I've definitely noticed dentists giving mixed signals on this too. Our first dentist was pretty relaxed about bedtime milk, basically saying the same thing—that as long as we brushed thoroughly in the morning, it wasn't a huge deal. But then we switched dentists after moving, and the new one was adamant that overnight milk was a big no-no because of how quickly sugars can damage teeth overnight. Honestly, it left me pretty confused.
"Also, wiping gums sounds great in theory, but have you ever tried wrestling a sleepy toddler to do it? 😂 Easier said than done."
Haha, totally relate to this! We tried the gum-wiping thing exactly twice before deciding it wasn't worth the nightly wrestling match. Instead, we gradually diluted the bedtime milk with water until it was mostly water—our kid barely noticed. Maybe that's a compromise worth trying if wiping gums is too much hassle? Curious if anyone else has tried something similar or if there's solid research backing either dentist's approach...
We got the same mixed messages from our dentists too, so I totally get your confusion. Our first dentist made it sound like bedtime milk wasn't a big issue as long as we brushed well in the morning, but then another dentist we saw later practically had a meltdown about it, saying how quickly decay can set in overnight.
Honestly, I tried the gum wiping thing exactly once and it was a total disaster—think screaming toddler and exhausted parent. Never again. We ended up doing something similar to you—slowly cutting the milk with water until it was almost all water. It worked surprisingly well, and my toddler didn't really notice either.
"Haha, totally relate to this! We tried the gum-wiping thing exactly twice before deciding it wasn't worth the nightly wrestling match."
This cracked me up because it's so true... bedtime routines are already tough enough without adding wrestling matches into the mix. Anyway, fingers crossed that watering down milk actually helps. I'm curious if there's solid evidence behind either dentist's stance or if they're just going off personal preferences at this point...
There's definitely some solid science behind the concerns about bedtime milk—especially since sugars (even natural ones in milk) can linger overnight and speed up decay. But honestly, every family is different, and it sounds like you're doing a great job finding a practical solution that works for your little one without nightly battles. Trust your instincts; gradual changes often make the biggest difference in the long run. Hang in there... you're doing great.
Yeah, bedtime bottles are sneaky little tooth assassins, lol. My nephew had the same issue—my sis switched to watered-down milk bit by bit until it was mostly water. Kid barely noticed, teeth improved, and everyone slept better. Might be worth a shot if you're up for some stealth parenting moves... Good luck!
We tried the watered-down milk trick too, and honestly, it didn't really pan out for us. My daughter caught on pretty quickly—she'd take one sip, give me that suspicious side-eye, and flat-out refuse the bottle. Stubborn little thing, lol.
What ended up working better (and saving us some dentist bills down the road) was shifting her bedtime routine altogether. Instead of relying on a bottle to help her drift off, we introduced a soft toy and some quiet music. Took a few rough nights to adjust, but eventually she got used to it. Teeth improved big-time once we ditched that bedtime bottle completely.
I get why the watered-down method might work for some kids—just wanted to share that it's not always foolproof. Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and go cold turkey... even if it means losing a little sleep for a few nights.
