Brushing teeth?

When do you start brushing lo's teeth? From the moment they cut their first tooth?

Does it hurt their gums if they're teething?

Any special toothpaste other than just a kids toothpaste?

At dd's 6 month appt our pedi prescribed a fluoride vitamin (liquid dropper). Is that standard?

EDIT. One more question. When would I brush her teeth at night? She gets a bedtime bottle as part of her bedtime routine and then she is out. It would be pointless to brush her "teeth" (one tooth lol) and then give her a bottle to then just go to sleep

Message edited 2/9/2014 8:22:30 AM.

Re: Brushing teeth?

You can get a baby toothbrush but you can't use toothpaste yet. The fluoride vitamins are standard.

Brushing teeth?

I started brushing DD's teeth when the first tooth was fully in. I just bought a toothbrush/toothpaste set for toddlers (it's fluoride free and safe if swallowed). She loves when I brush her teeth, so I am guessing it doesn't hurt her gums (she only has her 4 front teeth).

The ped also gave us the vitamin fluoride when she was 6 months. It smells really gross and DD hates it. So i try to sneak it to her in between bites when she's eating breakfast.

Message edited 2/9/2014 7:54:03 AM.

Brushing teeth?

Just get an infant set with a finger brush and flouride free toothpaste.

I went back and forth with the vitamins. They are gross (we had ones with iron and flouride) but DD actually liked them. Some people on this site will have you thinking you are poisoning your own kid by giving flouride. I don't know, I could never find any info personally other than that it's recommended.

Brushing teeth?

Hmm. Dd actually loves the fluoride drops but I wasn't sure if I should be giving it to her just bc my pedi said so. I'm sure there are diff opinions on that.

It makes sense not using toothpaste when they are this little, she's only 7 1/2 months but I guess if we use one without extra fluoride and is safe if swallowed then It's ok?

Message edited 2/9/2014 8:15:24 AM.

Re: Brushing teeth?

We started a few weeks ago. She has 8 teeth and honestly I was able to smell her breath so I figured it was time! I got a set with 2 brushes one is a started brush and the other is 2+ . I give it to her when she takes a bath and she will chew on it the entire time!

Brushing teeth?

They make safe ones for toddlers/babies they are always fluoride free. Baby Ganics makes one that I use and my dd LOVES. Shes always loved brushing her teeth. Initialy I started out just once a day in the morning, but once she got more teeth I started doing it twice a day. And yes I brush her teeth and then give her a bottle. Like your dd shes out cold with her bottle. BUT I always brush her teeth just because she ate all day and I don't want all of that sitting in her teeth. Shse also older than your dd.

Re: Brushing teeth?

When they are that young and don't have many teeth you can just use a washcloth to swipe the teeth clean without toothpaste.

Re: Brushing teeth?

We have the fluoride vitamins. Some days dd loves them, other days she gives us a hard time.

I was wiping the inside of her mouth with a gauze pad that I'd wet. I just started with an infant toothbrush, but dd won't let me go near her with it!

Re: Brushing teeth?

I agree, get the infant set where it's the "toothbrush" that goes on your finger and toothpaste that's safe for 6m & up. I started when dd had 2 teeth. I figured it was better to get her used to it. dd has 6 teeth now... we brush our teeth together every morning. she "brushes" hers while I brush mine, and then I go over hers again myself. then at night, she "brushes" hers after her bath - even though she'll still have a bottle before bed. I only started brushing them the 2nd time when she was over a year. and sometimes I forget, honestly. morning is always a standard though.

dd was also given the liquid vitamins as of her 6m visit. she hated them at first but now loves them.

Re: Brushing teeth?

I don't think you need to until the molars are in. I just got baby toothbrushes and toothpaste for their easter baskets. Its an 18mo plus toothbrush.

Brushing teeth?

We've been brushing with just water since she started eating food, but I started smelling her breath a few weeks ago so now we use the training toothpaste. It says it's safe for 3-36 months. No fluoride. 2x a day

Re: Brushing teeth?

DD had a lot of teeth pretty fast so we started around 9-12 months brushing her 8 little teeth. I think we got more consistent when she turned 1 and made it art of her bedtime routine. We brushes after we bottle or sippy cup as she was still up. I think 6 months is a tad early and DD was still falling asleep on the boob back then so give I some time!