Advice About When to Brush Teeth/go to the Dentist

I didn't take my 2 children to the dentist until they were 3 as they didn't have any problems. I started brushing my children's teeth with baby toothpaste (that says it's ok to swallow that came with a thimble type toothbrush as soon as they had teeth. That also gets them used to it. When they had a full mouth, then I began using a small children's toothbrush.

I would recommend Dr. Alex Villasenor. She's a pediatric dentist:

Alejandra Villasenor
8325 Walnut Hill, #111
Dallas, TX 75231
United States
Ph: ###-###-####

I found her location on the internet. She used to have a practice close to me, but she relocated too far from me.

Pediatric dentists are pretty expensive, so you may want to wait to go until your child is older and just brush your baby's teeth.

B.

1 mom found this helpful

There is a tooth paste for babies called ora-jell and it is in the baby section at Wal-mart it is best to start using when the baby gets there teeth because the formula can cause cavity

I believe they are now suggesting your baby have a check up at 12 months old. You can always start wiping down the tooth with a wet cloth and slowly start introducing a infant tooth brush and use a infant flouride free tooth paste.
I hope that helps but I'm not a dentist you should definetly get their advice.

Start brushing as soon as they have teeth. Use fluoride free toothpaste until they can spit it out (usually around 3). Most pediatrian recommend going to the dentist at 3. However, most pediatric dentist recommend starting at 2 (which is what we did) because they get used to it sooner. Now my daughter who is 3-1/2 goes back all by herself & has even had x-rays. It is also important to go early if they have any habits such as thumb sucking. Best of luck!

Hi R.,
I started brushing my daughters teeth as soon as she got them. She is now 2 yrs old and is very good at brushing her teeth and spitting the tooth paste out.I would brush with a non-flouride paste until he is able to spit on his own. You don't want him swallowing the flouride. I would take him to the dentist when he is still enough to allow a stranger into his mouth. Probably at 2-3 yrs old. You don't want to scare him or have a bad experience. If he is older, he will more excited about going and getting his teeth clean. And he will want his prize. =)

Hi R.,
I am a Dental Assistant. All of the offices I have worked in suggested that you start by taking your child to the dentist with you so they can see 1st hand what to expect when they go for the 1st time. This makes it less of a scarry experence.
The dentist in most cases will look in the childs mouth and "Count" their teeth. Check with your dentist to make sure they have the time to do this when your scheduled.
Dentist may vary some what on when to bring your child in.....ask your Dentist what their recomendation is....Between 3-4 years is the norm.....IF the child is not having any problems.
Use ONLY non flouride tooth paste until your child no longer swallows it.

Hope this helps,
Cathy

Hi Racheal,

I was told by my dentist that my daughter should have her first check up when she turns one. I live in the Duncanville Area and don't know much about your area as far as a referral, sorry.

Hi R.,
Our peditrician recommended that our 3 y/o now start visiting the dentist. Both my 3 y/o and my 21 month old brush with flouride free toothpast b/c they both still swallow it.

Hope that helps.
D.

Get a referral from your pediatrition. Our pediadontist is awesome, but in SW Fort Worth. They suggest starting at least by age two - they don't do much the first visit, just get them used to going. They give them lots of prizes (balloon animals, bouncy balls, stickers, etc.) so the kids LOVE to go to the dentist - mine are soooo excited, which I think is good.
Do NOT use fluoride products - I've always bought the toothpaste that has Little Bear on the box - they sell it at Target. Don't switch to "kid" toothpaste with flouride until after two. Honestly, I hate toothbrushing time - it's hard to do with three little ones especially when they start "I can do it myself!" I just try to get in there and brush for them once a day and let them do it by themselves the other time. Good luck!

Well I worked for a while at Dr. Roberts (pediatrics) in the Kroger shopping center on Beach & Western Center. She is great and works very well w/ children. We normally saw children around age 3. We told parents any earlier and they didnt understand the concept and it just scared them. My daughter is 3 1/2 and I am about to get an appt for her. Im hoping Dr. Roberts is on my insurance though. Its been awhile snice I worked there so I forgot the phone number...sorry!

Hi Rachel. My daughter will be 3 years old in November, and at her doctor's appointment today, he said children should have their first dentist appt at 3 years. When my daughter was teeting, I got one of those thimble, rubber like things, and massaged her gums, and I also used that when she started cutting her first teeth. As soon as she had a full tooth, I got her an infant toothbrush, and used that with the infant toothpaste from the thimble-like think kit. She now brushes her teeth 3 times a day having been intorduced to it so early. My pediatrician said that was a very good idea, and her teeth look great. Good luck!

I made toothbrushing part of my kids evening routine starting at 6 months (with or without teeth). At first, we just handed them a toothbrush to chew on for a minute, then we'd say "bye-bye toothbrush" and put it away. There are a couple kinds of fluoride-free toothpaste. Gerber and Oragel both make one that you can find in the baby section at Wal-mart. It's about $6 or so. We found a cheaper one on the same isle as regular toothpaste -- Oral-B Stages Baby Tooth & Gum Cleanser. It's a 2.2 oz tube. My 16 month old loves to brush teeth. He sits on the bathroom counter and chews on the toothbrush (mostly eating the toothpaste off...), and is getting better about letting me have a turn brushing for him after he's had his turn (I only get about 20 seconds, but it's the practice that counts). We make a lot of sound effects and all brush teeth as a family so it's fun for them. When you're just beginning, it's more about routine than technique. It's ok if he doesn't brush thoroughly, don't force it - your main goal is that it's a good experience. Our pediatrician and our dentist say a first dental check-up isn't usually practical or necessary until age 3. Our 3-year-old had her first "happy visit" to our regular dentist last month (some regular dentists won't take kids, but most do). They typically don't expect to do a full cleaning on the first visit, it's just to familiarize them with the environment. They tell the kids they need to count their teeth, and they let them see all the instruments.
Hope this helps! Happy brushing!

We started using an infant brush and the Oragel toothpaste that's safe to swallow at around 18 months. Our pediatrician reccemended waiting until 3 for the first visit to the dentist. So we went at 3 and she said at that point that we should switch to a flouride paste and that we should start flossing too.

My ped doc said start at 2. I took my son at 2 because I believe in starting early. Don't use flouride yet. Look in the toothpaste section, and there will be some kids' toothpaste without flouride.

Hi R.,
EVeryuone has given you great advice aon when to start things. As has been said- the pedi work for recommends 3 y/o for routine dental checks (sooner if there is a problem) and 2 y/o for kiddie tooth paste w/ floride. Just use in small amounts.

We don't have dental insirance. I take my kids to Southwester Dental Clininc in the shopping center at Skillman and Abrams. Any of the quick screen clinics are fine for routine checks. If there was a problem I would save my$$ and go to a pedi dentist.

D.