Brushing teeth

jmckeag

Hi All -- I mostly lurk, but have a typical FTM question.  How am I supposed to brush my 11 mo daughter's teeth?  I got the little rubber toothbrush thing that goes on the end of your finger and child safe toothpaste.  We bathe her every other night and brush her teeth then (well try to anyway). I know we should do it every night, but we are still trying to figure this out.  Anyway, she only lets me put the toothbrush in her mouth if I will let her bite on it.  She won't actually let me brush anything.  Any tricks you know of? TIA.

acaudill75

Yeah, DD1 tried to bite through my finger at first. You can also use a washcloth. Most importantly is not to give them sugary foods. I couldn't really get DD1 to let me brush her teeth before she was able to hold the toothbrush and do it herself. When I took her to the dentist at 2, I was told her teeth were really healthy and strong, and just be diligent about brushing and no sticky sugar treats. And if you live in an area that puts flouride in the water, let them drink from the tap, not from bottled water. You can't let them use florinated toothpaste until they learn to spit the stuff out, but the water is safe (hopefully).

acaudill75

Now that I think of it, why hasn't anyone invented a chew toy for babies like they have for dogs??? One that helps clean their littles chompers and prevent tooth decay? I would buy that!

diana.filipi

I don't let it be optional.  Once there are teeth they can begin to build plaque and decay.  We brush whether the kids like it or not.  So far, IME, they go in and out of phases of tolerating it and pitching a fit over it.  We do it no matter what.  Does it really matter if the kid likes it?  By doing it and always doing it they begin to realize that it WILL be done and you save yourself fights over it later.

DD had her first pediatric dentist appointment at 16 months, DS will have his at 13m, and who knows about this next kiddo, it'll be once they have some teeth.

Peepp79

We try to do it every morning. I guess we should do it more. I use a children's toothbrush from the dentist. She loves watching us brush our teeth..she gets a kick out of it. So I brush my teeth for her entertainment first and then do hers with just water. 

JWSchwarz

We hand DS his own toothbrush and he chews on it, then I try to get mine in there to do a more thorough job. It helps if they are looking in the mirror because most babies think mirrors are hilarious. He also likes watching the water run in the sink. I think it's all about distraction at this point!

JWSchwarz

acaudill75:

Now that I think of it, why hasn't anyone invented a chew toy for babies like they have for dogs??? One that helps clean their littles chompers and prevent tooth decay? I would buy that!

there is one and I bought it. It is a round teething ring with little toothbrush nubbins on it. I can't remember what it was called but I saw it in a Parents magazine and ordered it from amazon. Not worth the $ since ds is just as happy chewing on a real toothbrush. 

ktpaladino

I do it during bathtime with a washcloth. LO loves the bath and is always super distracted with his bath toys so it makes it pretty easy.