G.R.
Hi Stacy, I am a dentist so here is the "word." You should aim for brushing your child's teeth twice a day. Toothpaste NOT required and I find for my 15 month old that the toothpaste just makes her spit and fuss. Important: if you do use toothpaste, if it has fluoride you can only use the smallest amount (a smear or less) as fluoride can be toxic if swallowed in larger doses. I use toothpaste maybe once a week or less for my daughter but mostly just water to soften the brush.
Now for the twice a day: in the morning you can let your child brush his own teeth while you brush yours. In the evening, the last thing in his mouth before bed is a thorough brushing by the parents.
An easy way (with practice) is to have the non-brushing parent hold the child on his/her lap with the child facing them. Then you lay the child back into the lap of the brushing parent while the non-brushing parent gently holds the hands of the child. You can then get your finger in between his gums (avoid the molars) and it will not hurt if your child bites down. Now you can keep his mouth open just enough to insert the brush. With the other hand give each individual tooth a good front and back scrubbing. This is the technique I use to examine young children in the office. Parent holds child and lays child into my lap.
Now this will most likely meet with disapproval from your child the first few times. My daughter is not a fan and we have been doing this for months. We try games to make it more fun and some nights are fine, others not so much.
Just keep at it and your child will reap the benefits of no decay and a tolerance for people checking his teeth. Another rule of thumb: the first dental visit should be within 6 months of getting the first tooth. This allows early screening for problems, and great advice for parents to get the job done at home.
Hope this helps. Dr G.