Advice needed please about cleaning baby teeth

[CantThinkOfAGoodUserName]

No idea how or when to start cleaning or brushing 7 month old DD who has just had her 1st 2 bottom teeth pop through.
Conflicting information given to me as always so wonder if there is any sort of general advice here?

My dentist said to brush twice a day, as soon as they appear.
What other advice have you heard?

This is what my dentist said too. He said the brushing/ getting them used to toothbrush is more important than the toothpaste

To use baby tooth brush with toothpaste
To use brush with nothing on it
To use flannel and rub the teeth
To use a bit of tooth paste on finger and rub

Wondering what MNetters do, and this may sound silly but if you use toothpaste, won't they swallow it? Do you use a child specific tooth paste? Should I go to a dentist and register her and seek advice? HV said use a flannel or something similar but I'm not sure

I bought one of those baby toothbrushes that are clear and made of silicone that the baby chews on with a smear of toothpaste on each side. He would have that to chew on in the morning whilst in the bath (messy) then in the evening I would brush his teeth with a toothbrush.

Within a month or so I was brushing his teeth twice a day and now at 19 months he actually stands on his step and toddles off with the toothbrush to play at brushing his own teeth. Helped I think by the fact that he enjoys the taste of his tooth paste.

As long as your child is happy to let you brush their teeth then do it. If it turns into a battle though then start with the silicone toothbrush and work up from there.

I think you're over-thinking this. Buy a toothbrush (they usually have age ranges on them) and give your baby's teeth a quick rub twice a day. Toothpastes have age ranges on them. Use the tiniest smear.

When they say avoid swallowing they're talking about whole mouthfuls of toothpaste-y foam, not the tiniest smear.

I overthink overthinking!

we have the Childsmile campaign in Scotland and its website says:

From the moment their first tooth appears, brush your baby’s teeth and gums at least twice daily, in the morning and last thing at night. Use toothpaste containing at least 1000 ppm (parts per million) fluoride.

For children under three years of age use a smear of fluoride toothpaste on to a dry brush.

I've got a baby toothbrush and use a tiny spot of plain toothpaste. My baby is nine months and has about two teeth half through. I went to a talk by a dental nurse who suggested doing this. She said baby toothpastes were a waste of money, and using the plainest toothpaste was best (eg a value toothpaste from a supermarket would be great).

The point is to get the tooth coated in a bit of fluoride, so don't rinse afterwards. I'm sure a little bit will be swallowed, but of you use only a bit of paste, it should be fine.

With regards to the dentist, ours says take them along - mainly just to get them used to the idea. I'm going at the end of July for me, so I'm taking DS so he can experience it too.

nhs seems to give same sort of info

Advice from dental public health lady at my sure start centre, confirmed by a dentist friend:

Start as soon as teeth appear.
Use a baby toothbrush. Doesn't matter which.
Use a smear of "family" (adult) toothpaste. If you insist in using baby toothpaste, make sure it has at least 1000 ppm fluoride. It's better to use adult because they get used to the taste.
No rinsing needed. Babies can swallow the smear of toothpaste.

This is all theoretical for me because ds (8 mo) has no teeth.