Brush 'em Brush 'em Brush 'em

[lukaelmo]

Now I am sure this question has been answered a million times, but I don't care, it's my turn to ask :laughing: .

The dude has one little tooth, now do I need to start sticking a toothbrush in his mouth and brushing it? If so, what toothpaste do I use? I would want something natural...

He is going to looooove this... not... I will have to give him lots of these :hugs: .

[rynosmum]

Pigeon have a 3 step toothbrush pack which is really good to start. I also used a wet washer in the bath when DS was little to just rub over his teeth. Just with water in the beginning.

Now, all I get is a little boy who loves to sit in the bath sucking the toothpaste and then sticking the brush out saying 'More Paaaaitht ?" so he can get some more. Then I have to get him out of the bath and redo his teeth.:o

[drewid]

Hey

I started giving Andrew a toothbrush to munch on when he first got his teeth. All my reading says not to use toothpaste until they are able to spit it out. You could also use a bit of cloth and wipe the teeth. Or let bub chew on a face washer - much easier :)

Its so much fun. Sometimes Andrew lets me brush for a minute, sometimes not. But he always has a chew, so I figure something must be getting cleaned!

Have fun! :)

[veve]

I could be wrong (we have no teeth yet ) but first I would just give him a damp kids tooth brush to 'play' with so he figures out what to do with it ...

I'd start with no toothpaste...

- I remember we started with the jack and jill toothpastes... they were strawberry and fruit salad flavours... they were actually yummy... no mint for us!!!!

good luck - wow .. his first tooth!!! :hugs:

[hillbaby5]

if you want give him a baby tooth brush to chew on it will get him used to it. Dont use tooth paste he is too young and its not nessesary. Clean it with a washer once a day to keep the bugs off. dont use tooth paste till 12 months and then use milk teeth by colgate it has no or low (cant remember sorry) flouride he will get enough from water and BM or formula.
Good luck if you have any other questions pls ask I can always find out for you

ex dental asst
xxxxxxxxxxx

[lukaelmo]

Thanks guys,

I am a nob, I hadn't thought of letting him chew on a soft brush himself:shame: ... The good thing is, he chews on a washer at least once a day, he thinks it's a game when I am trying to clean the food off his face :laughing: . The funny thing is, I thought is was a game too - now I find out in face I am being a fantabulous mama :laughing: .

[melfunction]

K has got a mouth full of teeth and I just gave him a toothbrush to chew on. He just loves it and I can't get it off him. I have been using a wet washer in the bath too, but he now chomps on my fingers :eek:

[Funkychicken]

Thought I would add to this thread. My mum is/was a dental nurse and was exceptionally protective of our teeth. She has always said you need to brush your children's teeth for them until they are about 6-7 years old. At this age they can reasonably do their own. Sounds like a long time doesn't it? It works though. My two brothers and I never had a childhood cavity and i only had my first one two years ago. The trick is to look after them really well when they are little and as they grow older their teeth will be stronger for it and less likely to develop cavities. And looking after baby teeth is as important, if not more so, as looking after adult teeth. The baby teeth set the gums up for big teeth and if they are ruined by cavities the adult teeth don't have a very good mould to grow to.:D

[hillbaby5]

of course youre a great mum go with the flow babe see bubs knewwat he was doing!!!! smart one!!:yelclap:


Thanks guys,

I am a nob, I hadn't thought of letting him chew on a soft brush himself:shame: ... The good thing is, he chews on a washer at least once a day, he thinks it's a game when I am trying to clean the food off his face :laughing: . The funny thing is, I thought is was a game too - now I find out in face I am being a fantabulous mama :laughing: .

[jembelina]

When you do get to the point of using toothpaste (imo not at all necessary for a long time!!) you can get herbal toothpaste which contains no flouride or sugar.......sooooo much better for you!! TEh best tasting one I have found is 'grants' and you can get it in teh supermarket in the health food section. Have fun, it is pretty much a nightmare at our house:eek: LOVES chewing his toothbrush though!

[draught]

dont use tooth paste till 12 months and then use milk teeth by colgate it has no or low (cant remember sorry) flouride he will get enough from water and BM or formula.
Good luck if you have any other questions pls ask I can always find out for you

ex dental asst
xxxxxxxxxxx

Except that in Brisbane there is no flouride in the water (long story with lots of passionate arguments on both sides) so dentists here say that you should give flouride tablets or drops - and recommend that you use flouride toothpaste. (Not at the dude's age - but something to be aware of)

[rockabye]

Hi there,

I used the three step toothbrush set too, i just used boiled water to start off with.

As for toothpaste, all i have been told is you shouldn't give kids adult toothpaste as it can give them fevers.

Good luck!

[hillbaby5]

It should nt give fevers it more the flouride leves too much flouride causes mottling(white marks on adult teeth) and boiling water no necessary unless you are also boiling bath water:)
just wipe with cloth in bath
xxxxx

[M O P]

Another dental assistant's view here too!

It's not a bad idea for Mums to start brushing their baby's gums so they get used to the feeling of having a toothbrush in their mouth from the very start.

Also advise what SAl said about brushing your children's teeth for them until they are about 7 as they don't have the manual dexterity to do it themselves properly.

And we all know diet is the other contributing factor to tooth decay, so avoid high sugar & acid foods and drinks (this even includes the "healthy option" of fruit juice).

Can't stress the inportance of doing all of this as I've seen enough poor little kids :crying: who need to have a GA to have nearly every tooth in their poor little mouths repaired. A good, healthy start sets your child off on the road to a good relationship with the dentist and not a dreaded one.:D

[natasha]

What do I do if DD won't put a toothbrush anywhere near her mouth ,and won't chew on the washcloth in the bath???:confused:

How am i supposed to clean her teeth????