Does anyone brush their baby's gums/teeth?

Adriana - posted on 10/05/2009

Thanks soooo much once again everyone! I brush and give her her baby tootbrush and she puts it right in her mouth and lets me brush her teeth too!
I appreciate all your excellent advice!

Adriana - posted on 10/05/2009

Thanks soooo much once again everyone! I brush and give her her baby tootbrush and she puts it right in her mouth and lets me brush her teeth too!
I appreciate all your excellent advice!

Jessica - posted on 10/04/2009

Every night while my son is bathing I brush his gums and teeth with an infant soft bristle brush, he loves it. I use Oral B Stages teeth and gum cleanser. After I'm finished I let him take over. I think knowing that he gets to brush when I'm down allows me to get away with it.

Tosha - posted on 10/03/2009

My son likes to suck the toothpaste off his brush, so I think he'll soon lose it. I mostly just let him brush, chew on the brush, etc. I try to get a few swipes in there. He also has tooth brush time at daycare now. I will admit I didn't do much until he had an actual tooth.

The key is to "move the germs around" so they don't sit and multiply. Eventually they die and there are no new ones to replace them. Toothpaste is supposedly not even needed for adults as long as they are studious enough.. floss a lot, etc. That being said, I use toothpaste.

I also brush my teeth with him.

Gina - posted on 10/02/2009

I let him watch me was I brush my teeth, then give him his baby tooth brush to mimic me. He likes it, because it tickles his gums! Just keep trying...if you make it a daily routine, she'll get used to it. Oh, and I didn't start until he turned one already, but he didn't cut his first tooth until just a few weeks ago. As soon as he did, I introduced his tooth brush.

Rahni - posted on 10/02/2009

All good ideas. Just a tip that toothpaste is not necessary for under 1 year old either. It's the action that does the cleaning not the paste. My baby doesn't even really like using the toothbrush but just holding it.SO I bought a second toothbrush,I use 1 and then let her use the other. It seems to help.

Adriana - posted on 10/01/2009

Thanks so much everyone! I appreciate all the help :)

Aundrea - posted on 10/01/2009

I use a small tooth brush for my son. i started brushing my sons teeth when we can home from the hospital. He is now starting to turn when i try to brush them now. What i do now is i give him the tooth brush and let him put it in his mouth then he will give it to me and i do it. I use the infant tooth paste that has flavors. I also take him with me when i brush my teeth and he likes me to do his after he sees me do mine. hope this helps

Tiffany - posted on 09/30/2009

I just recently started brushing my daughter's teeth, she's 1 year, and now has 6 teeth :) [[The reason I started brushing her teeth is because she is eating 'big people' food.]] :) I brush her teeth when I brush my teeth, most babies will enjoy doing what mommy is doing. :)

Kristin - posted on 09/30/2009

you bet, I hope it works. I also smile while I brush!

Jane - posted on 09/30/2009

my sons toothbrush is a teether as well and he loves it it helps also that we do our teeth at the same time he thinks its funny and quite happily finishes brushing his teeth on his own

Adriana - posted on 09/30/2009

Thanks Kristin, I'm going to try that!

Kristin - posted on 09/30/2009

We used a wet rag until about two months ago. Now he brushes them himself with a small soft toothbrush. The key is giving them a mirror to watch themselves in and brushing your teeth with them. Of course I just pretend to brush with a dry brush, but you get the picture.

Adriana - posted on 09/30/2009

Thanks for all the great advice everyone! I'm going to keep trying!

Michelle - posted on 09/30/2009

iv brushed my sons teeth since he was 6 months when he got his first tooth, he hates it now just as much as he did then! i pick a time in the day wen hes calm, brush them, he moves his head everywhere at first but then he gets used to it and opens his mouth, but it is a fight at the beginning then he plays, after iv cleaned them i let him play with the toothbrush, brushin them himself...

Jodie - posted on 09/30/2009

i started at about 6 months i think i let him chew on the tooth brush for a min then i take it and brush his teeth and give it back for a few more mins after im finished he loves to have his teeth brushed i think it tickles him haha just hold her down and do it tell she gets used to it

Deanna - posted on 09/29/2009

I started brushing my son's teeth and gums when he cut his first tooth (at 5 or 6 months of age). I use the infant toothpaste (has a berry flavor to it) and and finger toothbrush. He loves it. But just keep trying, they don't always like things the first few times.

Alison - posted on 09/29/2009

we have a small toothbrush with soft bristles. My baby loves to hold the toothbrush while I brush, and then he does it himself while he looks in the mirror.