Pls tell me about brushing your one-year olds teeth!

sdgirl6/7/06 · March 2009

I brush Nathan's teeth twice a day. I sing songs about brushing, let him brush my teeth, let him watch me brush my teeth, let him hold the brush while I control it...but no matter what I do, he hates having his teeth brushed! I know some people say to just let him chew on the brush, but our pedi said that's very dangerous.

I took him to a pediatric dentist after his first birthday, and they showed me how to safely restrain him, but obviously I would prefer not to. He's not old enough to be motivated with charts and stickers.

My question is..Did your DC react the same way at this age? I asked some ladies in my Moms group and they all have perfect children who open wide, and LOVE getting their teeth brushed. I hate having to make him cry twice a day when he's such a happy baby:(

energyzer · March 2009

I just let DS chew on the brush for a couple minutes, under my supervision, at that age to get used to it. I know they say you're actually supposed to brush the teeth but it just wasn't happening here either. He hated it! Closer to 2, we actually started brushing. Now that he's 3, he brushes himself and then lets me brush to get ALL the teeth Big Smile and loves brushing his teeth. He's been to the dentist and everything look fine.

I figure the benefits of brushing teeth at 1 are not so much that you need to be upsetting your child twice a day, or even once a day. Do what feels right to you.

jen_and_tom · March 2009

I give dd one of these infant toothbrushes with Earth's Best baby toothpaste on it to chew on while I am getting her ready for bed. It makes the lotion/diaper change a lot easier too because she's not squirming around.

https://tinyurl.com/cshqwn

sdgirl6/7/06 · March 2009

According to the pedi denist we saw, simply chewing on the brush doesn't clean their teeth well. I'd rather upset him for a few minutes than have to put him under for dental work (A friend of mine had a 4 year old with 7 cavities!!) I was just wondering if my DC was the only one that fussed when having his teeth brushed.

tfarabians · March 2009

If he doesn't like it then twice a day may be a little too much for him at this age. We brush Cruz's teeth in the bathtub. He gets to chew on it for a few minutes in the bath and then he lets us brush them reallly really quick and we are done. I don't push it on him because I want it to be a good thing later, and some nights honestly he just chews on it and won't let us brush real well.

Nancy_Drew · March 2009

DD used to HATE getting her teeth brushed until the past few months. SHe only *barely* had 4 teeth at her 1st b-day so I didn't start brushing regularily until after that. She would kick and scream and wiggle. My dentist doesn't want to see them officially until they turn 3, but she asks about her when I go in. I told her how she screams etc.. and the dentist said "GOod, it's easier to get the brush in that way!" lol (That was in November when I went) About 2-3 weeks later, all of a sudden she let me brush with no hissy fit!

We just bought her some kids flouride free tooth paste that tastes like bubble gum, and we just put a tiny spot on her tooth brush. SHe LOVES to brush now, and will do it herslef. I do grab the brush 1st though and get all of ther teeth, then let her finish up. SHe likes to sit on the edge of the tub with Daddy and they brush their teeth together. SHe likes to rinse her toothbrush now and even she trys to spit in the sink! lol

Give it time, and keep after it. Soon he will love it and want to do it every hour! (Audrey says "knee" for teeth .. in her little baby talk...... and she'd brush all day if she coud now)

sdgirl6/7/06 · March 2009

Nancy Drew, I'm sooo glad to hear that! I think as he get older and wants to be a"big boy", he'll like it. Honestly, It IS easer to brush when he's screaming! He has 8 teeth now, and until he gets his molars in, I can wedge my (clean) finger in his mouth and brush really well! I use a bubble gum flavored, floride free paste too. It's fuuny..Sometimes, he stops crying to taste the toothpaste with his little tongue :-)

tfarabians, How do you do it in the bathtub? I feel icky about the bathwater/soap getting on the brush and in his mouth. Am I being weird?

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2009

I always let Ben brush his own teeth first, and then I do it. Even if he's just chewing on it, who cares? How on earth is that dangerous? You're not leaving him there to fall on it or something.

I sit Ben on the counter facing the mirror, so he sees what's going on the whole time. We've gone through times where he hates it and times where he does it easily. When he was bad, I would use that baby brush taht fits over your finger and just get as much done as I could.

Give it a rest for a little - just go to once a day maybe, or only once a day that you do it, but let him do it twice a day - and then come back to it.

sdgirl6/7/06 · March 2009

Jill, Our pedi told us that he has treated several kids that punctured their mouth with their brush and not to let him hold it. That's what I meant by dangerous.

I have backed off a little. I give him a good brushing at night, and let him play with a bush in the morning under supervision.

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2009

oh good Lord. They won't puncture their mouth unless they're running with it and fall on it. Thye're not going to just ram a toothbrush through their cheek sitting there brushing.

I think you should let him brush his own teeth first. Give him back some control. I know that taking control away from Ben is really what makes him mad. But I tell him we take turns. He can brush and then it's mommy's turn and I brush.

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Pls tell me about brushing your one-year olds teeth!

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