Tips for teeth brushing

[El1en]

Good morning ladies

My little lady is 7.5 months and has two teeth. For the last week I've been trying to brush them. For ages she's watched me brush mine and though it hilarious and when I first started doing hers she thought it funny to. Now though she just sticks her tongue out and doesn't like the sensation of the brush on her tongue. This morning she just closed her mouth and wouldn't let me do them. She took the brush off me and chewed it for 10s but that's it
Anyone have any tips on how I can brush them?

I've been gentle and also tried to be a bit firmer but she's just not keen.

I'm very keen on good oral health to the point it's maybe a little obsessive. I brush mine 3 or 4 times a day and floss etc, but while my oh laughs at nearly 26 I've got no fillings and never had any issues at all and I want my children's mouths to be healthy to

 

[Wilson28]

Remember they are only milk teeth, so dont be too on it, but i found an electric tooth brush eorks for my lo xx

 

[JD.Deedee]

That's soo good, I bet your dentist loves you! I've bought this tooth brush from home bargains I think it is.. It's rounder at the bottom so they can't push it down their throat when they want to do it themselves... Mam and Nuby I think it is have rubber tooth brushes which are probably a bit more resistant for chewing and helps clean it too.. Just give it a little brush yourself when you get the chance, I find it most important they get used to brushing their teeth and wanting to use the toothbrush. My lad is now 2,5 and can brush his teeth himself, when I get the chance I'll give them a rub over but he does it well for his age and he doesn't make a fuss having to do it!

 

[lisa1985]

I haven't got a child yet so have no idea how hard it must be to clean their teeth! However I have been a dental nurse for 9 years. Yes they are milk teeth, but underneath are the adult teeth, if the milk teeth get decayed then they may need them out earlier than recommended meaning the adult teeth don't come through properly potentially resulting in braces when older also gaps for longer whilst you wait for the adult teeth to come through . Also the decay can go through to the adult teeth. As she is only 7 months, have you tried those teeth wipes? Also the chewing on the toothbrush with a bit of paste on is good, even if it is just for a short time. As she gets a little older you can start introducing reward charts, fun toothbrushes and toothpaste and timers etc. x

 

[El1en]

Thanks for the replies. A friend said today just to let her chew on it a bit so I'll go with that until she gets some more teeth through

 

[MrsT2011]

B got his first teeth at around 5 months so very young to understand teeth brushing - Health visitor said just let them chew the brush as often as you can encourage and gradually build it up to you helping and teaching them.
At 3 and a 1/2 B does some for himself then I do it properly for him before bed x

 

[Wilson28]

Thats good to know lisa thanks.

 

[TTT]

I just use a little muslin cloth with a dab of toothpaste on it. My little boy didn't like it at first so if he let me just touch his tongue and taste the paste I left it at that and praised him. I tell him in brushing my teeth when he sees me doing it and I ask him if I can brush his and now at 10 months he opens his mouth for me. Mow we brush them every night with the muslin and toothpaste after his bath.

I wanted to try flavoured toothpaste when he first didn't like it but read that its better to get them used to normal toothpaste so they don't think they can swallow it.

 

[El1en]

Thanks for the responses, especially you Lisa, nice to get a professional opinion to

 

[T84]

Also a dental nurse and I've always said to my friends who are having problems to relax and it'll happen. As long as she is getting the flouride through chewing on the toothbrush the technique can come later. At that age they don't have many sources of sugar at all either, it's when you can't keep them away from sweets and juice and then don't brush their teeth that you have to worry lol.

Try turning it into a fun bath game with a wee song, Let LO do yours too or watch you doing yours, start at a different point of the mouth each time if your not getting long so each area is getting a chance to do all around. Good luck!

 

[kitten2014]

Hi our lil miss has three teeth and on the first day the first pair came through started a routine of twice daily brushing...she was curious at first but now (much like the spoon) she wants control...ive found if you approach the mouth with the plastic side first and then once in swivel round and start brushing she doesnt get much of a chance to stop me before ive managed a few nswipes - I then let her take control and chew away. I do this again after rinsing the brush and repeat the same process...now getting the toothbrush back is another story...she has found that like sophie the giraffe it is a great teething tool!

 

[Pumpkin9]

I try to use a song each time to keep it consistent - I let my little boy try to brush first (or at least chew it in his mouth) and then try to finish brushing myself by asking if he wants mummies help.

If there are days that he won't really let me I don't stress, as long as he's got the toothpaste in his mouth (like the dentist recommended) then I'm happy and we then try again the following morning or evening. I never force him as I don't want him to think negetively about it.

 

[Rainbow1234]

This would maybe only work for slightly older kids but my nephew has an app where itplays a song and he needs to brush his teeth the length of the song and if he does it he gets to buy clothes for his wee character and dress it up. He's 1 and it seems to work well! X