My 3 Year Olds Teeth????

You can look at it a few different ways.

1. You're creating good habits moving forward that will likely continue the rest of his life
2. In many cases the health of your teeth is genetic as well as based upon your detail to cleaning
3. I'd visit a pediatric dentist to see what the health of his teeth is and let that be the guide for how frequently you're engaging in brushing.
4. Be careful not to impose your own stresses about it onto your child - he may begin to resent it and move to wanting to do it less and less

Our kids like brushing their teeth and want to do it twice/day. They both go to the dentist often and have had no issues (3.5 years and 22 months) other than some injuries that we're monitoring.

A lot of it, too, has to do with how healthy their diet is as some foods will certainly cause more stress on the teeth or linger between brushings more than others. I'm sure you and your fiance can find a compromise that you're both happy with that will continue things in a positive direction for your son.

I think you are doing a good job making sure he brushes 2x a day...instilling great brushing habits that should last his whole life! Good job Momma!
~However....they are only his baby teeth and if you relax a bit and try not to stress out about it, I think the lesson would be even more valuable.

They are your teeth. You brush them 2x a day. You floss. That's it. No biggie
That's the drill...and there is nothing to it. No drama. It is what it is.

Take away the stress and the pressure....all will be fine.

No, you're not wrong. For one, you're teaching him good habits. And two, if you get a cavity in your baby teeth, it can go through and infect your permanent teeth. I wouldn't obsessed over it, but it is important to treat baby teeth as you would permanent teeth.

Simple answer - Yes, you are too worried because they are just baby teeth!

Long answer - You are his mother and only want the best for him. I think that brushing 2x a day is plenty!! It sounds a bit overboard to wash his teeth with a washcloth to make you you got anything you might have missed. That sounds a bit OCD and the last thing you want to do is create a complex for your in regards to his teeth.

Have you ever brushed your teeth then ate or drank something and not brushed again? It won't make his teeth fall out! I think the habits you are instilling are important, but you do not have to be so worried about them because the bottom like is THEY WILL FALL OUT!

I agree more with the first two posters. You are doing a good job instilling a habit of brushing with your 3 yr old. Even my 22 month old reminds me that he needs to brush his teeth, which shows me that he's learned that it's something that needs to be done daily. I don't think that you should be stressing though. True - he's 3 and these teeth will fall out, but simply take care of them so he can have good oral hygene. There's always going to be a little food stuck here and there (just like we have if we don't floss, and most of us don't). So I wouldn't go overboard and therefore teach your son to stress about perfection, but just help teaching him to get all his teeth brushed, all the angles, etc. Brushing and oral hygene shouldn't be a stressful thing. Twice a day's great. But that's enough I think.

Nope, you're not wrong. Twice a day is not a big deal, and 3 year olds aren't great at brushing their own teeth! Some of his teeth he will need for quite a while, and these days, they do fill cavities in baby teeth as well as adult ones. As long as it isn't really disrupting your life or anyone else's, sounds like you are doing a good job. Also, he is old enough to go to the dentist at 3 if you haven't taken him already.

You are RIGHT! Dental hygiene IS a big thing and he should have his teeth brushed at least twice per day. If he wants to "do it himself" that's fine but you should finish the job and make sure it's done. Every time. You're not wrong, Your fiancé is. Also, he's old enough for a first dental visit now.

I am a firm believer that dental care is very important, my little ones go to the Pediatric Dentist twice a year and one has several fillings and a cap from a broken tooth she got during from a fall and the other has better than perfect teeth. They started going before they were 2 years old.

Are you using a flouride toothpaste? If so then he could get flouride poisoning. Use a non-flouride training toothpaste if you are going to brush that many times a day. Make an appointment with a Pediatric Dentist, not a Family Dentist. Pediatric Dentist's are specialists in baby teeth. Have a very frank and open talk to them about what you are doing, the repeated brushings and wahscloths, etc...they can either tell you that you are right or that you are rubbing the enamel off...lol.

We neer brushed our kids teeth that well or worried about how well they did it. We took our oldest to the dentist for the first time at 6 and the hygenist was shocked at how great his teeth were. He doesn't eat sugar, rarely has juice (only drinks water) and we use non-fluoridated toothpaste. Oh and he takes calcium/magnesium every night. Once his first tooth fell out, we told him that he needs to be brushing every day.

While we think that brushing them is important and making a habit of food hygiene is important, we also don't stress...otherwise they'll hate it.

This past visit to the dentist, they explained that his permanent teeth need to be taken care of better - and we showed him pics of people who have no teeth, suddenly he's realized and wants the responsiblity of keeping his teeth.

I think your are doing a great thing by taking care of his baby teeth. Good oral hygiene is wonderful and I know that every dentist would probably applaud you.
Most dentists would also probably agree that the parent should still be "helping" with the brushing at age 3. My 7 year old brushes his teeth, but then we still come in and brush them, as well. We treat it as a game.
I know people that have had to have their child's BABY teeth capped/crowned- it's traumatic to the child (they may even have to go under) and very expensive (even with insurance). So, if you don't have to put your child through that, then that is wonderful.
Bravo to you for taking such good care of your son's teeth. :)
Just my two cents,
R.