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| Start now! My daughter just turned ayear but i havebeen brushing hergums since she was 3months. She is very good about letting me brush her teeth unless she is getting a new one then she will only let me use the finger brush (which is still good). Just make sure the toothpaste is floride free (safe to swallow). Gerber makes 1 |
| posted by Amanda on 04/11/2008 11:24 AM
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| You should start really early... I started with both of mine when they were a few months (I think 3 months)... even before they have teeth, it's always a good idea to clean their gums, just to get them used to the idea |
| posted by Michelle on 04/11/2008 11:31 AM
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| If you wait until they're all in, they may end up with problems like cavities... also they'll be more resistant since they wouldn't be used to it |
| posted by Michelle on 04/11/2008 11:32 AM
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| The sooner you start the better off they will be. It is good to get them in the habit of brushing not only that, but it is better for their teeth and gums. Just make sure not to give them any fluoride. |
| posted by Trisha on 04/11/2008 12:26 PM
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| You should start brushing as soon as she gets her first tooth. My youngest has 2 teeth (he's 6 months) and I have been brushing his teeth since he was 4 months old. Start early. |
| posted by Sam on 04/11/2008 12:48 PM
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| I took my son to a childrens dentist just to make sure all his teeth were looking okay because he used to throw a fit about having his teeth brushed, I definetly think as soon as they start getting teeth you should brush them, the dentist said you can use toothpaste with flouride just not a lot, not like what we would use just a tiny amount, he said this does not hurt them, then a dental assistant told me you don't really even need to use toothpaste just wet the brush, but we have always just put some on the toothbrush and they have the falvored kind for kids which makes it a little more exciting for them. if you could get her in the habit now it will be so much easier on you as she gets older |
| posted by amy on 04/11/2008 12:53 PM
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| You should start now. You can use a wet wash cloth at first if your daughter completely resists the toothbrush. Once you use the toothbrush and you decide to use toothpaste instead of just plain water, make sure you don't use regular toothpaste with floride. You can occassionally floss her teeth too. I don't do it all the time though (don't know if you should) but I do it when there's meat/food stuck in between her teeth. And make sure you brush/wipe her teeth at least twice a day or after meals. Also, it is recommended by the dental assoc. that they should have their first dental appt at 1 years old (if they have teeth) for their first checkup. Pediatric dentists are equipped to treat the little people. I took my daughter and the whole checkup was like 2 minutes where the dentist checked her teeth and cleaned them (no polishing though). They gave her a toy and toothbrush afterwards so that was cool. If you wait until all the teeth are in, the ones that are already there could develop cavities so you don't want to wait too long. Try to make it fun for her too so she doesn't get stressed out about having something new in her mouth. It'll be strange for her at first. Good luck! :) |
| posted by on 04/11/2008 12:57 PM
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| P.S. about the toothpaste..they sell toddler toothpaste that is floride free. sometimes that helps the kids open their mouth for the toothbrush because they like the sweetness. again, if the toothbrush doesn't work, using a washcloth wet down with water is just as good. kids don't need floride toothpaste until 4 years old and up because that's usually when they are developmentally able to spit it out and not swallow the toothpaste. |
| posted by on 04/11/2008 01:02 PM
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| Ditto on everything previously posted. My daughter is 13 months old and has 9 teeth (4 of them she got last week!). I have always tried to brush her teeth but haven't gotten into a good habit of it yet. She is pretty resistant to it right now, but she's also teething constantly. I think if I had been more consistent up until now, it would be a lot easier for she and I both. |
| posted by Lauren on 04/11/2008 02:59 PM
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| Yes like everyone said start early. Also take turns brushing her teeth, first you do it then give her the brush and tell her "your turn." or vis versa, just make it fun. Thats how we do it and it works. |
| posted by on 04/11/2008 03:48 PM
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| Thank you all so much I just found this site and was a little worried nobody would answer. Well kylie has been actually brushing her teeth by herself for about a month with a really soft toothbrush I was just afraid about the toothpaste. Thank you all so much again, we are going to go brush our teeth:) |
| posted by Cindy on 04/11/2008 04:07 PM
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| oh ya, ditto with april. after i brush her teeth properly, i let her have the toothbrush to "brush" her own teeth and play with while I brush my own. she loves being able to do what mommy is doing and makes it lots of fun for her. :) |
| posted by on 04/11/2008 05:18 PM
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| I had a question why fluoride free? I'm using the nursery water to make my sons bottles and it has fluoride in it...just wondering cause my son is just now getting his first tooth(it started poking thru today) |
| posted by Amers on 04/11/2008 10:47 PM
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| I would suggest looking on line to see what the amount is that is safe but it should be a small anough amount that it won't hurt anyting. |
| posted by Cindy on 04/12/2008 11:03 AM
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I suggest that you start brushing her teeth immediately. Even if she only has two. You can get one of the baby tooth brushes that you stick your finger in and it will get her use to it as well. It's never to early to start teaching good habits.
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| posted by khepera on 04/12/2008 11:04 AM
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| Amers, flouride free because if a person injects TOO much flouride, he/she can develop fluorisis. The child's permanent teeth can be permanently discolored too (I think gray). A young child up until the age of 3 or 4 does not have the physical ability to spit the foamy toothpaste out. So, you are then not able to control how much a child is ingesting (taken into an account that there is fluoride in the tap or bottled water). If you decide to use fluoride toothpaste, it should be very little and possibly under the OK of your dentist/pediatrician. |
| posted by on 04/13/2008 02:37 PM
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