NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 27, 2009 – As we approach the dog days of summer, it’s important to note that the warm weather can make babies feel thirstier than usual. While giving an extra bottle may help calm a fussy baby, Delta Dental of Tennessee asks parents to think twice before filling infants’ or toddlers’ bottles with soft drinks or juice.

“Sugar plays a huge role in tooth decay. Sugar-filled liquids like cola and juice lead to an acid attack on the teeth for about 20 minutes after swallowing,” said Dr. Jed Jacobson, chief science officer for Delta Dental. “I recommend that parents stay away from giving sugary drinks to their young children. Water is a great substitute and is not harmful to teeth.”

Delta Dental offers the following tips to keep babies happy and baby teeth healthy:

· Don’t put a child to bed with a bottle to avoid establishing a sleep routine that involves drinking or sucking. Other ideas to transition a child into sleep include a bath before bed, massages, playing soothing music or the use of a mobile.

· Fill a bottle with water instead of juice or soda if it’s already part of a bedtime routine or if a baby needs a bottle between meals. Water is safer for teeth than sugary liquids and fluoridated water provides added benefits for keeping teeth healthy.

· Encourage children to drink from a cup at an early age to help prevent liquid from collecting around the teeth.

· Gently clean a baby’s mouth with a soft cloth on the gums and begin brushing with a soft infant toothbrush when the first tooth appears.

· Begin using floss when a child has two or more baby teeth adjacent to one another.

· Visit the dentist for the first time around a child’s first birthday with regular appointments thereafter.

Delta Dental of Tennessee, with its affiliates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Tennessee, is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2008, the enterprise paid out nearly $2.1 billion for dental care for more than 6.6 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; and Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.