Reduce Your Child’s Risk of Tooth Decay
The ADA recommends the following steps to help protect children’s teeth:
- Serve sugary foods and drinks with meals. Saliva production increases during meals, helping neutralize acids and rinse food particles from the mouth.
- Limit between-meal snacks. Offer nutritious options when children are hungry.
- Choose sugar-free gum. Chewing sugarless gum after meals can increase saliva flow and help wash away food and acids.
- Encourage healthy beverages. Water and low-fat milk are the best choices.
- Support good oral hygiene. Help children brush and floss regularly.
- Schedule routine dental visits.
Sippy Cups and Your Child’s Teeth
Tooth decay can begin as soon as teeth appear. One major risk factor for early childhood caries (also known as baby bottle tooth decay) is prolonged exposure to sugary liquids, including fruit juice, milk, or formula.
Putting a baby to bed with a bottle increases the risk of decay. Infants should finish their bottle before nap or bedtime. To protect developing teeth, children should be encouraged to drink from a cup by their first birthday.
Many “no-spill” training cups, often called sippy cups, function much like baby bottles. These cups typically contain a valve that prevents spills but requires the child to suck rather than sip. This can delay the transition to regular cups and prolong behaviors linked to tooth decay.
Additional safety tips include:
- Avoid letting children carry cups around. Toddlers can fall while drinking, risking mouth injury.
- Use training cups temporarily. Once a child learns to sip, the training cup should be phased out.
Tips for Choosing and Using a Training Cup
As your child approaches their first birthday:
- Choose a cup that encourages sipping rather than sucking
- Be mindful of what goes into the cup
- Limit how often your child sips from it
- Do not allow your child to carry the cup throughout the day
Talk With Your Dentist
Your dentist is an excellent resource for guidance on your child’s oral health. If your child has not yet had a dental exam, schedule a well-baby dental visit. The ADA recommends that a child’s first dental visit occur before their first birthday.
