Brushing Baby's First Tooth

Starting the process of brushing teeth and gums should start as early as possible in my opinion. It helps them get use to having something in their mouth like that and will also help get in their routine of brushing. It doesn't have to be 2 or 3 times a day at this age - just once in the morning of before bed.

My youngest has a horrible gag reflex and I learned this early as a result of brushing his gums. If I had not started so early, I fear he would not be as good at brushing his teeth now when it is extremely important to do a good job.

I'm probably the 100th person to tell you this, but buy a little rubber finger brush. Any grocery store, k-mart, etc. sells them. p.s. you don't ever need to buy that fluoride free toddler t-paste, another gimick. Per my dr., regular fluoride t-paste, a very little amt. is fine to use, even on babies, helps to keep their breath fresh....Oh, it is not dangerous to swallow in tiny doses, per your other responses..They need fluoride to make their teeth strong!!! Sometimes, ya just have to think outside the, what everyone else is doing, mommy box once in a while ya know, :)...

My daughter also got her teeth early (she had 6 teeth by the time she was 6 months old). Her pediatrician said after her last bottle in the evening/night to wipe her teeth with clean guaze so the milk/formula does not sit on the teeth during the night. I would just have a piece of guaze ready when I sat down to feed her in the evening and I was able to wipe her teeth even if she had fallen asleep. No toothpaste is needed at this age- you just need to get the milk off the teeth. Hope this helps.

N., yes, you can start brushing your childs teeth, but they do make infant (finger)toothbrushes and tooth paste. walmart sells that and i am pretty sure target/ maybe even grocery stores/ drug stores should carry that too. god bless, and happy holidays! oh, p.s. i wouldnt use a tooth paste with floride it is poison to babies. i tried that on my toddler son per his peidiatrician; that was a big mistake! it made my son "out of it" for weeks!

If you don't like the finger toothbrush cover thingee, you can also use a damp washcloth. Really all you need to do at this point is clean the milk residue from his teeth, and start getting him used to the process.

When my son was around that age he had about 3 or 4 teeth, and he would bite with them..... and even with the finger brush on, it hurt! So I went with a washcloth for awhile. It was less of a struggle.

Yes! Even though they will fall out, it is important to keep these teeth clean & healthy! Bacteria can be present on & between them & you must keep them clean. Start with a rubber finger brush, & you can progress to baby toothbrushes that have stages (the initial one has rubbery nubs that aren't abrasive like even a baby toothbrush might be). I think you can find a set at Babies 'R Us or Burlington's Baby Depot. When he's a little older (a year? ask a dentist) brush with a baby toothbrush, use a dab of baby toothpaste (no fluoride), 2x/day! When he's maybe 1 1/2 or 2 he might want to "do it himself" or help & you can let him brush them some to practice, but you should continue to brush his teeth for him until he's about 7 (check with your dentist if this sounds crazy!) - you will teach him it's important to take care of his teeth & save all of you the hassle/cost of filling cavities! When he has about 4 teeth, you might also introduce flossing - keeping the gums healthy is as necessary as keeping the teeth clean. When he's 3 or 4, you can use something like ACT for Kids, a post-brushing fluoride rinse, to further protect his teeth. I'm all for prevention because I know what my sister went thru with her 2yo when she got cavities - it was awful! Good luck -

There is a "toothbrush" that fits over your finger, which is what I used until my son was old enough to understand to open his mouth and hold a toothbrush. I believe it is made by Oral-B. It also comes with gel that is safe for them to swallow.

Hope this helps!

M.

There is a little rubber thingy that fits over your finger-- it looks like a thimble with bumps on it-- I highly recommend it because if you use a toothbrush, even a toddler one, if he flails around you could really jab him with it-- but you have MUCH more control with your finger covered with the rubber thingy. Babies R Us has them and you can probably find them in Target or WallMart. They sometimes come with a toothpaste that's safe for them to swallow, but you can use it with or without. If he likes the taste of it, it may be easier to get him to comply. I would definately do something to keep his teeth clean at least once a day. Until you find one, use a soft baby washcloth

N.,

yes brush this tooth/teeth. finger brushes with soft bristles. If you decide to go with toothpaste make sure it does not have flouride. (can be toxic at this age). I used Earth's Best & Tom's of Maine for my daughter. Brush the gums too. this will help with the discomfort when he starts teething.

You can brush it with a really soft baby toothbrush. you don't need toothpaste, but when you do, look for Weleda children's tooth gel. It's a very natural brand that is not harmful if swallowed. Children do inevitably swallow it.

Brush them but not with fluoride toothpaste because you don't want him swallowing it. Even tiny amounts are dangerous.