electric toothbrushes for kids

[Lorien]

Ds (2-and-a-half) has recently decided that brushing his teeth is a good battle ground and won't do it without a big fuzz and lots of encouragemnt. He tried one of those battery-powered toothbrushes at a friends house the other day and thought it was great, so I went straight out to get one. Of course, on the packaging it says for children AGE 4 AND ABOVE. Does anyone have any experience with using these electric tothbrushes on younger children? I guess what I want to know is if the age limit is a blanket legal thing or if there are real safety issues with a 2-and-a-half year old using electric toothbrushes? Thanks, Lorien

I've not got any experience of this but I always thought age limits were only guidelines - as long as he's really well supervised I don't see the problem. (but please don't do it on my say so!)

I think that there's a dentist or two on here (sorry can't remember your names!) that should be able to help more.

I'm interested in this too - although I have seen electric toothbrushes with 3+ rather than 4+ on them. Ds (2 years old) will only let me brush his teeth if I make a fake buzzing noise and even then getting the back teeth properly scrubbed is a farce. Have been wondering if an electric toothbrush can do the buzzing for me and get his teeth clean at the same time

Ds2 is 27 months and loves using an electric toothbrush. I mentioned it to his dentist last week and she didn't say anything about not using it, so I would assume it's ok as long as you supervise.

My ds is nearly 2. Had the same thing cleaning his teeth. I had to hold him down. We both had electric toothbrushes, he had a go and wouldn't put it down. He's had it now for about 6 months and still loves it. He cleans his teeth about 3 times a day for ages!!! I think the age limit is incase they pull the bristles out and eat them!! Lovely.
I recommend it. (not eating them, getting a toothbrush!!) The only thing is that we need a new head every month or so cause he sometimes chews them. Well worth is though. Just watch he cleans both sides. We do this by saying 'swap hands' then he gets the otherside easily.

Ds has used one since about 2and a half. He loves it but still likes to kick up a fuss sometimes. I think they are a good idea, much better for cleaning than a manual one.

Thank goodness it's not just me who can't get toddler to clean teeth properly. I really worry when she laughs and I can see yesterday's dinner still stuck to her molars - eek ! Bought her a battery toothbrush as she loved daddy's but she mostly just chews it still. I was also concerned about the age limit thing but decided it was the usual don't sue me thing. Interestingly I found the brushes targetted directly at kids said aged 4+, whereas the adult brushes often say not for use under 3. V Odd. But I'm sure it'll be fine.

Can really recommend electric toothbrushes for children, dd has had one since 3 years old and it had kept her teeth wonderfully clean. Also no problem with getting her to clean her teeth. We just use a normal toothbrush when we go on holiday.