Brushing baby teeth

[pudding25]

DD (almost 9mths) has got her first 2 bottom teeth. They have been coming through for over a week and are probably about half way through.

When should I start brushing them? We bought a baby toothbrush and toothpaste today.

We 'brushed' ds teeth as soon as the arrived but only used water on the brush.

We started when DD's first tooth came through at 6 months - she's nearly 13 months now and still only has four but if anyone can show me a way to brush the damn things then I'd be grateful because she won't let me get to the buggers.

I started asap because I have huge issues with my teeth and I thought it might get her into the habit. Ho hum

same issue here -there isn't enoguh tooth to really brush so I've got a soft chewy toothbrush thing from jojomamanbebe that serves as teething toy/brush

Or you can just give them a gentle rub with a clean cloth.

link

Good to start as soon as first teeth come through - even a bit of a brush is better than no brushing at all and it gets them used to the habit

my dh holds my 18mth ds and says "look at Daddy's mouth!" and dh grins widely and goes "agh!" and shows all his teeth and our ds can't help but copy him - and that's when I get in there and brush all his teeth as fast as I can while he's gawping at dh's crazy face! He also likes watching his older brother cleaning his teeth and is now at the age where he wants to be just like his big bruv!

www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-Babys-Toothbrush-Colors/dp/B000GKU7C0

This is the kind of 'brush' we had it has soft rubber spikes (kinder than it sounds) on the inside of the gum sheild shape that they chew on and hey presto they have cleaned their own teeth and it helps massage the gum for the joys of teething!
HTH.

You should use a small soft brush and the tiniest smidge of children's toothpaste and brush twice a day with it as soon as the teeth appear. Flouride is imnportant to prevent cavities and to strengthen tooth enamel but you have to balance it with minimising swallowing of fluoride so a tiny scraping of toothpaste wors best.

Unfortunatley it is difficult at the best of times to get into a small child's mouth so try a few of these methods.

1. the element of suprise. When child is sucking on something or has mouth open, nip brush in, a couple of seconds and there. done.

1. take turns to brush each others teeth so its a game.

1. by force. Sometimes nothing works and you just have to use your strength, stand behind child as its easier to do another persons teeth this way or have baby sitting on your lap, one arm around childs arms and body and just do what you have to do.

Be careful when using toothpaste with fluoride.

Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential to health. Fluoride deficiency does not lead to tooth decay. Poor diet causes cavities and fluoride can?t fix a poor diet.

Fluoride has been linked to many other health problems such as thyroid dysfunction, bone fractures, lowered IQ, allergic and intolerant effects and more.

Thanks everyone. Will give it a go tomorrow.

I never said fluoride was a nutrient but it is essential for the development of strong tooth enamel and yes it does prevent tooth decay, especially important these days when children are consuming a diet high in sugar. Fluoride helps to offset the damage caused by a poor diet. The consequences of having a flouride free diet far outway the unproven risks of the problems you stated. Where do you get these 'links' from?

I started when ds's first teeth had come through completely and I let him do it. The way I saw it is that as long as he had the bristles of the brush on his teeth and a bit of paste, that was the important thing.
I also took him to dentist when teeth came through (about 10m for 1st 2) and was told to let him chew on brush but to only touch the toothpaste to the brush as using too much will cause dis-colouration

I tried to brush DD's three teeth for the first time last week, using a tiny spot of children's mint toothpaste. She hated it and now won't let me come near her with the brush. In fact she has taken to submerging her whole head under water if she sees me as much as looking at it.
Am now worried I have put her off for life . I am just going to try leaving the toothbrush on the edge of the bath and see if she picks it up and chews on it. I have also got some strawberry toothpaste, it smells a bit like Calpol so am hoping that the fruity scent will tempt her to try it

Bettymum When my ds gets the grumps about teeth cleaning, I give him my toothbrush and get on the floor and open wide so he brushes mine while I brush his......He's laughing so hard I'm not sure he realises I'm doing anything to him half the time. When I'm done, I give him his brush so he can do it himself.

I might try that tonight .
My best friend has a special teeth-brushing song she sings to her DD, might give that a go too providing my DD can hear me with her head under the water...

Hahaha goodluck