Teeth cleaning what do you do?

[poppyseed]

OK DS 14 months has stopped BF as of a week ago but has taken to having a drink of cows milk before going to sleep. Would you clean his teeth after the milk or let him go straight to sleep? Funny really because I never gave it a second thought when I was feeding him..... Just overheard somebody in the playground saying that it was bad for their teeth that's all..... What do you think??

ive been cleaning dd's teeth every morning, and before she goes to bed since she was about 14 months, i think. my memories not what it use to be . supposably, brushing their teeth helps the other teeth break through the gums easier. not sure if thats true or not. but depends on does ds fall asleep when having his milk, or is he still awake?

Yup, clean teeth after milk before bed. Dentists say it's babies and toddler who have a drink last thing at night (milk or juice) and then don't brush that have real teeth problems. Whether you can get your 14 month old to cooperate with teeth brushing is another matter

Ideally you should brush their teeth after milk but mine takes milk to bed and drinks it during the night. We do brush every night and morning and her nursery make them brush after lunch so hopefully not too much damage being done.
No problems when we've taken her to the dentist.

Interesting. He is awake when he's finished his milk - didn't want to 'spoil' the quiet bedtime routine thingy going on but I agree in the perfect world he should have his teeth cleaned really. I do 'pin down method' quite well and am really quick!! Wonder if there's any difference in the sugar content of breast and cow's milk? Never cleaned DD's teeth after a breast feed before bed (bad mummy) and went for the burp/cuddle/night-night routine....and there's no sign of any problem with her at the dentist....

if he doesnt like to have his teeth cleaned, try brushing your teeth in front of him, and then he may allow you to do his. works with my dd, and i let her brush my teeth although she doesnt do a very good job

Tried it, but still not so keen...

Cow's milk sugar is worse for the teeth than breastmilk sugar. Don't remember why, though. We brush the children's teeth mornign and evening, but until recently we brushed in the bath, rather than after the bedtime milk. With two to put to bed we felt that a peaceful and easy bedtime routine was more important. Soon dd will be giving up breastfeeding, which is probably when we will change the bedtime routine so that they both brush their teeth at the same time after bedtime milk (which for us is really more of a 'story-time' milk anyway).

Is he drinking from a cup or a bottle? If it's a cup, then I doubt whether it matters a great deal anyway.

i always brushed ds teeth before his milk. have got to admit though-it had never occured to me to brush afterwards!! he has now 3 1/2, stopped having milk at bedtime maybe when he was 1 1/2. has had no dental problems.

My dentist was quite adamant that there is natural sugar in all milk and so teeth should be brushed and then only water afterwards until morning. I have to use a combination of pin-down method and one brush for her, one for me, with DD (2), but brush DS's teeth with battery toothbrush. She also said that until they are about 7, they can't really manage to brush their teeth properly on their own.

5 years to go!

We brush DD's (5) teeth every morning and every evening ourselves with a manual toothbrush (not into electric ones much) and she 'finishes off', then has nothing but water overnight.
DS drinks his milk from a cup - (neither of them have ever had a bottle) and I think that from now I'll have to re-think what I do with him at night.
Would be interested to hear at what age yours stopped having a milk drink at night?......

Oh dear I always clean teeth before bedtime bottle. Will try changing tonight.