How Do I Clean My Baby's Teeth

I've read in many baby books to just use a wash cloth to rub them daily. I did this with both of my children when they were babies and neither ever got cavities. This works until they start to get a few more teeth (particularly molars) and then you can start with the soft toothbrushes and a tiny bit of children's toothpaste. I think that toothbrushes may be rough on their little gums when they are infants, but you do need to do something to get them used to having something in their mouth (hence the washcloth) because when they are older, they'll fight you when you try to brush their teeth.

I used the finger brush to clean my sons teeth when he first started getting his teeth. He loved the feel of it because I would also massage his gums with the brush. It also helped with the spit up smell.

E.,
My son is 8 months and I have been using the finger brush and toothpaste since he was three months (he got teeth early). He loves it. It must tickle. Its a part of our bedtime routine.
I don't know of any other methods for cleaning their teeth, but it is definately a good idea.
Give it a try,
K.

hi, my names A.. i have a 9 and a half month old boy. he got his two bottom teeth just last month. I tried the scrub brush and it made his gums bleed. I switched to a baby toothbrush for his age, and it was good. the both bristles r extra gentle , so if u havent tried it try that.

I have used it and it works fine, my sister use to work for a dentist and he recomended i use it. it works great until they get more teeth and then you have to use a bigger brush cause it hurts mommy to brush the teeth ha-ha. They even have toddler toothpaste that i still use for my 2 year old, she loves to brush her teeth.

You can also try an Angel Brush. It's something your daughter can hold in her hand and use herself without choking. It's a great teether too.

i used the finger brush and baby toothpaste as soon as the first tooth came in. i think she actually liked the pressure on her gums. now she is 9mo old and she brushes her own teeth with a baby brush (and momma help) every night. you dont want the baby teeth to rot even though they fall out cause it can effect her jaw bone.

the product you're referring to is exactly what i've used for both my kids-twice or more a day. it works great and they seem to really like it. i think it feels good to them. i think it's by gerber. it's also very important to brush their gums and tongue to remove the buildup there. the health of their gums is what the dentists/pediatricians are more concerned with rather than their teeth, although it is still important. good luck!

Hi, you don't need toothpaste at this point. The FDA recommends that you do not use Flouride toothpaste on a child under two years of age. It can stain teeth permanently (flourisis). A washcloth and water at this age is fine or any soft bristle toothbrush. We used to wipe her gums at bathtime when she was very small and as she got older We gave our daughter a child toothbrush in the bath that she uses to brush her teeth. I always let her watch me brush my teeth and I let her "brush" my teeth too. Now she really gets it and it's actually fun for her. They also make a baby toothpaste but I really don't think you need it at this point.

When my girls were little I used to let them suck on the tooth brush after a bath when I was getting them dressed. Then I would brush them lightly with a tad of baby tooth paste. If you let your little one suck on the tooth brush just make sure she doesn't gag herself :) and never leave her alone (I'm sure you already knew that :) Just had to throw it in ;) ) This is a good time to start brushing, she'll have these teeth for years at least until she's 5 or 6 so you want to start a good habit now :) Good luck :)

My son has one tooth and we just went in for his 9 month well-baby visit today... our pediatrician said to clean it (or them) atleast once daily with either a finger brush thing or a washcloth. Hope that helps.

When my twins were just babys, they loved the Orajel stuff. Now that they are 2, they brush their own teeth. I suggest giving the baby some of that orajel stuff on a kids toothbrush and let her play with it. don't put alot, just alittle. that way, she's getting her teeth clean and learning to brush at the same time!

After being in dentistry for 15 and being a mother of 3 I would say getting a small kid sized toothbrush and just let her chew on it for now is the best thing. It will get her used to how it feels in her mouth and chewing on it will also help with teething issues. Another trick is to give her a slightly dampened washcloth and let her chew on it. The toothpaste is overkill at this age and isn't really needed at this age. The saliva helps to keep the babies teeth protected from cavities at this point. Most of that will either be ingested or all over her shirt. Kinda pointless to spend the money on it.
Also, getting her off of the bottle at 1 year is good and giving her water throughout the day will help to clean food and milk off of the gums and teeth.
Hope this helps.
T.

We used the training toothpaste and a mini toothbrush on our daughter when she had about four teeth. Before that, the doctors say to just use a wet washcloth.

Hi Sahm,

I used the finger brush on both of my kids when they were babies now 6 and 3. The toothpaste is safge for them to swallow since it does not have all the other junk the adult paste have. I would actually brush their gums before they had teeth in a routine just we do and they both loved it. I would check with your ped. before. Hope this helps

hello-
at only 8 months old it is absolutly not necessary to use toothpaste. all you need is a gauze pad or a thin wash cloth with warm water to clean their teeth. at this age, toothpaste is really only a marketing device. they contain sugar and unnecessary chemicals your baby's body does not need. and if you do feel the need to use toothpaste, it's extremely important not to use flouride toothpaste. at this age, it can be harmful if it is constantly being swallowed. i hope this helps you. and if your not sure what to use, do solid research so you learn the facts.
best wishes to you & your family

I was always told by our dr. to just wipe out the teeth with a wet, clean, washcloth. That is all they need until one or so and they start eating more table foods. Then just use the smallest brush you can find and we use a toothpaste from the health food store that has no dye or sugar (some actually do). Our son does just fine with that!!

the toothpaste and scrubber are perfect to clean the babys teeth its very important. the toothpaste will not harm the baby if swallowed. simply put the scrubber on your finger and apply some toothpaste and gently scrub them. you want to protect those baby teeth. make sure you gently scrub her gums it will feel great to her. good luck....H.

Our pediatrician told us the other day to even use a washclath with warm water at the beginning. We mentioned the baby toothpaste and finger brush, but he didn't act like that was any better. He said at this age she doesn't need it (6 months old), however, he suggested to do something (either one) the minute the first tooth comes out. His idea is that the sooner cleaning their teeth becomes a part of their daily hygene, the better. Later it will be more natural for them to continue brushing everyday, etc.

My baby had 2 teeth by 2 months. I bought baby oragel with the finger toothbrush and he loves it still (10mos w/8.5 teeth). Just rub bristles up and down and side to side, you can also brush the tounge, if the gag response isnt too bad. I have a friend that used the finger toothbrush but her baby hated it. Other toothbrushes are available. Make sure the toothpaste you use is BABY toothpaste, adult/child toothpaste has ingredience that could hurt their little tummies or future teeth when they grow in could have major spotting. Make sure you brush every night after eating and drinking everything.. (this was told to me by my pediatrician). GOOD LUCK, most babies love it

Hello E.

I have a nine month old he is my first child also. I use the tooth and gum cleanser with the little rubber finger brush also it is simple really Just put a little on and rub it on their fums and teeth just like you would for yourself only they can swallow theirs as long as it doesn't have floride in it. Now they come in all those neat flavors also Max relly likes the strawberry bannana one. I have seen other moms use actual small tooth brushes with the same cleaner. Or i have seen them use a washcloth with some kind of cleaner. But i have only ever used the one with the finger brush .... Hope that helps