Do you brush your 1-year old's teeth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used the little fingertip brushes at that age. Just rubbed them lightly across ds' teeth with a little but of infant toothpaste. You can also use a washcloth of something similar. I don't think I did the toothbrush until closer to 18 months

+1

Infant toothpaste. Safe to swallow. Comes in apple flavor. Forget the brand. Oragel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I've tried all these tricks with my 14 month old and nothing works. I let him brush his own teeth and try to move the brush a bit with him so it scrubs his teeth but he just clamps up or pulls out the toothbrush as soon as I touch it. I have two toothbrushes and try to stick the second one in while he is using the first. I brush my teeth or let him brush my teeth and try to brush his at the same time. I show him videos. I try to tickle him and make him laugh. I use fluoride free toothpaste so it is tasty and incentivizes him to put the brush in his mouth but he just sucks on it. Occasionally if it has been too many nights in a row of minimal brushing, I hold him down and try to force it but that never ends well. Is a finger brush the best option at this point? I'm afraid he'll bite me as he has ALL of his teeth now, even first molars. Damn baby shark.

Mine is like that too. Terrible 2s.

All of these work for me but not all the time:
-Brush your teeth and maybe he will want to brush with you.
-Get a spinning toothbrush. Cleans it much better, especially if you have to do it quickly.
-sometimes she will allow someone else (my DH or if my mom is visiting) to brush her teeth without a problem.
-If he really wants to do something, then say "Brush teeth first." you have to repeat several times, but eventually he will agree.
-Sometimes you just gotta hold him down and brush. I have to do that at least once a week.

OP, for your child, use the baby toothpaste. Oragel with the finger cover "tooth brush."

[Anonymous]

I might get flamed, but brushing teeth is not negotiable in my house. For our 1 year old we let her start brushing herself, then she goes across my lap, one arm so it is behind my back and, if necessary, I hold her other arm with my free hand. I brush while singing the abcs and twinkle twinkle. Now, 95% of the time is drama free, but it hasn't always been. If she clamps down her jaws, I use that time to brush the front and outsides, then try to pry her jaws open while distracting her. She laughs when I blow softly around her face, so that works a lot. I've also tickled her belly to get her to open her mouth. Since tooth brushing is nonnegotiable, I try a lot of distractions, but will force it if the brushings previously done that day weren't good.

We took the same approach with our now 4 year old who had a complete set of chompers at 15 months. No cavities so far with her (fingers crossed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might get flamed, but brushing teeth is not negotiable in my house. For our 1 year old we let her start brushing herself, then she goes across my lap, one arm so it is behind my back and, if necessary, I hold her other arm with my free hand. I brush while singing the abcs and twinkle twinkle. Now, 95% of the time is drama free, but it hasn't always been. If she clamps down her jaws, I use that time to brush the front and outsides, then try to pry her jaws open while distracting her. She laughs when I blow softly around her face, so that works a lot. I've also tickled her belly to get her to open her mouth. Since tooth brushing is nonnegotiable, I try a lot of distractions, but will force it if the brushings previously done that day weren't good.

We took the same approach with our now 4 year old who had a complete set of chompers at 15 months. No cavities so far with her (fingers crossed).

What the hell?

[Anonymous]

We have 15 month old twins. We brush their teeth most nights. I try to brush them a little at first and them I give the babies the brush to chew on a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might get flamed, but brushing teeth is not negotiable in my house. For our 1 year old we let her start brushing herself, then she goes across my lap, one arm so it is behind my back and, if necessary, I hold her other arm with my free hand. I brush while singing the abcs and twinkle twinkle. Now, 95% of the time is drama free, but it hasn't always been. If she clamps down her jaws, I use that time to brush the front and outsides, then try to pry her jaws open while distracting her. She laughs when I blow softly around her face, so that works a lot. I've also tickled her belly to get her to open her mouth. Since tooth brushing is nonnegotiable, I try a lot of distractions, but will force it if the brushings previously done that day weren't good.

We took the same approach with our now 4 year old who had a complete set of chompers at 15 months. No cavities so far with her (fingers crossed).

What the hell?

You might have a different reaction if you had a 4 year old facing general anesthesia because they have 5 cavities and you are the person to blame. How well do you think your teeth would hold up if you decided to not brush for a month, or several months? Do you think your child's teet react differently to food?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might get flamed, but brushing teeth is not negotiable in my house. For our 1 year old we let her start brushing herself, then she goes across my lap, one arm so it is behind my back and, if necessary, I hold her other arm with my free hand. I brush while singing the abcs and twinkle twinkle. Now, 95% of the time is drama free, but it hasn't always been. If she clamps down her jaws, I use that time to brush the front and outsides, then try to pry her jaws open while distracting her. She laughs when I blow softly around her face, so that works a lot. I've also tickled her belly to get her to open her mouth. Since tooth brushing is nonnegotiable, I try a lot of distractions, but will force it if the brushings previously done that day weren't good.

We took the same approach with our now 4 year old who had a complete set of chompers at 15 months. No cavities so far with her (fingers crossed).

What the hell?

You might have a different reaction if you had a 4 year old facing general anesthesia because they have 5 cavities and you are the person to blame. How well do you think your teeth would hold up if you decided to not brush for a month, or several months? Do you think your child's teet react differently to food?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/health/rise-in-preschool-cavities-prompts-anesthesia-use.html?pagewanted=all