brushing teeth

[HanCh]

DD2 is 15months, has all her front middle teeth, and is now starting to get her molars. Just wondering at what age I should start brushing her teeth.
Also, is there a special tooth brush and tooth paste I should get for her to use when I do start brushing her teeth too?

[cheezelz]

In regards to the teeth brushing I think that she should have had a toothbrush introduced to her from when her first teeth came through. My DD has had a tooth brush, which she plays with in the bath from when her first 2 teeth were fully through the gums. I think this will make it easier for me to get her to brush her teeth and easier to introduce toothpaste.

There is lots of conflicting opinions on when to use toothpaste. There was recently a thread on here discussing ages and colours etc. Im not going to introduce toothpaste till my DD is 2 years. And then after reading the other thread I am not using the bright blue childrens paste. If Im correct I read that the blue colour has been banned in some countries.

Good Luck.:thumbsup:

[mum2peanut]

I started brushing DD's teeth at 6 months with when her first two came thru. We do it twice a day now, with a dab of milk teeth toothpaste. Only cause she doen't really like having her teeth brushed that much, so the froth and taste makes her let me do it for longer.

[punkbaby]

I started letting mine play with their toohbrush around 8 months, prior to this i would ipe their teeth with a damp cloth. My kids used to just chew it in the bath then at around 14 months i started teaching them to brush. We didnt use toothpaste till around the age of two either and it was a tiny tiny amount.

[HugsAndKisses]

I use the childrens toothpaste- macleans milk teeth for DS and a childrens toothbrush! started when he got his teeth!:yes::D

[my_lot]

:wave:

we brush after the first teeth come through, just with water tho and then tooth paste from 1 year old.

you can get "baby's first tooth brush" from most supermarkets.

[secondtimearound2]

We started as soon as they had teeth. DD uses tooth paste and DS uses water. I wont use tooth paste on DS until he can spit !!

[veve]

I agree with the replies you have so far .. you should be brushing her teeth already!! as soon as they have teeth coming through the gums, bacteria starts to build.

Start her off with a soft (stage one??) toothbrush and just water - sing a song - brush your teeth at the same time .. make it fun ..

Slowly move up to a baby or child's toothpaste .. and the next stage of toothbrush.

I"ve always made teethbrushing fun - and Jack will come RUNNING to clean his teeth when I clean mine!

xx
Jen

[sja]

We started brushing as soon as teeth came through. Our first toothbrushes were from the chemist - they slip over your finger, so the bristles are on the pad of your finger (picture a condom with bristles on the end:D). It makes it much easier with small babies. Then when they're a bit bigger, we got them a small toothbrush. We only start using toothpaste when their breath starts smelling, and even then just a tiny amount (also they need to be able to spit).

[*~alegna~*]

I started brushing DD's teeth at 6 months with when her first two came thru. We do it twice a day now, with a dab of milk teeth toothpaste. Only cause she doen't really like having her teeth brushed that much, so the froth and taste makes her let me do it for longer.

:yes: Yep same, accept DS was 9 mths when he got his teeth so from then, with toothpaste.

He's 19 months now & every morning & night he has a go them I give them a PROPER clean, he rinses his own mouth & wipes on his little hand towel :goodvibes: he's terribly cute!..:laughing:

[Lollie86]

We started when DD first got her bottom 2 with a cloth and water and she just got her top 2 this month and I bought a little toothbrush last week and so far have been doing it twice a day.

[HanCh]

Ok, well Im off to buy a toothbrush today then :yes:
Just wondering though, the mums who use toothpaste with your children, what do you do if your child cant spit? Do you just leave the toothpaste in their mouth and let them swallow it????

[HugsAndKisses]

Ok, well Im off to buy a toothbrush today then :yes:
Just wondering though, the mums who use toothpaste with your children, what do you do if your child cant spit? Do you just leave the toothpaste in their mouth and let them swallow it????

i just ask him to spit and show him how by demonstrating...but he's not very good at it...i only put a really small ammount on his brush anyway so if he swallows it its not alot at all!!

[veve]

i just ask him to spit and show him how by demonstrating...but he's not very good at it...i only put a really small ammount on his brush anyway so if he swallows it its not alot at all!!
yup - I put the TINIEST amount on ..

dentists say that an ADULT should only use an amount the size of a sultana (not pour it on like they do in the ads) .. so Jack only just gets enough to make froth .. iykwim

xx
Jen

[Clareabell]

My 11 month old DS had his check up recently with the childhood nurse and she told me that DS should now be using a toothbrush and when he turns 1 start using the SMALLEST amount of childrens toothpaste (she said it doesn't matter if he swallows a bit as the flouride as it would be good for him anyway)...but she did specify to use the SMALLEST amount.

I just let DS chew on the toothbrush now to get used to it - he is slowly letting me brush his little teeth... He has just cut another 2 teeth (total of 6 now), so his gums have been sore...