what age to start toothpaste?

[nukuspot]

DD is 17 months (almost) and so far we just use water on her toothbrush 2x a day. I'm hearing more and more talk about toothpaste for toddlers but am totally confused when to start it, if I should have been using it all along, what type is the most natural/least toxic, or what!? And how do you get them to spit it out?

Hmmm...I really need some replies here, now I'm concerned I should have been using a toothpaste all along.

[nukuspot]

This is what the Dr. Sears website says about it if it is worth anything:

"Instead of struggling with the baby toothpaste, I would get a cute toothbrush with one of her favorite cartoon characters on it. Let her “play” with this toothbrush (no toothpaste) while she watches you brushing your teeth. Sing a song while you brush, and maybe she’ll follow along. Until she is ready for fluoride (usually age 2 to 3), using a dry brush is fine. This will help foster a fun relationship with the toothbrush, which will be very important when she is older and has a mouth full of teeth. Most of the local pediatric dentists that I talk to have recommended using toothpaste with fluoride as soon as your child is able to spit it out – and then only use a small “pea-sized” amount."

However I see lots of "baby toothpaste" from Earth's Best and Jason Organics being sold online and they contain xylilol which is good for teeth...I just am not sure when to start the paste and if just continuing with water as we are doing will be OK for now.

[allical1284]

I am interested in what everyone has to say as well...
My DD is pretty much the same age as your's, and we have been using a xylitol gel on her brush (2x/ day) since about 12 months. Before that we just used water and a brush.
FWIW, her teeth starting coming in pretty early and her 16th tooth broke through about a month ago, so she has had quite a few teeth to brush for a long while now.

[nukuspot]

I've been hearing good things about xylitol for babies. What brand is your gel? I ordered some Earth's Best toothpaste with xlylitol. I found one by Spry but it says it's not for under 2 years of age. Not sure why?

[Everrgreen]

I've been using toothpaste for my ds for a while now, maybe since he was 12-14 months old. I can't remember... Anyway, it is all natural fluoride-free stuff. And I use the tiniest little dab possible, like 1/4 of a pea. I am horrible at remembering to brush his teeth though, I always remember before bed, but that's it. Although, I usually wipe his face with a wet cloth after meals and he likes to bite it, so that's sort of like teeth cleaning

[larzanna]

I don't think you have to use toothpaste, a dry brush is totally fine. I use the flouride free "training" toothpaste. Without it my DS won't let me put the brush into his mouth. If you are not having a problem with your DC letting you brush w/o paste then i would keep doing that!

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

I've been using toothpaste for my ds for a while now, maybe since he was 12-14 months old. I can't remember... Anyway, it is all natural fluoride-free stuff. And I use the tiniest little dab possible, like 1/4 of a pea. I am horrible at remembering to brush his teeth though, I always remember before bed, but that's it. Although, I usually wipe his face with a wet cloth after meals and he likes to bite it, so that's sort of like teeth cleaning

This is what we do. He likes to "brush" his teeth with DH at night. So, I'll let him chew on the brush with flouride free toothpaste and then go back over them myself at the end.

[Coconut Chronicles]

We started at 12 months with a flouride free toothpaste from Tom's of Maine.

[redvlagrl]

We use Weleda Children's Tooth Gel. DD loves the taste of it and it has totally improved our tooth brushings. For a while we let her 'do it' but it was a disaster as she wouldn't let me have a go and she wasn't getting her teeth clean enough for my liking. Now it's only me or DH who brushes her teeth twice a day.

[allical1284]

Originally Posted by nukuspot

I've been hearing good things about xylitol for babies. What brand is your gel? I ordered some Earth's Best toothpaste with xlylitol. I found one by Spry but it says it's not for under 2 years of age. Not sure why?

We use this one by Spry: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/XL007...LAID=458951966
It doesn't say anything about age, but it does have instructions for using it to wipe down an infant's gums, so I'm guessing it's fine under 2

[CookAMH]

I was curious about the same thing for my 16mo who has 12 teeth. He LOVES his little toothbrush and walks around with it many times during the day, gnawing on it with his emerging molars, dripping drool all over the floor. He asks for it, and thankfully lets me brush his teeth too! I try to do it every day, after we nurse at night before bed but there are days I forget or can't find it. I haven't put anything on so far, but my mom suggested coconut oil or a paste of coconut oil and baking soda. Has anyone done anything like that?

[pbjmama]

I use weleda toothpaste for my kids, started very young by just putting a touch on there. They like it, I like it.

[allical1284]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

I haven't put anything on so far, but my mom suggested coconut oil or a paste of coconut oil and baking soda. Has anyone done anything like that?

I have had this page bookmarked forever, but making homemade toothpaste keeps getting moved to the back burner! It has several recipes using coconut oil as a base. http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/...ride-free.html
Thanks for reminding me about this! Maybe I'll actually make the leap! I am a fan of all things coconut oil!!!

[NewMoonMum]

I am firmly convinced I have the best dentist in the world!
She says for my 2.5 year-old, that toothpaste is not necessary at all, a plain old toothbrush and water is just fine. It's the brushing, not the paste, that actually cleans the teeth. Don't worry about it!!

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by NewMoonMum

I am firmly convinced I have the best dentist in the world!
She says for my 2.5 year-old, that toothpaste is not necessary at all, a plain old toothbrush and water is just fine. It's the brushing, not the paste, that actually cleans the teeth. Don't worry about it!!

That's good to know, thanks!

[NokomisThree]

for us, it was the spitting that was the most important part of the process. So we practiced spitting every after brushing with water. There was also a computer video with Elmo brushing and spitting, "patuooee!" which really got him "in the mood."

[Italiamom]

We use the Weleda children's paste, mostly just to entice DS further. Often times I won't even bother with it, but when I do, he always gets so excited We've liked it though, and I use just the tiniest little dab.

[josie143]

started at 12 months with a flouride free !

[Caterina]

We also use the Weleda. DD loves the taste. I put a little on 2 brushes, use one to really brush her teeth while singing the Raffi Brush Your Teeth song, and then she brushes them herself with her own brush. I always sing the same song and brush her bottom teeth on the 2 and 3 o'clock parts and then the top on the 4 and 5 o'clock parts and she knows exactly how long I'm going to brush for. I only brush her teeth for her in the morning. At night she brushes them herself, but by then she's too tired to be into letting me do it.

[funnygrace]

We have kind of a tough time. Usually more than one brush is involved and we use various xylitol pastes, but only a very very small amount. We try to practice spitting but it can be difficult because brushing sometimes works best in bed, or on the couch, or... DS is 24 months and about 2 weeks ago we started "fluoride Mondays" and "fluoride Fridays" which are my random and haphazard way of introducing some fluoride. He doesn't get any in his water. I put on the smallest amount possible for a nighttime brush and we practice spitting. Anyway, I'm obviously somewhat confused too! Too much choice!