Family Friday: How to Brush Your Baby and Toddler’s Teeth

• Tweet
• Pin It

Toddlers Brushing Teeth: What You Need to Know

It’s never too early to start brushing your baby’s teeth. As soon as teeth break the gum line they are ready to be gently cleaned. Parents can initially clean baby’s teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad. This will be fine until more teeth begin to erupt.

As more teeth come in, you can switch to a soft bristled children’s toothbrush. There is no need to add toothpaste until the child reaches the age of 2. Some parents choose to purchase a non-fluoride toothpaste to use until the toddler reaches 2 years old.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents wait until their children reach the age of 2 before introducing fluoridated toothpaste. After the age of 2, a small amount of fluoride is beneficial and will help to protect toddler teeth into adulthood. However, too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, a condition that causes white spots to appear on adult teeth. Toddlers often swallow their toothpaste rather than spit it out, and for this reason it is recommended that only a pea size amount of toothpaste be used.

Toddlers often resist parental attempts at tooth brushing. To calm the battle, try to get your baby engaged in the activity itself. A trip to the grocery store to let baby pick out his own character-themed toothbrush may get him excited about the task at hand. When it is time to brush, let him try doing it himself first. When he is finished you can re-brush to get them thoroughly cleaned. Many parents find it helpful to make a trip to the library and check out some books on teeth brushing or baby’s first teeth.

Allow your toddler to watch you brush your own teeth and show him the clean teeth that result. You can eat something that leaves a residue on your teeth first, such as cookies or chocolate cake. Your baby will be intrigued not only with the dirty teeth but with the clean finish after brushing as well.

Parents can schedule their baby’s first dentist around the one year milestone. Even if your toddler has not had any teeth surface, a trip to a pediatric dentist can diagnose any possible problems that may be developing under the gum line, or locate a tooth that is preparing to erupt.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomeEverAfter.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

Related Posts

• 

  Is Your Baby Tongue-Tied? The Real Reason for Painful Breastfeeding
  Is Your Baby Tongue-Tied? The Real Reason for Painful Breastfeeding
• Cost, Quality & Ingenious Package – Simply Right Infant Formula
  Cost, Quality & Ingenious Package – Simply Right Infant Formula
• 

  Must for Travel with Baby: Bright Starts Pretty in Pink Play Gym {Review}
  Must for Travel with Baby: Bright Starts Pretty in Pink Play Gym {Review}
• Summer Vacation Tips From a Mom of Four
  Summer Vacation Tips From a Mom of Four

6 Comments

1. Pingback: Mommy, Come Home: Embrace Your Life as MOM | The Finer Things in Life

2. 

   Diann @ The Thrifty Groove

   September 17, 2009 at 7:20 pm

   Trying to brush our little princess’ teeth is such a chore. First she wants to do it herself and that usually means brushing her lips and chin. Second, she wants to suck on the toothbrush. So, we have been working a lot on this subject lately.

   Reply
   • 

     Admin - Danelle Ice

     September 17, 2009 at 7:29 pm

     @Diann: lol Mine wants to brush whenever I go to the bathroom! Good luck :)

     Danelle

     Reply
3. 

   Kaye Swain

   September 18, 2009 at 4:25 am

   Thanks for this information! The under-two info was especially interesting. As a grandma, I frequently have fun picking out special toothbrushes for all my grandkids for Halloween, Valentine, birthday and Christmas gifts. The boys are thrilled to get Hot Wheels and Super Heroes, the girls all love the princesses, and I have fun getting a healthy gift that I know they will love and enjoy using. :)

   Reply

4. Pingback: Tweets that mention Family Friday: How to Brush Your Baby and Toddler’s Teeth - Home Ever After -- Topsy.com

5. 

   amber smith

   November 16, 2009 at 11:31 pm

   I also had a difficult time getting my son to brush. I started using the firefly toothbrush from dr fresh. It comes in Spiderman and my son loves it. The brush has a light in the handle and my son swears it gives him spiderman powers! It’s cute and he’s brushing

   Reply