I’m a dentist and there are five things I’d…

I’m a dentist and there are five things I’d…
uaetodaynews.com — I’m a dentist and there are five things I’d never DREAM of giving to kids – including milk at night
A family dentist has shocked parents online after revealing the five things he would never give his own children.
But one common bedtime habit has left his followers divided.
Dr Mark Burhenne, who has been a practising dentist for more than two decades, shared his advice in a video that’s already racked up more than 145,000 views.
The clip lays out a simple list of what he says are the worst offenders for children’s oral health, starting with what they should and shouldn’t drink out of.
Sippy cups, he says, aren’t the best for toddlers and young children; instead, he recommends open cups as a much better choice.
When it comes to flavoured water and juice, Dr Burhenne puts them on the naughty list too due to high levels of acid and sugar, which lead to ‘cavities on repeat.’
If in doubt, he said plain water wins every time.
One that might be the biggest surprise on the list is banning milk at bedtime. Although he said it ‘sounds cozy’, cow’s milk is high in sugar and can coat the teeth overnight.
A family dentist has shocked parents online after revealing the five things he would never give his own children – with one being NO milk at bedtime
Dr Mark Burhenne’s has been a practising dentist for more than two decades and regularly shares his health tips online
‘Milk is for dinner time, nothing but water after brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping,’ he added.
When it comes to snacks, Dr Burhenne steers clear of giving his grandkids dried fruit, sweet crackers or biscuits – and while he admits it might make him sound like a ‘buzzkill dentist dad’, he insists prevention is far better than cure.
‘Dried fruit (is a) sticky sugar bomb. Fresh fruit doesn’t stick to teeth like glue, allowing cavity-causing bacteria to feast for hours.’
He says parents should steer biscuit-loving kids towards healthier choices like string cheese, apples or crunchy vegetables, rather than snacks that glue themselves to teeth and feed bacteria.
While many applauded his no-nonsense approach, others were taken aback by his stance on giving milk before bed – something often considered part of a calming nighttime routine.
‘What about breast milk?’ one follower asked. ‘Our little one still drinks breast milk to sleep. After brushing her teeth. We were told it’s ok.’
Dr Burhenne didn’t directly respond in the comments, but experts generally agree that pumped breast milk can be offered at bedtime and its natural composition actually supports sleep – containing higher levels of melatonin at night, which helps regulate circadian rhythms.
However, for toddlers over 12 months, dentists warn that giving cow’s milk in a bottle at bedtime can increase the risk of tooth decay and even disrupt sleep due to sugar exposure overnight.
‘Milk is for dinner time, nothing but water after brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping,’ he said
Dr Burhenne avoids giving his grandkids dried fruit, crackers or biscuits, calling dried fruit a ‘sticky sugar bomb’ that feeds cavity-causing bacteria, while fresh fruit is much kinder to teeth
By this stage, it’s best to transition away from milk at bedtime entirely, offering water instead after brushing.
Paediatric dental experts have long cautioned parents about hidden sugars and sticky foods that cling to enamel, feeding cavity-causing bacteria for hours.
By sticking to fresh fruit, crunchy vegetables and water between meals, Dr Burhenne says parents can dramatically cut down on dental visits later in life.
‘It’s so much easier to prevent cavities than to treat them,’ he reminded followers.
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Author: uaetodaynews
Published on: 2025-10-20 02:32:00
Source: uaetodaynews.com
