Teeth cleaning for a 1 YO - is this OK?

[widdle]

We will just give the tooth brush to DS with some toothpaste on it, he'll have a good suck and generally moves it around his mouth a bit. Rinse, repeat about 3 times and done.

I'm worried his teeth aren't getting a proper brushing but he won't let me hold the toothbrush to try and I don't want to get into a battle about it. I'm not even sure I would do a better job to be honest.

Does this sound adequate? He has 8 teeth and molars coming through and brushes teeth twice a day. TIA

I'd think so for now, even though he obviously isn't reaching everywhere. and it depends on his diet of course, but when those molars come through, you'll have to take a firm grip of him and get them scrubbed. Its only horrible for a few times til they learn its just a thing that has to be endured.

The alternative is fillings and extractions.

I think you should be doing it for him tbh. I do my ds's teeth first, them he has a go afterwards. Sometimes it takes great deal of persuasion and insisting to get the brush in his mouth, but he's getting better with age.

I was told at that age it's more important to get into good habits. As they get older you can try different things - he has a turn and you have a turn, a special song (getting them to sing a tune saying "ee ee ee" and "aaaaaah" is good because it gives you the right mouth shape) etc.

I went to a postnatal group thing with DD (now 2). was told not to rinse as it washes the fluoride in the toothpaste away. and most important thing is that toothpaste touches the teeth! also, dont clean straight after food and milk as you're just grinding in sugars. clean before or an hour after food. hope that helps a bit