https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 14:57:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-706534 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:37:37 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 706534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: that's exactly what we do. I think it's important that we let her do it first and then we help. We talks lot about cavities and the importance of brushing. We also floss a couple times a week.</p> <p>With our second daughter we introduced the gummy brush at 4 months and she loves teeth brushing, especially with tom's strawberry toothpaste. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-706498 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:14:01 +0000 iheartleopardprint 706498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 2 years 7 months and I brush his teeth, occasionally he will try but I always end up doing it. We use non fluoride toothpaste. We don't floss yet, I could never imagine him letting me do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-705843 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:24:08 +0000 T-Mom 705843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>our pediatric dentist (we started at 15 or 18 months) recommended that we brush the child's teeth until age 4. We sometimes let DD brush her own teeth but she definitely cannot be trusted to get into all the nooks and crannies, let alone floss. I used to never floss her but recently she complained of tooth pain, and when I took her into to the dentist, he flossed her and got a bunch of stuff out and her gums were bleeding, so she had some inflammation and pain there (whoops!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-705318 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:54:19 +0000 heffalump 705318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: we do milk before bed but brush after. We have baby ganics, there is no fluoride in it. The first thing lo does when she brushes her teeth is sick the toothpaste off.... we're not ready for fluoride. </p> <p>And its not easy to brush her teeth! Its easier when I sing, but still not easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704718 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:49:15 +0000 pelikila 704718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started going to the dentist at 1 year and DS has checkups and cleanings every 6 months. In the beginning we would have to force him to let us brush his teeth and it slowly got easier. By 2 years he brushes his own teeth but no toothpaste is involved. His dentist said we could use the baby-safe toothpaste but really toothpaste of any sort isn't necessary until DS can control swallowing so the toothpaste doesn't go down. If you choose to use a baby-safe toothpaste however, our dentist said to start with just water and partway through the brushing, add a dab of toothpaste so it isn't such a shock. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704657 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:33:24 +0000 Mrs. Bee 704657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you should definitely not be using fluoride toothpaste at that age. 2 is the earliest i think.. maybe even 3 is better. i have a post coming up on my favorite toothpaste! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704636 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:28:34 +0000 Lozza 704636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use the toddler toothpaste that is ok for ingesting since LO doesn't understand spitting.<br /> We also have an electric toothbrush for LO (probably started him on it around 18 months), and he seems more interested in that than the regular toothbrush, plus I think it does a better job (i.e., even if he just barely moves it around in his mouth, the brush itself does a fair bit of the work). DH also has an electric, so there's the "just like daddy's!" appeal. LO used to HATE teeth brushing but it has gotten a little better- usually he and I brush teeth together, with him kind of half-heartedly brushing his, and then we switch and he brushes my teeth while I get his molars. That seems to work well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704605 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:17:20 +0000 honeybear 704605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 2.5 years and doesn't typically like having his teeth brushed. Too bad, buddy! :) We mostly have to do it either on the bed (while he's lying down), or while he's otherwise distracted. Sometimes he'll consent to having it done while he's sitting and looking at me, or in the bath. The latter requires some contortions on my part, so it isn't my favorite spot, but it usually works because he's generally pretty chill in there. </p> <p>As for how this has evolved, I've cleaned/brushed his teeth since they first came in. He tolerated it then and often even cooperated. For a while when he was one he would stand or sit next to me and I'd give him a brush while I did my teeth and then his, but he decided a few months back that he didn't really enjoy putting the brush in his mouth, except to suck off the toothpaste. Full-scale protests broke out when I tried to actually brush. Now he occasionally asks to brush his teeth by himself, but he doesn't do a particularly good job, so I do it again. </p> <p>We use Tom's fluoride-free children's paste. He still swallows it, so I don't give him much. I've tried to teach him to spit it out, but he hasn't mastered that. He has a drink of water after we're done. </p> <p>The one thing in his mouth he does like to brush? His tongue. Sticking your tongue out at Mom is apparently hysterically funny. He'll even brush it himself. So I save the tongue-brushing for last as a "treat". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704502 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:53:45 +0000 BananaPancakes 704502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We introduced a brush as soon as he cut teeth just before 4 months old. We just did a quick wiping at the time, but seeing as he had 8 teeth by 8 months, we really had to buckle down and get him used to it. We let him play with the brush and chew on it quite a bit, so I think he like the way it feels anyways. We also use a non-flouride toothpaste so it's safe to swallow. </p> <p>Now that he's a year old, I usually sit him up on the counter with me, let him watch me brush my teeth, then it's his turn. I make it all very interesting with lots of demonstrating by opening my mouth up wide and then smiling really big to brush the front of my teeth. He's really into imitating me at this point, so we're doing fairly well with this method.</p> <p>Honestly, to get him interested in things he doesn't love, I really make a big production of it. I talk and make faces in a really animated way and he's tricked into thinking we're having some sort of awesome party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704403 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:29:51 +0000 Honeybee 704403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: hahaha! It hasn't always been easy! We've gone through periods when it was very difficult with DD. We sang her songs, read her stories, etc... during toothbrushing to distract her, and just didn't worry about it if we only got a couple good swipes in every day. It got a lot better for us around 2 years old when we started letting her brush first and then we follow up. DS let's me brush his teeth because I cradle him and cuddle him, but I imagine it will get hard when he decides he's too independent for momma. :)</p> <p>In the toothpaste aisle, you'll find "training toothpaste". It is flouride-free and I think ours is made by Colgate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704390 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:27:43 +0000 T.H.O.U. 704390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Yes, just look for flouride free. I think we use one thats made by Orajel. Publix, Walmart and BRU carries it. </p> <p>We still do the cup of milk after she brushes her teeth. Its not good but oh well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704386 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:26:16 +0000 yellowbird 704386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always suggest to parents to let their LO brush their teeth, but always go in before or after to make sure every surface gets brushed. I know it's hard! The more you do it, the more LO will come to expect it and it should get easier.</p> <p>I would hold off on fluoride toothpaste until LO can spit it all out. I don't know if you have fluoridated water, so maye that's why fl toothpaste was suggested to you.</p> <p>If LO will take milk with dinner time I would switch it, but if its a struggle, its okay as long as you brush afterward! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704377 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:22:52 +0000 irene 704377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: @T.H.O.U.: @artbee: What kind of toothpaste do you use? so they are safe to ingest?</p> <p>I still do not understand how it is so easy for you guys to brush your child's teeth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704369 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:20:32 +0000 irene 704369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: @artbee: One stupid question.... should I stop the "before bedtime" cup of milk?</p> <p>Now our routine is, dinner (with water), bathtime, cup of milk with book reading, then teeth wiping, and bedtime. Should I put the milk with dinner, and make brushing his teeth an event after bath time (and maybe I'll brush with him together)? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704364 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:19:37 +0000 Honeybee 704364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Huh, our dentist said we need to brush DD's teeth until she's 5! She's almost 3 right now, and very independent, so she brushes first, and then we brush he molars and hard to reach places. We still don't use flouride toothpaste with her either, since she drinks flouridated city water. Our dentist said it's better to hold off on the flouride toothpaste until she can for sure spit it all out.</p> <p>DS is 12 months and we brush his teeth twice a day. Mostly, he just kinda chews on the toothbrush while we move it around his mouth. He uses training toothpaste. I do floss the kids' teeth sometimes, but it's more weekly than daily. To be honest, I know we should do it daily, but flossing is kinda at the bottom of my to do list, so it doesn't happen very often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704341 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:14:33 +0000 heffalump 704341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 20 months and teeth brushing worries me too. She is great at brushing her own teeth and she loves it, but she doesn't do a great job at it so I like to help her. But she HATES it when I do. I sing the song,<br /> "When you wake up in the morning at a quarter to one<br /> and you want to have a little fun,<br /> You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch...."<br /> And during the ch ch ch's I try to get the teeth that she missed. She usually lets me do that.... but she has a strong grip on that toothbrush!</p> <p>My pediatrician said no need for a dentist until 3 unless there is a problem. But I think we'll go a little earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704339 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:13:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 704339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She started chewing on her tooth brush around 10 months or so. </p> <p>After bath she sits on the counter and looks in the mirror. First I brush her teeth and then she gets a turn. Her turn is mostly just sucking the water off/chewing on it. We are just now at 20 months really getting her to scrub her teeth. </p> <p>Because she sucks on it so much we still use fluoride free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704326 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:10:12 +0000 winniebee 704326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Subscribing to this. My son is 11 mos and won't let me brush his teeth AT ALL. I can wipe them, sort of. A little worried about this one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-teeth-brushing#post-704314 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:06:35 +0000 irene 704314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 14 months old now. Since he had his first teeth when he was 4+ months he HATED anyone to mess with his mouth/teeth. Brushing / wiping his teeth has been a very difficult task.</p> <p>So I have been wiping his teeth with a damp cloth while he is distracted with reading / playing with a book or toy. This is OK until recently I read that they supposed to start learning to brush their own teeth. We bought a toddler toothbrush, and I attempted to brush my teeth together with him. While he looks at me with interest, he doesn't want to try brushing his own. When I try to use his toothbrush on his mouth, he wouldn't let me.</p> <p>This morning I also read that we supposed to start using a bit of floride toothpaste, and brush 2 times a day. I do wipe his teeth 2 times a day but I just can't imagine how do I get a brush with floride toothpaste in his mouth and successfully convinced him to rinse and spit out! They suggest us to start flossing too! What?!</p> <p>Where are you now in terms of with teeth brushing? Any tips and tricks? Also, did you take your child to a dentist and how early did you take him/her? </p>