brushing teeth?

Re: brushing teeth?

• je2161 member

  February 2012

  We got an infant toothbrush in a set that also included a toddler toothbrush and a teether. DD has 6 teeth now and I can see more coming. We "brush" her teeth with the infant toothbrush and water from time to time- not necessarily everyday but regularly. She even brushes her own teeth- well, she holds it and uses the end like a teether, while I am nearby supervising. She seems to like playing with it!

  

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• bhilyer member

  February 2012

  We're still toothless, but we use this on the boys' gums:

   

  https://www.amazon.com/NUK-Gerber-Giggles-Infant-Cleanser/dp/B000GCE5C6/ref=pd_bxgy_ba_img_c

   

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• Athena0809 member

  February 2012

  I have one similar to the one bhilyer posted, I brush his two teeth every night (I might forget here and there) He likes his teeth brushed, he opens right up and one side has the soft brush and the other side had a softer side to brush gums.

  

  
  

  
  My Blog: Naturally Mindful
  
  

  

  

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• kuipogirl member

  February 2012

  My LO has 6 teeth and I brush them probably every other day. I forget a lot. I mostly remember when he has a bath which is every other night. I found an infant brush at the grocery store which he likes chewing on.
  

  DS1 5/15/11
  DS2 12/20/12
  
  

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• bcnoelle member

  February 2012

  I asked my friend about this who is a pediatric dentist and even she seemed a little clueless. If you can try to wipe them off with a wet cloth and never let your child go to bed with anything other than a bottle or sippy cup with water, you should be fine. It is very rare for babies to get plaque. You mostly need to worry about baby bottle caries, where milk, juice, or formula is in direct contact for a prolonged period of time.

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• lulabellalula member

  February 2012

  what if it's mommy milk? My LO still nurses to sleep & periodically nurses throughout the nights....is this bad? 

   

   

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• jazzyag

  February 2012

  lulabellalula:

  what if it's mommy milk? My LO still nurses to sleep & periodically nurses throughout the nights....is this bad? 

   

   

  *please excuse any lack of capitals/ typos, I'm nursing and typing*

  I would try to cut back on night nursing as much as you can, and try to get your LO to swallow when you unlatch.  This will keep the milk from pooling.  There are enzymes in mommy milk that kill some decay bacteria, but they can't kill it all.

  DD#1 nursed a lot at night and got cavities before her 2nd birthday, before she had even had her teeth a year. 

  Brushing after meals with a brush, a piece of gauze, or a washcloth will help remove the food particles too.  Our dental health nurse also has reccomended Xylitol gel/ drops, it helps reduce decay by making it hard for plaque bacteria to stick to teeth.

  The bacteria that cause cavities are actually passed from person to person, usually mother to child, so avoiding mouth to mouth contact and sharing things like utensils can also reduce the risk of cavitties.

  I am planning on night weaning as soon as DD#2 gets teeth, and using a  small amount of fluoride toothpaste once a day.  Not everyone needs the fluoride so young, but we are at risk for decay, and it has been rec'd by both our dentist and dental nurse.

  Children should be seen, and heard, and believed.

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