DS is 15 mths old and has only 2 bottom and 4 top teeths. I have tried cleaning his mouth with a washcloth but he doesnt like it. I am wondering when am i supposed to get him a toothbrush?

When did you all start brushing your baby's teeth and did they have all their before you started?

Your replies will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

I started brushing my baby's teeth as soon as they had any. You can buy those finger toothbrushes (soft rubber that slips over your finger) and baby toothpaste. If you ask your dentist or pediatrician, I'm sure they'll tell you to start brushing.

I was told to start as a small baby with a small soft brush and gently brush their gums, this stops it being a strange thing to babies. Brushing can also be associated with pain as if you brush when they are getting new teeth their gums are already sore.

Get a fun tooth brush, small and soft, some make sounds too, and some nice flavoured tooth paste. Dont battle and struggle to brush their teeth. Make it a fun time, let them have a go at doing it for themselves, brush yours at the same time.
If you make a big deal out of it, they see you getting stressed it will become a big deal. Try to make it a light hearted fun time, they may end up enjoying it.

I have four children and for each of them it was different. I wouldnt force it because you are just setting yourself up for trouble later. I would start with a cloth then move to a soft toothbrush but dont push it. Stay away from sweets if your child isnt letting you brush properly. Ideally starting at 4-6 mnths with the cloth is a good idea. Also sometimes building a ritual around it will help...like Daddy will read a favorite story while Mommy brushes your teeth. Or playing a certain game or singing a fav song. Obviously rewarding with sweets at this point would be rather ineffective. Thats my advice good luck!

Hello, I got my daughter a little rubber toothbrush, i was told to use this even before she got any teeth, it made a sqeaking noise on her gums, which she thought was funny, also i gave it to ger when she was teething, so she was used to holding it, just a thought.

Good :wave: :wave:

AS soon as she was born. We started using the finger toothbrush. No tooth paste at first. Just would message her gums at least once a day. I think around 6 months we added toothpastse w/o fluoride of course. Then around 10 months when she got her first tooth we started with a reg small childs toothbrush. They come is sizes for the age of the child. Still we use the toothpaste w/o flouride of course. We won't start that until she understands how to spit her toothpaste out. The fluoride can upset their little bellys if they swallow alot of it. So that is why we use toothpaste with out for now.