To not brush my baby's teeth

[Stuckunderababy]

DC2 is 14 months and HATES having his teeth brushed. Always has. Whereas with DC1 it was quite easy and I didn't force on the days he didn't want to, if I took that approach with DC2 I'd never brush his teeth.

So at the moment we resort to practically pinning him down to do it. I've tried other brushes, 'helping' him when he's holding it, signing etc. nothing works. I know he likes the toothpaste and happily chews on the brush. He's just one of these babies that likes to do it all himself.

Someone recently said that as long as they get the fluoride it doesn't matter if they are actually brushed, but this really goes against the grain for me.

So AIBU to desist with the brushing and let him get on with it, or persevere in the hope he'll one day get it?

[2tiredtocare]

Splitting hairs Teacup

[traininthedistance]

Reading with interest as DD is a year old and will chew on the brush but it is almost impossible to brush the surfaces of the teeth really well and I'm getting a bit worried about it (DD is a BLW spoon refuser too so not amenable to other people putting things in her mouth generally). Is it really absolutely crucial to be getting all the plaque off twice a day for a 1-year old exactly as you would for adult teeth? Eeek if so

A quick question for the dentists/hygienists on the thread - I remember being given small fruit flavoured fluoride tablets every day when I was young (up until about 5-ish). I have always had very good teeth - no fillings or problems, which could be either genetic or diet related (was not allowed any sweet things as a child and didn't like juice, fizzy drinks or milk so only ever drank water). But what were these little fluoride tablets and have they fallen out of use these days?

[TeacupDrama]

the dentist will not be holding him down if anyone holding down needs to be done with a small child in dental practice the patients parent/guardian needs to do that as dentist needs both hands free to try and fix the problem

[Mrsmorton]

But putting fluoride on top of plaque does no good. The biofilm must be removed.

[cantthinkofagoodone]

mighty that is very helpful. It is very much a battle in our house!

[2tiredtocare]

Better you hold him down now and do it than a dentist when he is older

[mightyducks]

Interested in this thread as I work in oral health - in answer to a few questions the brushing and the fluoride are equalling important, it's only recently we've started to understand just how important the fluoride is for our teeth. This is why the advice has changed to spit don't rinse - the fluoride is providing a protective layer which you are then effectively washing off.
Most areas will have an oral health improvement team which you can contact for help and advice with brushing - they will be experts in this area. Contact your local Council's public health department for more info.
Speak to your dentist about fluoride varnishing, it is protective against decay and suitable for young children, particularly if you are having trouble with brushing. Fissure sealing is something different and tends not to be used that much anymore as it can be problematic as it can lock the decay in. Fluoride varnishing is now preferred.
This website is great with lots of hints and tips on oral health www.smile4life.org.uk

[TeacupDrama]

toothpaste on dry brush there is enough saliva in anyone's mouth to moisten anything

brush teeth ( if lots of foam may spit excess out but definitely no rinsing)

then use water to rinse toothpaste foam off the brush as if left on will make bristles hard no need to rinse mouth the foam should stay on teeth

[sebsmummy1]

Tooth paste

[sebsmummy1]

My 14 month old is happy for me to use an electric brush for a short spurt. So I start off with a baby brush and Milk Teeth toothbrush then finish with a quick blast with the electric.

[Charley50]

I have had nightmares over the years with my son's tooth brushing but it is non-negotiable. He still has two inclusions; dentist word for fillings. I think we have weak soft teeth in my family. Someone said not to wet the toothpaste. Is that right? I always slightly wet it. Is there I have been going wrong all these years?

[24again]

Try at different times of day so that you aren't trying to do it when he is tired. I find a child's electric toothbrush is very good as if you can only brush for a short ammount of time you can get more effective brushing done. I used to lie my son on his back and hold his hands down if necessary but this phase didn't last long and then he just lay down for teeth brushing.
Also make sure that you are using a toothpaste with suitable fluroide levels. As soon as they get to three you need 1455 parts of fluroide and try to get them to spit it out but don't rinse.
Plaque needs 12 - 24 hours to develop so if you don't brush their teeth for a day you are risking tooth damage.

[Stuckunderababy]

Wow I thought this thread had gone dead until I just saw it again! Thank you for all your responses. As a pp has said, while many suggestions would be great if he was older, at 14 months there's not much I can do to tempt him. However I will persevere - I am in my mid 30s and only had one filling and I want it to be that way for the kids!

Am currently going with getting him to watch me brush DC1s teeth (who sits beautifully) and tipping DC2 back to get into his mouth, with lots of praise when he doesn't scream (usually for the first 5 seconds!)

I never get much more than a quick brush around each of the teeth though. Is that enough? It's hard to pin him for any longer and I don't want it to become a real battle (well even more of one). Should I consider brushing after lunch as well to get him more used to it?

[MrsOakenshield]

the other thing with juice is how it's drunk - from a bottle (a baby's bottle) is an absolute no-no, as the juice can 'pool' at the front of the mouth - same with milk, in fact, which is why people shouldn't leave their baby to drop of with a bottle in their mouth.

If you are going to give juice (though ideally you shouldn't), it should be diluted in the same way as squash - so a splash of juice to a cupful of water. And drunk with a straw is ideal and it shoots to the back of the mouth and they swallow it quickly - doesn't hang about in the mouth.

Juice is frightening sugary and acidic.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

I think Belle 's ideas are ace.

DS1 had a tooth out and a filling age 3. It was awful.

Your DS has to have them brushed. There could be multiple reasons why he could be prone to decay, not just 'genes' etc. I would force it if nothing else works, but that's probably just me being a nasty mother.

[Mrsmorton]

I absolutely love belles method. High five lady!!

[Mrsmorton]

moose that's an odd thing for a dentist to say because you will have shared your oral bacteria with him through kissing at the very least, a spoon is quite specific.

You say he has little juice but even if he only has 100ml a day, if he drinks it over a protracted period (same iwth the smoothies which are rammed with sugar) then that's what will cause decay. It's not the quantity, it's the frequency Even with scrupulous brushing. ALl of teh ducks have to be in a row I'm afraid,

I'm sure you're all over it now though and hope GA goes ok

[LedareAnsley]

My DS had antibiotics every day for a year since birth because because there was a concern about one of his kidneys and that a urinary infection might compound the problem.

Pity nobody realised that he was to be BF for two years and PROTECTED from this risk naturally, and that the antibiotics removed it as well as causing damage to his teeth

[slightlyglitterstained]

BelleEtLaBaby Genius!

[lilyaldrin]

purple - how many children don't have any fruit, dried fruit, breakfast cereals etc before their milk teeth fall out?

[MooseBeTimeForSnow]

I'm still bf my DS, who has just turned 2, but only bf to sleep. The rest of the time he gets water. He's never had sweets and very little fruit juice, although he does have smoothies. These are however usually followed up with water. He won't drink cows milk.

I've brushed his teeth religiously twice a day since they came in. He was a late tether. He didn't get his first teeth until two weeks before his first birthday. Despite this, my son has four teeth at the front (all at the top) that are decaying and will need to be removed under GA.

The dentist doesn't think it was the bf that was responsible. My teeth aren't that great. He thinks I must have passed the bacteria too him by sharing a spoon with him at some point.

FFS

[LedareAnsley]

Oh I see, hopalong. I do know of a wealthy family who were referred to SS because of Ribena in bottles from birth and the DC having to have such treatment. Awful.

[BelleEtLaBaby]

Ds1 very stubborn toothbrush refuser. I couldn't bear the holding him down and felt it was counter productive so I hatched a plan.

We gave up brushing his teeth altogether (temporarily, best with me). Instead, dh and I sat him on the floor in the bathroom and ignored him while, for two nights, dh and I had lots of lovely giggly fun brushing each other's teeth, had a big cuddle then scooped ds up without even offering him a toothbrush. you should have seen the look on his face

Night three, same plan. Totally ignoring ds1, brush teeth, laugh giggle cuddle etc. then dh and I had a brief but slightly loud conversation about how much I love dh so I made certain I got all the 'teefy monsters' off his teeth every night so all his lovely teeth didnt fall out of his mouth forever. Dh repeats same story back at me. Ds pipes up: I love you too, mummy. I love you, ds, says I. I love YOU daddy, says ds. I love you too, says dh. Ignore and continue Mummy And Daddy's Fun Brushing Time. Can I have my teeth brush says ds. Ok, says I. Hands over. Ignores. Will you do it mummy? Of course, says I.

Haven't had an issue since. Chalked that up to a win. DS is me through and through and I can't BEAR to be left out of something fun.

Now if anyone knows how to get him to eat anything except raw carrots and onion rings, hands up :)

[Mrsmorton]

I think hopalong was talking about the consequences of not brushing. Which are black, infected teeth with abscesses and multiple courses of antibiotics before reaching the top of a GA list and then the trauma of having GA (worse for parents than children in some cases).

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

I never said you would get it if you brushed every day? I'm saying that not brushing can have serious consequences.

I have rubbish teeth. I take care of them but they are just soft and prone to cavities. If I didn't take care of the I would have a mouth full of holes and broken teeth.