[cherubess]

I was told that as soon as a tooth appears that we should start looking after it.

However after saying that I didn't start brushing DS's teeth regularly until he hit 12 months.

I will admit that we have phases in the past where we can't get the toothbrush near his mouth but that lasts only for a few days. I just keep persisting. On some weekends I take him into our bathroom so he can see Daddy brushing his teeth as well.

For our family I made it all part of his daily routine because my boy thrives on routine. He knows he brushes his teeth after waking up and getting changed and just before bedtime. Distraction was very important and getting him involved was important. He got to hold the toothpaste tube and he still does at 23 months old.

We use toothpaste specifically made for toddlers and I use just the tiniest amount to cover part of the brush. I have read to use a pea size but I don't even use that much.

My DS is not at the stage where he can brush his teeth on his own so we brush it for him.

 

[pdxmomazon]

We have 4 tooth brushes for her! She likes to carry them around- sometimes tries to brush the cat with them, but usually just teethes on them! We brush every night, but we keep it low key. She gets one brush, I get another, and we use Weleda paste on both. She likes the taste, and I plan to use a flouride paste when she is older (our water isn't flouridated and I feel topical is better than fully ingested!) Anyhow- we both brush her teeth, usually at the same time. I make a special point to try and brush her tongue. Some days we get all her teeth really thoroughly, and sometimes not!

 

[musemor]

My daughter (17 mos) is actually really into her toothbrush, but she doesn't let me do a really thorough brushing usually. I just try to swipe every tooth, and then let her chew on it and play with it during her bath. She's really used to the routine so now when we go in to run her bath, she says, "Teef, teef?" I think the routine helps her a lot and makes her more receptive to the small amount of brushing. A friend of mine makes it part of the meal cleanup routine...they always brush teeth after dinner while she's still in her high chair.

 

[Yippy!]

I've always used nonflouride paste, just a bit. I get down on the floor to my sons level and I let him brush my teeth while I brush his. That usually works!

 

[eepster]

Our current strategy is to plap peek-a-boo till he is squealling with glee. Then stick the brush in while his mouth is wide open from laughing.

We use Welleda baby tooth paste. We tried Burts Bees but DS doesn't like it.

 

[peapiebaby]

I must admit I've only tried a couple of times. DD, 14.5 months, only has 4 teeth (though 6, all on the bottom! Yikes!) are coming in now, including two molars...
I had always been told just to use water and gauze. We have a baby tooth brush from the woman who was my hygienist since I was a kid.
I suppose I should try more often, but I question using toothpaste at her age (we have plenty of fluoride in our water, so definitely don't need that -- I have staining on my teeth from too much in the water combined with some sort of abx I was on.) I should look for Tom's strawberry flavor...
Thanks, ladies, for all the great suggestions!

 

[stanswife]

I had good luck for a few days with my DS lying on the floor and making a super big deal out of brushing. After that, when I said, 'let's brush your teeth!', he would assume the position. But, as I said, that only lasted a few days...now he fights. He does carry around a toothbrush all day long and goes crazy for floss.