Brushing Baby's Teeth - when to start?

[karmah1]

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!

[mscheerful]

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.

[Monty]

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!

[geomum]

Agree with Monty, I too started as soon as my daughter got her first 2 teeth with a soft finger toothbrush.

[Frenchy]

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.

[reei]

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..

[Neha]

there are tooth paste flouride free which are ok for kids to swallow

[geomum]

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.