How do you brush your kiddo's teeth?

Question

Do you have any tricks? And what toothpaste do you use? We have just been brushing without toothpaste cause she swallows the entire thing😭😭😭, and I am worried since we tried using a 2+ year fluoride toothpaste, and I don't want her to swallow too much of that.... I know there are other types that are 6 months+ but I don't know if they have any protective effect at all🤔 I can already see a couple places where plaque starts to build up, and it worries me...

Answer

My mom spent 30 years as a hygienist and she says that basically toothpaste doesn’t do much, even for adults! Brushing is the real champion. So you don’t need to use anything to get the teeth clean, but you might have most success with a clean wash cloth to actually get in there and rub stuff off. The toothbrush can just be for training/fun/getting used to :) I hope that helps!

Answer

he loves when we brush his teeth haha. When he see me with the toothbrush he open his mouth and let me brush. And when i'm finished I let him "brush" his teeth himself. (he kinda shake his toothbrush in his mouth). 😅

Answer

My daughter likes to brush her own, I give her her brush while I'm brushing mine and she copies me.  We have the baby fluoride paste, just put a dab on cuz she doesn't understand spitting lol.

Answer

my daughter hates regular bristles with a passion. I think her gums are ticklish 😂 so the banana toothbrushes have been her thing since she first started getting teeth. I upgraded her to the one without handles when she got her molars. She's not big on letting me help her but she does do a pretty good job for her age 🤷 I bought this toothpaste bc I was super picky about ingredients. I don't want to be too abrasive on her teeth and I'm with you on the fluoride fears. it's gonna last for years at the rate we use it though 😂

Answer

We use Jack n Jill toothpaste and toothbrush, but recently got her a buzzy brush which she really likes using

Answer

My dentist said to use just a tiny tiny smear of Tom’s of Maine since they don’t know how to spit it out yet. We use strawberry flavor.

Answer

It's difficult bc he squirms and grabs the toothbrush, so we just do the best we can! We use baby toothpaste. I use a regular kids toothbrush in the morning, and my husband uses one that fits over his finger for nighttime/bathtime. I think the finger one may be more effective, but our son can bite and HARD!

Answer

My daughter hates everything but has actually let me brush her teeth. We use the baby training toothpaste and I brush them for a minute or two and then give her the brush to chew on.

Answer

We use the baby training toothpaste. Like you said, I doubt it does much to protect their teeth but it adds fruity flavor to make the whole process more appealing. Plus I teach my daughter when we do it like “now we add toothpaste to the toothbrush” etc. 
The easiest way I found was to sit Indian style and have her sit in my lap facing away from me. I turn on nursery rhyme videos that she can watch and brush her teeth from behind. I can get the best scrub this way. 
I also have her sit on the sink with her toothbrush while I brush my teeth in the morning. I try to brush hers but she usually just keeps pulling her head away so I just let her do it herself. I do this just to get her use to the process. I scrub it better later using the method I said earlier.

Answer

My pediatrician said not to use fluoride until he stops swallowing the toothpaste. You can try using a cloth to rub the teeth maybe? My son usually wants to do it on his own and won’t let me help. He LOVES brushing his own teeth and has even started trying to spit, but he doesn’t let me help him much.

How do you brush your kiddo's teeth?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey