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Problems with brushing teeth?

Misun - posted on 03/04/2010 ( 4 moms have responded )

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My little boy, Dylan is going to turn one in 2wks. Right now, Dylan has 6 teeth and as they started to appear, i used a gum massager to soothe his gums and get him used to shape (it has a toothbrush like handle) he was fine until all the teeth were out and clearly needed brushing. i tried brushing with just water first, but now he will cry himself sick to avoid it. i've tried brushing his teeth after feeding him and if he weren't buckled in, he might've pushed himself out of the chair. i don't brush dylan's teeth right now since he equates his high chair with the unpleasantness of tooth brushing. did i start too early? did i even need to brush his teeth until they've all come out?

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Misun - posted on 03/10/2010

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thanks for all your replies. i support and helpful replies. i ended up leaving the gum massager on the high chair tray so he can play with it during the meal times (it's has rubber "bristles") and bought the original baby banana toothbrush for him. the whole thing is bendable and made of silicone with soft silicone bristles and has other textures all over it. it is by far his favorite teething/chew toy right now. so he is inadvertently brushing his own teeth and doesn't even know it :) i'll be getting more of them soon!

Elizabeth - posted on 03/05/2010

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It's encouraged to brush their teeth as soon as they have them.

For me my main goal is to get the good habit started -wether she gets brushed really well or just for a few seconds. I don't push it too far when she is refusing to continue as I don't want to make it a big deal and deter her (that's what happened to me as a kid and I would avoid brushing at all costs because of it). I have gerber fruit flavoured toddler toothpaste that she seems to like (sucks it off the brush sometimes!) and I just sit her on the counter in the bathroom, I let her play with her toothbrush while I brush (I may get another so she can keep it while she brushes with another one. I don't think it's a good idea to let the baby have another person's as I have heard that it transfers any bacteria from one maouth to the other and if there is any decay or gingivitis it can be transferred resulting in big trouble for little teeth.

Good luck and happy brushing!

Beck - posted on 03/04/2010

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Corey is one on Sunday, he has about 4 toothbrushes that are around the house (plus one in the car and one in the bath) (plus he loves ours which he uses while we shower or when he showers with us!!!) he just uses them during the day, he is always munching on one. So we dont have specific tooth brushing time but just give him the brush after meals and he picks the others up during the day. He is very good at brushing them back and forth. He only has 5 at the front. We sing the "we brush our teeth" song and demonstrate the actions, plus he watches us do ours. I dont think you did the wrong thing. Id just say he is going through a differenet stage and phase. Kepp offering him the toothbrush - bath time is a good time. Let him watch you do yours. Lots of encouragement and he will be fine. Good luck

Jennifer - posted on 03/04/2010

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You could try using a thin baby wash cloth to wipe off/ brush his teeth. We started that first before the tooth brush.

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