Teeth brushing

My LOs have only got their bottom middle two teeth though DD has got 4 top ones coming through (they´ve broken through but are still growing out).

A dentist told me to give them their toothbrushes to play with only at this stage but I´ve noticed they have a yellowy tinge near the gums. Should I be concerned? When did you start brushing your LOs´ teeth?

TIA!

 

We started using the finger toothbrushes when their teeth first started coming in. I think it was much later when we bought actual toothbrushes and only then because Logan kept biting me when I was trying to brush them.

 

I think I would mention the yellow color to your pedi and see if s/he thinks you should bring them to a dentist.

I brush my girls' teeth with a kids toothbrush and the toddler clear toothpaste. I make sure to go over each tooth once and then I let them do it themselves while I change their clothes. It keeps them occupied.

 

We also used the finger brushes when teeth started to first come in, later we changed to actual toothbrushes. The kids have gone through periods when they can tolerate the brushing, and when they cannot. But, we keep doing it!!! Twice a day!!!! We give them a little book to look at while we get the job done.

 

We started with a finger brush and water at 6 months, and switched to toothpaste and toothbrushes around 10 months. But mine started having teeth around 5 months.

 

We also started when they got teeth, around 7 months. :good: We used the fingerbrushes at first and around 18 months?? or so we started with toddler toothbrushes. We've always been very stern with the rule that we brush their teeth first and then they can do it. My dh let them do it ONE time first and it took me like a week to get them out of that "habit" Good luck! I'd call your ped to see what the yellow stuff is.

 

We started brushing with toothbrushes at 11 months. But that's only because my dad is a dentist & he gave the toothbrushes to us! Before that, I'd been brushing DD's teeth with a finger brush (DS didn't get any teeth till he was 11 months). Now I try to brush them twice a day---they hate it & fight me, so sometimes I skip it when I just don't feel up to the aggravation. Bad mommy, I know!

 

I think we started with toothbrushes around 11 months as well. I would say if you could try brushing the teeth they have to see if the yellowish tinge goes away. We started with toddler brushes. Mine, for some reason, love to brush their teeth :unsure:

 

we had to go to a pediatric dentist b/c my ds chipped a tooth... anyway, the doc suggested a regular kid toothbrush and water. 1 to 2 times a day. he also said that at least for getting the job done the adult needs to brush their teeth until they are over 5 years old or something... oh my! but I'm sure that getting them used to brushing their own is a great way to get them excited about it, and that's a great idea after you've done it.

 

Definitely not a bad mommy. We give them toothbrushes and have since they were first getting teeth (they make excellent teethers!) but we actually wash their teeth with a washrag. They allow that a lot more easily than they do me trying to get the toothbrush in their mouths. I wipe the gumline by all 12 of their teeth and call it good.
We just got firm with that a few months ago...

We also feed alot of naturally plaque cleaning foods like carrots and apples.

 

Thanks for all your input, ladies. I will bring it up with the pedi this week as we have our 15 month check up.

 

I've been brushing their teeth day and night since they had 2 (which was at three and 1/2 mos). I never skip a time. I figure, they are people who have teeth like adults and we brush AT LEAST 2 times per day so.. the babies need to too!! I've always used a regular kids brush. Since they turned 12 months, I've also used regular kids toothpaste.

My kids are soo used to it now, they just open wide and it's no sweat! (I can't believe we've been doing it now for 20 months!) WOW! They're getting old!

 

We started at 11 months; before that we'd just wipe their teeth down with a washcloth after meals (well, we still do that, but now we brush teeth too). We use the finger brushes and toddler toothpaste and do it right before bed (after jammies, before story). We make it a big deal, with singing and high fives, and they love it. As soon as we bring out the finger brush, they open their mouths wide in anticipation. We even made up a song, and brush for the duration:

Old MacDonald had some teeth, EI EI O
And on those teeth he had some plaque, EI EI O
With a brush-brush here and a brush-brush there
Here a brush, there a brush, everywhere a brush-brush
Now his teeth they are so clean, EI EI O.

Yeah, I know we must look like idiots, but it works.

 

We've been using toddler tooth brushes since about 10 months. We put a little baby oragel tooth and gum cleaner on it [makes it taste yummy - maybe a little too yummy since they just want to suck on them ] and we do it right before putting them to bed every night.

 

Since the boys can sit by themselves in the bath now, they get their toothbrush every night in the tub so they can "brush" themselves. Once they are out of the tub and into their pajamas I let them brush my teeth while I brush theirs. They are much more tolerant of it if I'm letting them brush mine at the same time. We don't use any toothpaste yet, our dentist recommended holding off on that until they are 18 months so they don't swallow so much toothpaste.

 

Wow, what a great response! Thank you all again for your answers, they have given me some food for thought.

 

OH, I lOVE this let them do it while changing their clothes idea! Thanks for sharing!!

 

OH, I lOVE this let them do it while changing their clothes idea! Thanks for sharing!!