How Soon Do You Start Brushing a Baby's Teeth?

I waited until my son was 1 before I started brushing his teeth. I used to wipe his mouth with a warm wash cloth several times a day and first thing in the morning to keep his mouth clean and fresh.

I have 11 month old twins and we've been "brushing" since about 9 months. I simply give them a toothbrush (no paste) and let them chew on it afer each meal.

I thought it would be a good way to introduce them to brushing their teeth and create a good habit.

They love it!!

My daughter started brushing her own at about 16 to 17 months. She would stand on a stool at the sink and we would put winnie the pooh toothpaste on it and she would brush them herself. Every once in a while we would take the brush and kind of brush it back and forth for her but we want her to be little miss independent because we had her at an older age so we let her hand most of it most of the time. The dentist said that as long as she was getting the paste in her mouth, she was doing fine at this age.

The finger toothbrush and baby toothpaste (comes with the finger toothbrush) work great for the teeth and gums and feels good to the little teethers. And has no flouride so is safe to swallow. My 7 month old has 2 teeth and I brush hers and started to as soon as they came in. I also do the gums. She likes it! Good luck!

Hi B.,

We started brushing the kids teeth as soon as they got them. We started with the baby toothpaste and the finger brush. It felt good to the kids, so they didn't mind us doing it. Then, the transition to a "real" tooth brush was no big deal. We used training toothpaste (no flouride) until they were old enough to understand they had to spit it out without swallowing it (around 4 years old, give or take).

Good luck!!

Yes, start brushing them now! The easiest thing to do is use a washcloth with water and wipe down his teeth and gums. They also sell baby tooth brushes that fit on the adult finger. They are made out of a soft plastic, which is very desirable for babies to chew on!!
If you start the routine of brushing now, it will be easier when Bryston has a full mouth of teeth that definately need brushing. Flouride toothpaste is not recommended until children can spit it out. Believe it or not, pediatric dentists would like to see your child as soon as they get a tooth. I think that's a little soon, however, all three of my kids saw a dentist before they were two. Good luck!!

Even before the teeth come in it is recommended to brush the childs gums. This not only gets them used to brushing their teeth, but it is teaching them early to take good care of themselves. Make this a fun time and not a chore.

Start now and you don't even need toothpaste. If you do use it, choose a brand that is flouride free. My lo has always enjoyed brushing her teeth with us (for as long as she could hold her brush). She mostly plays with it in her mouth and mimics what she sees her siblings and me doing. Once I'm done brushing I let her know she is too and then I take a turn brushing her teeth too. She enjoys it.

I recently had my 8.5 and 4.5 y/o at the dentist for their cleaning and asked about my 17m/o. She'll have her 1st check-up at their cleaning. She'll be 2y/o. She won't get a cleaning but he said he'll want to look in her mouth and do a visual check.

you should start as soon as they have teeth and some pediatricians recommend wiping gums before teeth. You can try any of the baby toothpastes, some come with a finger brush, others with a real toothbrush, just make sure you don't have a toothpaste with fluoride in it until your baby is old enough to understand and comply with not swallowing the toothpaste and understands spitting it out while brushing. the infant toothpastes from gerber, safety 1st or orajel are all ok and fluoride free and many have a great berry or apple-banana taste also.

hope this helps,
Jess

B.,
He sounds absolutely adorable!! You don't need any toothpastes just yet. All you really need to do is take a clean wet washcloth over your finger and gently rub his teeth and gums. Basically, dentists want our kids to get familiar with the act of brushing as early as possible. They recommend you bring in your child once he gets his first tooth. Don't be shy! Make an appointment and get all your questions answered. They've heard 'em all! God bless!

I would start brushing now, I used the Orajel baby toothpaste all the way past my daughter turning two. He needs to get used to you brushing and you may think he doesn't get stuff on his teeth but all people get plaque and tartar build up, even from milk and he eats solids right? They have baby toothbrushes too. I have four kids and I started young with all and then they LOVED to brush their teeth. My daughter is two and wants to brush her teeth all the time!
Don't use anything with Flouride, since he can't spit it out and he shouldn't swallow much flouride.

Good Luck, K.

You should start brushing your son's teeth now. It might be a little challenging--but it will get easier.

C.

I would definitely start brushing now with the baby toothpaste and some come with a little finger brush you can use. We started our son when his first teeth came through. We brush his teeth right after his bedtime milk-before he's asleep. It helps them get use to the routine-so when they become older it's natural for them. Plus, it helps them get use to something being "wiggled" around their mouth.

Hey B.,
There is plenty of research out there about over exposure to fluoride, especially infants. I would go to Whole Foods and pick up a baby toothbrush and fluoride-free toothpaste and know if your baby drinks formula, it is reconstituted with fluorinated water(not to mention the water you add) as well as the lining of the can has Bisphenol A , and if it is Soy formula it is genetically modified.
You said your baby has odious breath, most babies produce so much salvia that is unusual. He may have allergies already. Dr. William Sears gives recommendations (http://newsletter.vitalchoice.com/index000234320.cfm of daily fish oil which is a powerful antiinflamatory to help with this problem. It is also crucial to development to get enough.
I have a two and ten year old and have made these changes. My son has dental fluorosis from over exposure. I also has learning trouble. The least you can expose your baby to at this critical stage of development the better. READ, and Read some more.

What type of water?

If your water is fluoridated, use a reverse osmosis (RO) filter to remove fluoride, which the American Dental Association recommends avoiding when reconstituting formula (ADA 2006). If your water is not fluoridated, use a carbon filter, either a pitcher-style or one that attaches to your tap. If you choose bottled water make sure it's fluoride-free. Be aware that the cost of bottled water may add up to more money than a home reverse osmosis system. http://www.ewg.org/node/8778

"Despite fluorides apparent ineffectiveness, it is still used in the United States, but not without consequence. The fluoride that we ingest from the water supply and from a number of other sources such as toothpaste, mouthwashes, processed food, some vitamin tablets, and beverages like fruit juice, soda and tea is associated with a number of negative health effects. Consider that:

Fluoride accumulates in the bones, making them brittle and more easily fractured, and in the pineal gland, which may inhibit the production of the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate the onset of puberty
Fluoride damages tooth enamel (known as dental fluorosis) and may lower fertility rates
Fluoride has been found to increase the uptake of aluminum into the brain and lead into blood
Fluoride inhibits antibodies from forming in the blood
Fluoride confuses the immune system, causing it to attack the body’s tissues. This can increase the growth rate of tumors in people prone to cancer
Noting these and other health risks and the obvious ethical issue of medicating an entire population without their consent, many European countries have banned water fluoridation.

The U.S. National Research Council is now compiling a review of fluoride data, as about 10 years ago the group found significant gaps in the available data on fluoride safety and efficacy. However, it will likely be some time before water fluoridation is stopped in the United States.

For now you can protect yourself from fluoride by using only non-fluoride toothpaste and not receiving fluoride treatments from your dentist. Eating a healthy diet and avoiding processed foods will ensure that your teeth stay healthy naturally.http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm

Hi B.
I am a Dental hygienist & you can start brushing now if you wish. Use a small soft bristled brush with NO toothpaste. Just keeping them brushed will remove the palque & better prepare him for future routine brushing!

YES, brush now...The sooner the better. Really it should start before teeth appear as milk can affect the baby teeth under the gums. The best thing is to make a habbit after evening bath to just stick a tooth brush in and let the baby feel the brush on his/her gums....a small, tiny spec of toothpaste without flouride is fine. They will swallow it all, as my two year old is still learning to spit and not swallow. So best to get toothpaste without the flouride, they make first steps brushes and toothpast in the dental care isle at any pharmacy or grocery store or Target. Milk is one of the worst culprets of bad teeth and bacteria (which is probably making the bad breath smell.) Best to give a baby water before bed if anything. Never to go to sleep with milk -- any dentist will tell you that.

you need to brush the gums with a rubber baby tooth brush before the teeth come in, and after tooth number one comes in, you get the baby tooth paste that can be swallowed, and a little stage one tooth brush, and brush the whole mouth, teeth gums and tung, morning and night. make sure that he does not have another bottle, or nurse again after you brush at night.

Hi B.,

You don't have to start brushing them this early, but a good thing to do is to wipe them with a bath cloth really good and also wipe out his mouth and tongue. This should surely help. I did this with my children in my center. You should start brushing then around a year old and allow him to do it if he is able to stand and follow commands from you; you will have to assist and guide him at this time. Hope this helps and reassure you.

T.

You can simply use a wet washcloth to "brush" your babies teeth. Some of the infant toothpaste come with "tooth brushes" that fit on your finger (kind of looks like a finger puppet). Make sure you use infant toothpaste that does not contain flouride as it can harm the permanent teeth causing discoloration. I have a 2 year old son who just had his first dental exam last week and the doctor told us to use non-flouride paste or just tap water. Hope this helps!

I really like the Oral B products for babies. When my son was that age I liked the little soft toothbrush that you put over your finger. That way you can brush both the new teeth and his gums.

Yep. As everyone else says, stop now. I do have to disagree with the one that said baby's shouldn't have bad breath that early. Milk, formula, STINKS. So its not too unconceivable that the baby has baby breath. You can use the fingertip toothbrushes, brush his gums and tongue and even inside his cheeks. That should help relieve the breath issue.

I started w/mine about 4 months. I did not use a regular toothbrush or toothpaste, but just one of those that fits on your finger. it is real soft and has tiny bristles. it was mainly just to clean the gums, because my dentist said the milk has some sugars in it even if natural. This may have been overkill but figured didn't hurt. She actually loved it. I think it felt good especially during teething. I did that for a long while. I don't think we officially started w/regular toothbrush til around 2. Then i used kid size and kids toothpaste.

babies that little should NOT have bad breath already. you might want to have his throat checked be his ped. the only time my daughter has ever had "bad Breath" is when she's been sick. both times she started running a fever and was cranky and we took her to the doctor and they checked her throat and said the had an infection.

but as far as the actual brushing, you can use a soft wash cloth, finger tooth brush or a very soft child's toothbrush, and infant tooth paste, that doesn't contain flouride.(too much flouride, too young can cause white spots to stain his permanent teeth). and jsut gently swipe his teeth and gums and even his tongue once or twice a day. the earlier you start, then easier it will be later on.

Hi B.~
You could probably start now. If you're not using a tootbrush you should use a clean cloth to just wipe his teeth. I would not suggest using any kind of toothpaste even the baby paste until you talked with your pediatrician. I've been thinking about breaking out my son's toothbrush that we got in a little medical kit just to start getting him used to it and I was going to use water only. Good luck!

Paula

As soon as he has teeth! Teeth are teeth, regardless of age. Plus, the early you start brushing, the better he will learn the importance of dental hygiene. There is a special baby toothpaste that doesn't require rinsing. Regular toothpaste is dangerous b/c he can't rinse and spit yet. Repeated swallowing over time can be unhealthy.

You can just "brush" his teeth with a wet washcloth at this stage, but if you want to buy baby (training) toothpaste you can. They also sell little finger brushes and things to help get him used to the idea. You need to brush as soon as your kid has teeth, but you aren't supposed to use toothpaste with flouride until they're old enough to spit. My dd will be 4 in May and she uses Toms of Maine strawberry- no candy flavored barf with glitter added in my house. That stuff makes me SICK!!!!

As soon as you see them starting to come in, as long as it doesn't bother him too much. Most docs recommend you start brushing with a "finger brush" at birth to get them used to it, but I started brushing my kids' when they started coming through.

When my son started getting teeth I used a finger brush and oragel toothpaste. It's a plastic piece that slips over your finger. Mine came in a set with the toothpaste. It worked great and when he was older with more teeth I switched to a regular toothbrush for his age. Hope this helps.

Glad to hear you're brushing, but check with your doctor about the baby toothpaste. Ours didn't want us to use it until the kids were over a year. Better safe than sorry.

My dentist to me one year, so we got him a crest toothbrush that is age appropriate (read the label) and Orajel toothpaste. Orajel has a toothpaste/toothbrush combo pack @ babies r us.

Good luck and God bless,

all the books say brush them as soon as they get them not only is it good for them it starts a good habit early!!!

Ora-gel and Oral-B both make a floride free toothpaste for babies and todlers. I have used both and my kids have liked to brush their teeth from the beginning. The important thing is not to use a floride toothpaste until much later when they will spit it out and not swallow it. Any small toothbrush will be fine. Some doctors recommend that you take your baby to the dentist for a check up when they get their first teeth. My youngest daughter is 2 and loves to go. I think that if you take them early they aren't afraid to go later.

Brush his teeth now. You can buy baby toothpaste that is ok to swallow that comes with a little finger toothbrush that you put over your pointer finger to brush his teeth with. Enter his mouth from the side - if you go in from the front he will probably try to bite you because he expects food. Good luck.

Hi. My name is T.. I was a dental assistant for 3 years. My answer is: you start brushing as soon as there is a tooth to prevent plaque build-up and decay. I suggest a small, soft toothbrush. You can find these at Wal-Mart that are perfect for little ones. Also, I would use a toothpaste designed for children learning to brush that is safe to be swallowed. There are some toothpastes that look like they are for children, but if you read the directions, it will tell you it can't be swallowed. So, read the labels and find a toothpaste for little ones that is safe just incase some is swallowed because at first all children swallow some of it. There is no way around that. Brush at least twice a day - morning and night. Never put your child to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup of milk or juice. It should only be water if they MUST have something. The reason for this is because the sugar and acids from the juice and other drinks sits on the teeth over night and can cause decay which leads to "baby-bottle syndrome". This is just the name given to the badly decayed front teeth of small children due to going to sleep with their cup or bottle in their mouth. It is not pretty. The child usually ends up with a mouth full of silver caps if this happens, which doesn't make a pretty smile. So, this is my advice to you and I hope it helped you and wasn't too lengthy.

Orajel makes a great little soft toothbrush/toothpaste combo that you put on your finger and add the toothpaste on it and just rub it on their teeth and gums. The toothbrush is all soft plastic and has little bitty soft bristles. I have used it with both of my kids and it seems to clean their teeth well and they both loved it. (My 10 month old giggles through the entire process)It also gets them used to having their teeth "brushed".

Hey I hope this helps I work for a pediatric dentist... They have finger toothbrushes that you can use and if not that use a wet baby wash cloth and clean not only the teeth but his gums. Milk and juice have a lot of sugar and can effect the teeth that have not come in yet so its good to try to do it after they eat or drink. I don't think you need to use toothpaste right now but if you do make sure it is the little bear toothpaste or something that has no Fluoride in it. I hope that helps

Yes use the baby toothpaste! It's great and teaches them. It's a good habit to stick in with his bedtime routine. I always let my kids watch me and then they do theirs after my "turn" is over.

I have a 18 month baby boy, and the dentist told me that as soon as they get the first teeth you should start cleaning them. I used a wet wash cloth, until he got on to brushing. I always go to the bathroon with my 7 year old and wee really make a deal out of teeth brushing. Walmart has little 'stubby' toothbrushes with characters on them and also Oragel has a tooth cleansing tube. Now, for him, we use the training toothpaste. He loves the idea of brushing his teeth! However, he too, has bad breath in the morning sometimes, probably the milk, if he has had any through the night. Best of luck! Make it fun, and he will catch on!

If they have teeth, they need to be cleaned. My kids are grown but when they were babies, I used to clean them gently with a wash cloth until they were old enough to brush. They are now 19 and 15 and neither have ever had cavities.

I brushed their gums before they even had teeth and did not use any paste until they were old enough to spit it out...around 3. I used a super soft baby toothbrush once they had teeth, I used the 'gum brush' before that.

HTH!

At approx. age 3 months you should start wiping the gums with the coner of a cloth a couple of times daily this is to get them in the habit of havng this done before their teeth arrive--when they arrive continue wiping them off with a cloth no toothpaste necessary--you can also buy the finger type cleaners-
A. Registered Dental Hygienist for over 20 years