Brushing Baby's First Teeth

i say BRUSH THEM!!!!! Number one,its never to early to start teaching good habits!!! and Number two....BRUSH THEM!! LOL

Hello. I just left my baby's first visit to the dentist so I can tell you his answer. As soon as baby has a tooth (or even before ) it is a good idea to start brushing the gums (and teeth) with a soft finger brush. This will get them used to brushing and help keep their gums clean of dried milk or food. My dentist recomended NOT to use the toothpaste, however. My brother is also a dentist (adult) and he told me the same; no paste yet. Once the baby is 2 you should start him at the dentist, but it may be a good idea to chek out a pediatric dentist just to get some tips. Usually their visit (mainly for you) is complementary. Good luck to you.

Hi C.,
I am a Dental Hygienist and am so happy to here all the responses of the mothers like you who are proactive. There is an ingredient that fights cavities called Xylitol it is found in some chewing gums(koolerz and orbit). Dr.Ray makes a wipe with this product it is great for cleaning baby's teeth when you are out and about. check out the website http://www.drrays.com/ Take Care, M.

Dear C.,

Anything that you do with your child today, as a routine, becomes the good habit of tomorrow. If you just look at all of the little things in this way, it will help you to look at the future.

I brushed my daughters teeth from the beginning and she got her teeth early as well. We made a game out of it.

These good habits become a way of life. I see nothing wrong with that at all! Good for you for trying to be such a good mom!

D.

Do not forget about flossing. You should begin flossing a child's teeth as soon as they have 2 next to each other.

Yes, start brushing them. There is actually this little thing with nubs on it that you put on your finger first. It comes with baby-safe toothpaste. They actually say you should brush them before they even get teeth, now that's crazy to me. Just letting you know that you are on the right track.

I would think that the baby's pediatrician would give you all of this advice and tell you what to do and when to do it. If not, maybe you should look for a better one?

My pediatrician gave age-appropriate hand outs at every visit along with info on what to expect from then until the next scheduled visit.

What he told me was to brush them as soon as they appear, and to even massage the gums because teething can make them sore. He said with the first couple of teeth you could even just wrap some gauze around your fingertip and use that to massage the gums and brush the little toofers.

I use Dr Kent Seitz in Boynton and no question is too small or too silly to ask of him. He knows what first time moms go through and he wants you to have the most updated answers. That is the one thing about asking baby advice on mamasource, I love that people get advice but I would recommend anyone run things by their pediatrician to make sure it's OK (depending on the questions, of course!!).

:-) Good luck and happy tooth brushing!

Yes you do want to brush her teeth. My son is now on his 4th trip to the dentist to have silver crowns put on because of not doing early tooth care. The best way I figured out how to do it was take a piece of guaze and wrap it around your finger and put a small drop of toothpaste on and work your finger around her teeth. Also what I didn't know was that putting your child to bed with a bottle of juice,milk or formula is not good and can cause tooth decay that was the cause of my sons problems. My dentist recommended a bottle or cup of water for bedtime after brushing. Good Luck A.

C.,
I always use a wet cloth to wipe down my boys teeth after they have had breastmilk (or what ever you are feeding Nadia). They make finger brushes that you put on your finger and brush their teeth. All this can be found in the baby section of the store. I didn't start tooth paste until two years. I bought Tom's for Children. It has a picture of a monkey on the tube. My son calls it Monkey Paste and uses his Dora tooth brush daily. :)
In my house, no paste until two(Orajel makes one for babies). And only use the paste made for children/babies.
HTH!
Louise

All the literature I ever read, and every pediatrician my kids ever had, agreed with you. As soon as they started cutting teeth. But be VERY careful when they're actually cutting. The teeth are sensitive, so it may be more painful, plus baby is more likely to chomp down on you to relieve the pain.

In response to your question, I have an 11 month old girl and I started brushing hers once she started getting them. I bought a babies first toothbrush and toothpaste for her. It's not like a normal toothbrush, it a little rubber sleeve that fits on my finger and has some soft tiny bristles on the tip. My daughter actually likes having it done! It's never too early to start good dental hygiene. Good luck!

My baby doesn't have any teeth yet (5 mos old), but I brush her gums every evening. I figure since the baby toothpaste is called Infant Tooth and Gum Cleanser I am probably supposed to be doing it now. I don't know what the experts recommend, but it seems like if they have been brushing their teeth since before they can remember then they won't give you such a hard time about when they are older. Just my take on it.

It's a good start but I started brushing my little girls teeth after she turned one, when she started eating regular table food..it's never to early just make sure to use the toothpaste without flouride until she is three..

Hi C.,
I started brushing on both of my kids as soon as the teeth were visable. I never used those rubber brushes that go over the finger, I used baby tooth brushes and baby tooth paste. Use which ever you feel comfortable with. As soon as my kids were about 3 or 3 1/2 they had their first trip to the dentist and we go every 6 months since then. They are now 11 and 12 years old and have no cavities or problems, like a lot of their friends.

Good Luck!
A.
www.mymonavie.com/A.
www.burnlounge.com/soflorida
www.youravon.com/asilverman

Hey C.. My son started teething at around 4 months and is 7 1/2 months now and has 5 teeth already!!! We started brushing his teeth when we noticed they were about to cut through the gums! Babies R' Us has a huge selection of infant tooth brushes and toothpaste. Hope you find one that works!!!

D.

Hi C.
It sounds like you are doing things just about right. I am a dentist (and mother of a 3 year old and year old) and the current recommendation from the American Dental Association (ADA)is to wipe your baby's teeth or gums with a wet washcloth or piece of gauze after every feeding. This gets them used to something in their mouth. It seems a bit excessive, but that is the recommendation. Then once the first tooth erupts you should be brushing it (usually 1-2 per day). NO TOOTHPASTE should be used until your child is 2 years old and at that time only a pea sized amount and make sure she spits it out and doesn't swallow it because the fluoride could make her sick. In addition, the ADA also recommends your child has her first dental appointment around her first birthday. This is just to ensure that she is developing normally and to give her a good first exerience at the dentist. The dentist can also give you further recommendations at this time.

Hope this was helpful.

E.

Hi,
Yes you should start brushing her teeth as soon as they come in even if there are only 2 :) I started when my daughter first got hers and gerber makes a gum & tooth cleener that is sold in publix it comes with a rubber piece to put on your finger that is gentle enough. Just watch your fingers!

I just wanted to tell you that when you start using toothpaste make sure it is floride free!!!!!! Floride is very harmful if swallowed I wouldnt give your child a toothpaste until they are about 2 and then dont give them one with floride until they are 4 or 5 or until they know they have to spit it out...I will tell you I first started brushing my daughters teeth about 2 and at two and a half she wanted to do it herself...

UP until my son turned 1 I brushed his teeth with a wash cloth and NO tooth paste. When he turned 1 I started using baby tooth paste and a soft baby tooth brush. My pediatrician and ped dentist agreed with what I did.

Hope this helps.

Check out this site - http://www.dentistry-pediatric.com/first_visit.htm - (cut and paste it in your url).

It will help answer your question.

Good Luck :)

FOR ONE, IT'S GOOD GETTING HER INTO THE HABBIT! BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT PREVENTS CAVITIES EARLY ON. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT THE BABY TEETH, BUT I HAVE LEARNED THAT IT CAN INTERFERE WITH THE GUMS, WHICH WILL INTERFERE WITH THE PERM. TEETH. MY DAUGHTER HAS HAD MORE CAVITIES THAN ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T START AS EARLY AS I SHOULD HAVE AND HER FATHER DIDN'T MAKE HER WHEN SHE STAYED WITH HIM. I WOULD DEFINATELY START. IT WILL PROBABLY FEEL GOOD TO THE ONE'S COMING IN TOO!

You definitely should start brushing your baby's teeth. Oral B Stages makes a tooth brush and tooth paste for babies. Just make sure that whatever you use doesn't have fluoride in it. My son cut his first teeth when he was 2 1/2 months, so my husband and I are "old-pros" when it comes to brushing. It is definitely very important- we were at the dentist (my son is now 17 months) and there was a baby who was 10 months that had "bottle-rot" in the dentist's office. This occurs when you don't brush your baby's teeth or when he/she is allowed to drink milk or juic right before bed. The liquid pools around their teeth and causes them to rot. It was so horrible seeing this baby like this. Definitely take care of them now so that you don't have to worry about these types of things. Good luck!