Teeth and the dreaded brushing

[MABS]

Please be totally honest - do you really, really brush their teeth twice a day at 22 months? Ds hates it and if I manage to do it twice a week its some sort of miracle - bad mother I know

[PamT]

I'm a bad mother too and I really should try harder because DD is on Wysoy which is much worse for teeth (so I'm told).

[Lilia]

My DD is about 9 months and has her teeth brushed twice, she loves it!

[threeangels]

My ds runs to the bathroom when I want him to brush his teeth. If my ds did not want to that would be too bad. I have to do this at least once a day. I think at 22 mo it would be a good thing since he is eating so much different foods. Morning is important since stuff tends to settle on the teeth during the night and the night is good since hes eaten all day. Dentists say we should brush after every meal but I never think of it.

Lilia - Good job. I need to work on it twice a day myself.

[Rhubarb]

More often than not I do. My dh thinks there is no need to brush their teeth until the secondary ones come through as he cannot remember his mum brushing his - stupid git! I tell my dd that I'm brushing all the worms out, sounds strange but it works for me!

[threeangels]

Rubarb, I was told once we need to take care of the first teeth so the second teeth have a better chance of coming in normal. I think like any teeth rotting or cavities that effect the roots. Not sure if this is true but it sounds logical.

[sis]

when ds waqs 22months old, we probably only managed to brush once a day. As he got a bit older, I started telling him that one of my sisters (whom he loves but knows that she will not put up with any naughtiness from him) would be checking his teeth and that if they hadn't been cleaned properly, both ds and I would be told off for not looking after his lovely little teeth. We haven't looked back since!

[Bozza]

DS is 18 months and we brush twice a day but its not something I enjoy, although he is going through a fairly reasonable phase at the moment. He also brushes after meals on nursery days (although I just think the give him the brush for a good chew!). His teeth came in early so its made me a bit paranoid.

[sis]

A few weeks ago there was a parenting tip on this where each tooth was given a name - poosibly of characters from books or tv shows - and the children seemed happier to let parents go in with a brush to give Bob the Builder and his mates a good clean after a hard day's work. Maybe that would work for you MABS.

[aloha]

My ds is nearly 11months and hasn't a single tooth, so my baby toothpaste and fingertip 'brush' which I thought was such a good idea (little plastic cap with tiny rubber bristles which goes on your fingertip so you can rub baby's gums) have just gathered dust for the past six months (when everyone said he was teething, except he wasn't.
Anyone else's bub get teeth later that this???

[emilys]

my ds didn't get teeth until 16 months (ish), the later they come the more painful it is as the gums have got harder so the late arrivals are difficult on them - but we all get through it!! We brush his teeth twice a day and the nursery does it at luch time too. I have been using the naming a tooth method - this week it's jungle book characters and he loves it! Also put him on a stool infront of the basin and mirror so he can see what we're doing - he has a go and i have a go and we see who can get the most 'bubbles' - all these little things make it quite fun! If dh is doing it, they usually count the teeth together which also works well. Hope these tips work mabs.

[sml]

MABS,
once a day, and I somtimes had to pin them down to do it. The dentist said even one reasonable brushing a day was pretty good going at that age, but then they say also that 50% of under fives have tooth decay, so I guess one has to keep on trying. They haven't got many teeth, so it doesn't take long at that age.
Two factors which may be influencing your child - the type of toothbrush, and the taste of the toothpaste. Some children find mint too strong. Is the toothbrush as soft as it could be? My children were also fascinated with an electric toothbrush, though they didn't like brushing with it switched on.

[Bozza]

Sml "not many teeth" - I wish. DS has had 16 for several months and it is quite difficult getting into the back. Still I realise this is more teeth than most at his age. But I do worry about decay - do you think the molars are most at risk?

[MABS]

Thanks - for all of this - I'll get it a go . Ds only has 9 teeth at 22 months - is that really low for age ?

[Bozza]

No Mabs I think my DS is high he started at 4 months. Nine is plenty to eat what he likes and makes the teeth cleaning process a bit easier because you haven't to stretch into the back. One of DS's friends is 19 months and has 5 teeth. I was quite pleased that was all when he bit DS this week!!

[threeangels]

Mabs, My ds at 21 mos has 17 teeth. They came in pretty fast once the first did. Babies teeth come im at all different times. Nothing to worry about.

[JanZ]

We've been cleaning ds's teeth once a day (very occasionally twice) since his first teeth came in at about 5 months or so. He's now 23 months and I think he has all his teeth now - he was missing his last molars but I think they're through now (but it is difficult/dangerous to check!).

He sees it as part of his "going to bed" routine" - one of his few words is "teeth!" as he runs off to the bathroom! We don't usually manage to do too much ourselves before we have to pass the brush over to him - but at least he is getting the idea.

[Eulalia]

For DS brushed teeth once a day since the first one appeared. Then twice a day from around age 2. I am quite obsessive about this although it has become harder, sometimes having to pin him down and shove the brush in. However since he turned around 2.9ish I allowed him to brush his own teeth in the morning. Now age 3 he does his own morning and we both do them at night. He wants to do it himelf. Trouble is he only cleans the bottom ones, however I got round that by doing the top ones with my electric brush which he allows me to clean for him. Works for just now anyway...

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[sml]

bozza - I thought 16 wasn't that many, compared to adults! I check their molars regularly myself for signs of decay, thank goodness, none yet. Can't flatter myself this is due to brushing though, I think they are just genetically fortunate.

[honeybunny]

We manage to brush twice a day. ds1 is 21 months and has a collection of Thomas the Tank engine teeth. If he frets over it, I say that the fat controller wont be happy to have dirty engines and he opens up wider than ever. We even finish with a polish (posset come comforter cloth to mop up the mouth afterwards) and an inspection!! He loves it. However only mummy is allowed to brush his teeth, daddy is forbidden to come anywhere near Thomas(bottom left), James(bottom right), Percy(top right) and grumpy Gordon(top left), not forgetting the cheeky trucks(all the ones at the front, top and bottom)! He has a total of 16teeth. When does he get his 2nd molars?? Any one enlighten me on this?

[Elf]

DD (10 months) is fine about what I shall optimistically call cleaning her teeth but I'd like to ask about the bedtime clean. I've just started trying to give her her milk and then go to the bathroom to brush her teeth (rather than doing it before the milk). She's fine while we do the "brushing" but it disturbs the sleepy feel of the milk and it's harder for her to go off to sleep. We go out of the lovely dim bedroom and into the light bathroom, cold water in mouth etc. Do other people's babies take this in their stride and get back into sleepiness? I cuddle her for a while but since I've started this a few days ago I've had to go back into her room every night after a few minutes because she's cried and needs another cuddle.

[JayTree]

I also found that the excitement and activity of brushing teeath - cold water etc. is a tricky when you want to get them to drop off to sleep - after many nights of frustration I have changed our routine right around and it works for us so might be worth a go. After dinner and play I then give my dd a last drink and then upstairs for her bath. Whilst in the bath I let her brush her own teeth (finish off myself to check they are done properly). She also practises "drinking" from a plastic tumbler with a trickling cold tap (getting quite good now with no wet floors!!) A nice warm towel and quiet time with PJs and a book helps to send her off a treat. It works for me - can?t guarantee it will for anyone else but might be worth a go if all else has failed. It helps keep it part of a cleaning routine and doesn?t interfere with the calming down end of day pattern.
Good Luck elf!

[Eulalia]

Elf - I always breastfed ds after the teeth clean but I think b/milk has enzymes in it that prevent bacteria forming so won't be as bad as cows milk. Why not try a drink of water beside the bed to rinse her mouth out and hten you can still keep the cuddles.

[XAusted]

Thanks, MABS, I wanted to ask for some teeth cleaning advice! Ds (3 and a half) really hates having his done. Occasionally he opens his mouth and lets me do a really good clean. Other times I have to lie him on my lap and prise his mouth open. Mostly, it's just a quick brush at night tho. He had no teeth at all until 14 months so his teeth are still quite new! Dd (5 and 3 quarters) does her own teeth in the morning but I do them at night so I know they've been done well.

Aloha, I had one of those fingertip brushes. Great idea but just wait till you get your fingertip bitten.

[MABS]

I'm feeling very proud of myself tonight - following all your great advice, ds has had his teeth brushed 2 days running ! We're going for a record.

Thanks to all MABS