Brushing Baby's Teeth - when to start?

karmah1

karmah1

Registered User
Hi All,

My 8 month old has 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom) and I was wondering when is the best time to start to "brush" them so he gets used to the idea of a toothbrush and regular cleaning?

Someone told me to start as soon as he got teeth so I bought one of those toothbrushes that you slip over your finger. I try to do it after a bath and sometimes he enjoys it and will sit still for me.

Is this too early or should I wait till he has more teeth around 1 year old?

When did you start teeth cleaning?

Thanks!
 
i did not bother until he was like 1.5. now at 2.5, he will tell me every night - mommy, brush teeth, washy washy and la-la-lu (sleeping). But yes, play with him during bath time with the slip-in-over-your-finger to let him know 'it is bruising teeth time'. they love it.
 
Hello,

I was at the dentist a couple of weeks ago when I was back in Australia, and asked the dentist the same question you posed here.

She suggested that you start teeth brushing as soon as they grow their first tooth. For the first 12 months she said to use either a toothbrush that slips over your finger or a specially designed soft head baby tooth brush. Also for the first 12 months she said not to use any toothpaste but just gently brush the tooth/teeth and get baby used to the feeling. From 12 months you can introduce a little bit of tooth paste.

Sounds like you are already on the right track Karmah!
 
I also bought a "toothbrush", one of these first one you can find at Eugene for example, and let him play with it when he had 3 or 4 teeth, just with water. Now he is nearly 2 yo and he has a real kid brush. I started the toothpaste when he was around 18 months, I found one he likes a IMI.
 
hi frency,
you started with tooth paste at 18 months.. does he swallow it?
an old-wife's tale is that if brushing before 1 year old.. too early,, not good for the gums..
before 12 months, i just clean with wet hanky,, and just started brushing at 12 months..
 
I spoke my dentist and also my sister in the US who is a dentist, both of them said that Flouride is important for their teeth. Use very little maybe half a pea size. If you still doubt it there are always flouride free toothpastes available in the market.
 
Yes he does, that's why I buy it at IMI, it's an organic one, strawberry taste and has no fluoride, and is also recommended when you do an homeopathic treatment as there is no mint in it.
 
Everything I read about teeth brushing and cleaning said that you should start gently wiping the gums of your baby early on which helps their mouth to be healthier because even though babies may not have teeth yet, if their gums are not healthy it can affect their dental health later on.

So, I was using one of the "finger tip toothbrushes" even before my son had teeth. He got his first teeth at about 4-5-months-old.

Fluoride is actually a bit toxic and everything I've read says you shouldn't use toothpaste that has it in it until your child is old enough to understand spitting out the toothpaste and not swallowing it. Fluoride is a common plaque and cavity fighter but it is not the only way to protect your teeth from cavities. Tom's of Maine has a really great selection of toothpastes that are fluoride-free: Natural Toothpaste: Experience Tom's All Natural Toothpaste | Tom's of Maine

In Hong Kong, I just bought a a tube of organic mandarin toothpaste that is without "harsh, foaming agents (sls), fluoride, artificial sweeteners, colourings, flavours or preservatives" made by The Green People Company. http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/childrens-mandarin-toothpaste-50ml.aspx My nearly 2-year-old loves it and I've tried it on my own teeth and gets them much cleaner than your average tube of Colgate. And if he swallows some (which he usually does) it's not toxic to his body.

Now, my son is willing to brush his teeth 2+ times a day and a couple minutes at a time so his teeth are a lot healthier than they would be otherwise.
 
My son (18 mo) used to be OK with tooth-brushing. Lately, though, he resists it and really puts up a fuss. We've tried letting him do it, being really gentle, singing songs/games/trying to distract him, etc, all to no avail! I don't want it to become a big fight, so that he hates brushing his teeth, but I want to take care of his gums/teeth. Any advice? And when should we take them for the first dentist's appt?
 
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