How to brush toddler's teeth?

For a long time pediatrician said to not use toothpaste. At what age does child start to use toothpaste and how to brush toddler's teeth?How to brush toddler's teeth?
They say not to use normal toothpaste because the flouride content is too high for young children. The do make low-flouride toothpaste for toddlers but it is still recommended you wait until they are able to spit out the toothpaste after brushing. I have been told by a dentist that swallowing flouride toothpaste may actually cause discolouration to their growing teeth. With my toddler, I used a wet facewasher to wipe over her teeth until she was about 18 months. Then I got her a toothbrush, with nothing but water on it and would make a game of getting her to copy me cleaning my teeth. At the age of 2, she is now cleaning her teeth pretty well with low flouride paste, and I just assist her to make sure she brushes all her teeth and spits %26amp; rinses.How to brush toddler's teeth?
use the ';stages'; tooth paste, they have a fluoridefree safe to swallow cleanser that can be used first, its clear. For my children I sit them in my lap and have them face outward. I support their forehead with one had and tilt their head back and instruct them to open.This helps keep their head still. I start at the top and work my way down being gentle. Some kids are squirmers but mine never have been. I started getting them used to it as babies. I suggest you have two tooth brushes, one to use yourself to clean their teeth and one for them to hold and then they can practice afterwards.


At the toddler age you should check with the dentist to see if they can have a ';chair ride exam'; the dentist or hygenist can show you how to clean their teeth and they can start getting use to the idea of going to a dentist. I have never really consulted the ped regarding my kids teeth.
Our doctor said only use toothpaste when a child can understand to spit it out, my daughter is 3 and we just started using it with her, but I did use the non floruide kind when she was little. My son is 6 and I still watch him with it, he gets excited sometimes and forgets to spit!





I say give them their own brush, and get a second one for you to help them with it. Teach them to spit early and maybe try the non flouride kind (oragel makes it, it has little bear on the package) until they get the hang of it
I love the Spry tooth gel for infants/toddlers. You can use it as soon as they get their first tooth. (online or at natural foods stores)


For my toddlers, I brush twice a day and floss once. They used to HATE it and I'd have to literally pin them down. The key is to do it when they aren't too tired/cranky. I let them choose a tooth brush they liked (Elmo) and as I'm brushing I sing one of Elmo's songs, it usually calms them down, makes them laugh so I can brush.


I use the flossers with handles and do it as gently/quickly as possible every evening.
I let my kids start using toothpaste as soon as I could trust that they would not swallow the foam, but would spit it out in the sink.





Start out by NOT using toothpaste and tell your child to spit while brushing. If they do it consistantly, then try a little paste and see if they still do it upon your request. If they do not, go back to just plain water until and keep doing the spit-training.
If you can manage to find the toothpaste that is for milk teeth, then that is ok for them. It's made for young children. It's ok for them to swallow if they have not yet learned to spit it into the sink. What I do is just make sure that I give my daughter a drink of water right after wards.
Kind of odd for a pediatrician to say no toothpaste....it should be no flouride toothpaste. To start out it would depend on the age of toddler. If he is old enough to understand open your mouth and hold still then you're ready to brush his teeth. Use the non-flouride toddler toothbrush and if this is the first time with a toothbrush get a really soft toddler brush. With my son we started out as an infant with the finger brush. I'd lay him down on the bed and tilt his head back and showed him ';aahhh'; and did his teeth. Once he started getting the idea of brushing we switched to a toddler toothbrush since he now understood to keep his mouth open. I still had him stretched out on the bed so I could get at his mouth easily.


Around 2 yrs old I started brushing his teeth standing up and working with him to spit out the toothpaste. Shortly after that we introduced flossing. According to my son's dentist it's not always required to floss a toddler's mouth unless their teeth are close together..LOL my poor little boy got my teeth which means no gaps in them.


He made the switch to flourinated toothpaste shortly after his 3rd birthday since he figured out the spitting part. He is now 4 and I am the one who does his teeth.


Around 2-3 yrs old is a good time to introduce allowing them to do their own brushing. We set up a routine that I would do them once and then he is allowed to ';finish'; brushing his teeth for me. This way both of us are happy with the experience. Also he is allowed to brush his teeth during the day anytime he gets the urge. I leave the non-flouride toothpaste where he can access it so I know he's not getting to much flouride.


That part is totally up to the parent. Most kids will use toothpaste to paint with...for some reason I have a neat freak little boy who has never thought of that...*knocks on wood*
They have toothpaste that is safe to use on toddlers (it is safe for them to swallow)





That would depend on your child, you can have them brush there teeth, or you could brush them, but don't be forceful about it try making a game out of it by singing a song while they brush or while you brush.
well... to be totally honest, I don't exactly know. They do make different kinds for babies and toddlers that is a lot less abrasive than the toothpaste we use as adults. That's what we did. It will last forever since they are the only ones using it.


I think the best way to brush a toddlers teeth (if fighting you is the issue) let them have the brush, tell them you want to see them do it... make over it really big, say things like wow, that's great, oh It's really making your teeth shiny... then when they are done, say something like, let me try... and give it a good scrub on all surfaces backs, tops, fronts.


The link below will show you some different kinds of toothpaste for little ones. Hope it helps. It's really important that your child is brushing 2 times a day now. :)
use sandpaper