Which age for starting brushing the teeth?

Pam - posted on 12/04/2009

When my son started getting teeth I ws told by the plunket nurse to wipe it with a clean damp cloth due to that their gums are still sensitive for a tooth brush I think its after they are 1 you can use a tooth brush my boy is nearly 4 so it may have all changed now. but was also told even if a toothbrush cant be used still use the clean damp cloth till the tooth brush can be used. hope this helps other wise seek advice from you local district nurse or your GP.

Kelli - posted on 12/04/2009

Orajel has a baby toothpaste. But I must say the most important thing is to get these kids in the habbit of brushing their teeth and it being fun. Not a punishment. So if it's not done great to start with or even if there isn't any toothpaste on the brush it should be something that they like to do. Developing the healthy habbit is most important to me. The skill will develop when they get older. (Baby teeth fall out anyway)

Janine - posted on 12/04/2009

I also put a lil bit of toothpaste on the brush and let my daughter brush her own teeth or eat the tooth paste as she does, then I put a little but more toothpaste on and then I brush them myself properly for her.......

Janine - posted on 12/04/2009

I bought a set of 3 toothbrushes, first one is basically just rubber with little raised bumps on it for gum stimulation really and is to be used when they have 0 to 2 teeth, then the next one has two sides, one with a few bristles and the other rubbery for the gums, and this is when they have between 3 to 6 teeth and the last one is from 7 teeth onwards and is a normal baby toothbrush.
I found this to be great, just use the right toothbrush depending on where they are at with their tooth development.
And if you can start them as early as possible, it gets them into a good habit and routine of brushing their teeth.
In the beginning you don't even need to use toothpaste if you don't want to, you can just try getting them used to the tooth brushing motions first and then add toothpaste, depends on your bub of course....

Brandy - posted on 12/04/2009

At 3 months. They have these little rubber tooth and gum cleaners that slip onto your finger and they come with baby toothpaste that is safe to swallow and they don't need much anyways. Then once they have quite a few teeth, you can buy then a stage 1 toothbrush.

Amy - posted on 12/04/2009

at about 18 months we started brushing our sons teeth, we should have started sooner, but just didn't think about it. We put the smallest amount of tooth paste on, that way there isn't much for him to swallow.

Rusununguko - posted on 12/04/2009

age to start brushing teeth is when the first one comes up and you can just use a cotton bud on the first few with just water and at 1 yr only half a pea size onthe tip of the tooth brush ,try make a game out of it by telling them to make a, e i ,o u sounds and use super speed to get in and out with each sound . good luck

Shonda - posted on 12/04/2009

Well i have 4 boys and you should brush they teeth with bacon soda until he is old enough to use tooth paste

Ashley - posted on 12/04/2009

you can start brushing teeth as soon as the first tooth pops in with non floride toothpaste as long as there three months old an he is going to swallow my son is twenty months an has been getting his teeth brushes since he was 7 months old an he still swallows it it an its ok as long as its not alot, an to make it better you can try leeting him help you if you start brushing teeth young little once usally dont mind when you do it

Maggie - posted on 12/04/2009

use no flouride kid toothpaste. You should start brushing at least once a day as soon as the first tooth pops through.

Betsy - posted on 12/04/2009

Babies and toddlers should be using non-flouride baby toothpaste which is safe for swallowing. I wipe their gums from birth with a wet soft baby wash cloth, otherwise the milk just sits as a breeding ground for bacteria. Then switch to brushing as soon at the first tooth erupts.

Monica - posted on 12/04/2009

As soon as the first tooth come in I started because to keep a good habbit for them to keep as early the better.

Natasha - posted on 12/04/2009

I started brushing Ambers' teeth when the first one appeared, I also hold the toothbrush myself so that I can make sure we actually brush the teeth and it's not only the toothpaste being eaten. You are also only supposed to put on a tiny bit.

Kylie - posted on 12/04/2009

there r sum toothbrushes on the market in a pack 4 babies as lil as 4mths old, the baby can hold the brush and gum on the end, it stimulates the gums and saliva so clean the babies mouth, wen ur child gets a bit older there r sum kids t/pastes that r safe 4 children if they do swallow it, Milk Teeth is 1 brand that i have used.

Dianne - posted on 12/04/2009

You can start brushing your childrens gums before their teeth come through. It makes much easier on you as they get used to this process and fight you evry time and yes the best tooth paste is the type that can be swallowed until they are old enough to learn to rinse their mouths and spit it out. I am a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. This is a tried and true way.

Stina - posted on 12/03/2009

As soon as my kids had thier first tooth break through, I wiped thier gums with a wet cloth. Once thier teeth were in further in, we used a tooth brush and kid tooth paste at first. If you have floridated water, you can even skip toothpaste and brush with water if you are worried about your son swallowing too much toothpaste. If you are on well water though, talk to your dentist or pediatritian about getting flouride drops or tablets for him to chew.

My kids are 5, 3 and 7 mo. The older two brush with a teensy bit of regular toothpaste. My 5 yo is able to spit it out now. We take turns with both of them. I don't know how other 5 yo boys are, but mine has some motor skill challenges and minor cognitive delay so we still take a turn brushing his teeth. Basically, take care of the teeth as soon as they come in.

Lydia - posted on 12/03/2009

We have had mum and daughter toothbrushing time since she was 6months - although she doesnt actually have any teeth yet at almost a year! She pretty much just chews on the brush so I only use just enough toothpaste for her to get some flavour

Reb - posted on 12/03/2009

Under 2 don't use tooth paste, but do brush. I started as soon as teeth appeared. Under 2, ask ur pediatrician before using any type of paste even if for babbies.

Mary - posted on 12/03/2009

I did the same thing, i started brushing my sons teeth/gums at about 9 months. Before i used a toothbrush, i used this rubber, finger slip thing. It has little rubber bristles instead of the hard ones so that it's not too rough in their mouth.

Misty - posted on 12/03/2009

As soon as they start teething. This get's them used to you rubbing their gums at specific times, ie, after they eat/drink. you can just wrap a washcloth around your finger or if you want to get fancy get one of those finger brushes. when they are teething they will love chewing on your finger while you rub all of their gums. keep that up, then when the teeth break through make sure they are brushed in the morning and before bed after any bottles or food. Would also recommend no night bottles or only water at night once the first teeth show up, you'd be suprised how fast bottle rot can spring up...

Malissa - posted on 12/03/2009

you can buy baby toothpaste, made by Orajel, its safe for them to swallow. i started brushing my kids teeth as soon as they came in!