My toddler falls asleep drinking plain unsweetened soy milk in a sippy cup. Can soy milk cause tooth decay?

Drinking anything but water before bedtime can cause tooth decay

My toddler falls asleep drinking plain unsweetened soy milk in a sippy cup. Can soy milk cause tooth decay?
yes, and choking which can't be heard.
Reply:I'd also be concerned about the shape of the sippy cup affecting the direction of tooth development.
Reply:I hope not. I drink soy milk everyday.
Reply:Soy milk is basically just bean juice - meaning there isn't really much nutrients in it anyway. Therefore, it's not really a good choice. As for whether it may cause tooth decay - check the label and see the amount of sugar in the milk. Just because it's unsweetened doesn't mean there is no sugar in it.





You should not let your child fall asleep with his mouth open with his cup in his mouth - that will promote tooth decay. Take it out after he falls asleep.





The only things that should go into the cup is milk formula, breastmilk or water.





Straight from paediatric dentistry lecture notes on tooth decay.
Reply:Yes, like any food, it can cause tooth decay. The best thing to drink is water. However, please make sure that you brush his teeth first thing in the morning, and if you can get him to drink water instead, brush his/her teeth before bed. Nothing wrong with a sippy cup of milk before bed though. It helps coat the stomach, feeling full in the tummy, good for sleeping. Take care..
Reply:yes. it can result in rampant caries and cause lots of destruction to the teeth





please stop this practise as soon as possible before it becomes a habit.





if your child cries when you are trying to remove the bottle, quickly switch it with a bottle of plain water, he may not find out the difference and continue sleeping. the water can also have rinsing effect to wash the milk in the mouth.





PS also monitor the way your child rest his tongue. If he was always thrusting it against his teeth, you better get him correct it because it may affect the teeth to shift positions and buck out which are going to affect his appearance
Reply:Sending your toddler to bed with a sippy cup is just as bad as sending an infant to bed with a bottle.





Once the child falls asleep, the (milk, juice, etc.) stays pooled around the teeth, which can cause tooth decay...and let's not forget 'Bottle Mouth Syndrome' in which the child's teeth are so decayed there's either nothing left to them but 'stumps' or 'rotten' looking teeth. In either case, it's painful for them.





Try giving your toddler a drink before going to bed, then that's it... no more.





If you aren't brushing your toddler's teeth, you may want to start. No need for toothpaste (unless the child sees that you use it and would like to try it). There are plenty of 'child' toothpastes on the market that are just for this purpose...





Being cautious now can avoid major decay issues in the future...





Best of luck to you!





:)