NCDR- Baby teeth, brushing and breath.

bumpuser5078523

Logan is 10 months and has six teeth.
I quit using his toothpaste because he doesn't like it and it's super sticky! Like it's full of sugar. I looked at the ingredients and didn't recognize any sugars.

He has slightly bad breath, is this because I don't use toothpaste or because he's just stinky? I fed him a lemon wedge at a restaurant hoping it would tame his breath last night.

Into+the+Kitty

Do you brush his tongue, too?

bumpuser5078523

I don't! Why didn't I think of that?! Maybe that will help.

While at Walmart I looked at the Toms kids toothpaste and it had fruit juice, which would also be sticky.

flummadiddle85

Our pedi just told us to use a wet washcloth. That usually just ended up with bitten fingers, or him sucking the water out of it. Now I just use the little finger brush with water, and I think he actually likes it. But he's never had breath problems. Did it start after you weaned? Idk if that would have anything to do with it...

bumpuser5078523

I didn't notice it until this week. He is formula fed now, and has been for a little over a month. Maybe that's why?

I had Chad smell his breath and he smelled it too, so it's not my super pregnant sense of smell.

megpeg

Is he feeling ok? My kids breath smells different when they aren't feeling good. I know when DS is sick because his breath smells funky.

bumpuser5078523

He has a slightly runny nose, but that could be from teething, too. And a bit grouchy. I figured that was because he was bored. We haven't gotten out of the house much, maybe once a week.

These are some interesting ideas. Who knew breath could be so deep! Haha.

nanabanana06

Technically they don't need any toothpaste until they can learn how to spit. Training toothpaste is just to help them learn to spit. Swallowing too much toothoaste with topical flouride isn't good for anyone. We just brush twice a day with a regular toddler brush. Sometimes I'll use tooth wipes.

unaveragejane

FWIW, we have the Tom's toothpaste and it turns brown in the cap where the residual toothpaste hits air. It also seems to make his toothbrush really stiff if I don't rinse it well. But I haven't noticed that it is super sticky otherwise.

runningyogimama

We were told we didn't need to use toothpaste yet, either. The only time I've noticed smelly breath (and she was on smelly AR formula until recently) was when she had a cold and was super congested a couple of weeks ago.

chknma

DD thinks toothpaste is for eating so I try to avoid using it. Most of the toddler toothpastes I've tried are yucky, so I use a little bit of coconut oil since she asks for toothpaste. She sometimes has stinky breath in the morning that is worse if she's snotty.

YellowLily2013

DS's breath is sour smelling. I think it's gotten worse since introducing solids. He's still on reflux meds but the smell won't go away. We try to wipe his mouth out but haven't been super diligent since he hasn't had teeth.... Until this week! First tooth broke the gums but still isn't showing really.

Anyway op I feel your pain. I'm glad you asked this question.

bumpuser5078523

How do you brush their tongue?! I tried and wasn't very successful. He kept tucking it back and squirming. I think brushing tickles him. He giggles. It's adorable.

I think he has a slight cold. Maybe his bad breath will leave when it's gone.

Are there any foods he can eat that help with bad breath? I know lemons can ruin enamel, so I don't want to give him those too much.

Into+the+Kitty

When she was that age she was only just starting to let me brush he tongue. Prior to that I used a baby washcloth and swiped my finger over her tongue.

bumpuser5078523

He would gnaw my finger off if I did that!! That kid has 6 teeth and gets me every time! Haha

Beth.1212

My DS has awful breath! We do our best to brush his teeth. He's not very cooperative :P  We'll have to start trying to brush his tongue if we can manage it. 

I just saw tonight that the ADA is recommending a VERY small amount - somewhere around the size of a grain of raw rice - of floride toothpaste for kids as soon as they get their first tooth. (One report here.) That bit of mint might help a little!