when is a good time to start brushing your childrens teeth?
By emmasmomma89
@emmasmomma89 (266)
United States
July 12, 2009 9:25am CST
My daughter is 9 months old, and she now has 6 teeth. I was wondering when i should start brushing her teeth? Its really hard to begin with to get anything in her mouth because she sticks her tongue out everytime to stop me, but what age did you start brushing your childrens teeth?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
12 Jul 09
What I did with my children, and grandchildren, was to start as soon as they started having teeth. I got them their own toothbrush and they could chew on it while they were watching me brush my own teeth. All kids like to mimic what they see adults doing. Then when I was done with my own, I'd put a little of that kids toothpaste on their brush and they were more willing to let me try. I think they all stick their tongues out like that, so it was easier to make it a game, with grammy here making faces and them mimic-ing. At that young age, I always figured it was better to let them get used to it all, and then technique could follow later.
@emmasmomma89 (266)
• United States
12 Jul 09
yeah, my daughter loves chewing on things, but its so hard for me to put the toothbrush in her mouth. the thing i get scared of is is the kids toothpaste harmful if they swallow it? thats the only thing i would get wierd about, i dont want her to get poisoned because of the toothpaste.
1 person likes this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
12 Jul 09
emmasmomma, what I did was to just put a very little pinch of it on the toothbrush, not a glob like we'd put on for ourselves to use. The paste that I got for my grandson says it doesn't hurt them if they ingest it by accident. My thought always was that once they become comfortable with the brush feeling in their mouth, and the taste of the toothpaste, they actually get to liking brushing their teeth. We make a big thing out of doing it together morning and night. The oldest one is 6 1/2 and he's never made a fuss about brushing because he sees us all do it regularly. When he was little we'd just let him stick the toothbrush in his mouth and let him chew on it. I don't know for positive, but it would seem that even that chewing motion still would get the teeth clean...maybe not like a real brushing, but still cleaner than they would be if they didn't do it at all. I don't know about other kids, but mine felt more comfortable with sticking it in their mouth and chewing it on their own than with me controlling the toothbrush.
@rapolu_cs (1184)
• India
13 Jul 09
My 1st son got his first tooth at the age of 7 monts where my mother used to clean his mouth with her finger and we started brushing his teeth at his age of 1 year 2 monts when his 1st row of teeth both top and in the bottom rows are full with 6 each with baby brush . Firstly he used to play but later on he learned seeing us.Dont wory they learn very fast but dont forget kids are kids and they never do things properly and they love to do things a lot which irritate us,be polite and patience she will learn it,but you dont give up. All the best.
@kcoregon (302)
• United States
12 Jul 09
I agree you should start now. The sooner the better. If not for anything else to have them used to the process so that it is easier later on. They have those flexible little plastic toothbrushes that you stick over your finger to brush with. Just a little water was all I ever used in the early stage. My daughter did the same thing at first but she got used to it and now she absolutely loves to brush her teeth. Though I am not saying that the same goes for every child, some may not be so happy even if you start now, with regards to teeth brushing. Still its always a good idea to start early.
