Q&A: Toddler Tooth Brushing

Sleep Week is over, which is good, because it was making me tired. Why is sleep so much more gutwrenching than other kinds of problems? And now on to an easier question.

Elise asks:

"How crucial is it for two-year-olds to brush their teeth twice a day? It is so hard to get my daughter to brush hers that they only get brushed once or twice a week if we're lucky.  My co-worker was telling me it's OK if they're not super diligent about it until they're 3 1/2 or 4 - what do you think?  Does El Chico brush his teeth regularly? Do you have to pry his lips open with the toothbrush?"

I think they're really supposed to brush twice a day.

Having said that, though, I'll confess that El Chico only brushes once a day. Some days he brushes by himself, and other days I can get him to let me do it (so I know the back and insides are actually getting brushed).

What tipped him over into being a tooth brushing fan was the Dora electric toothbrush. Once that wore out, he got a Hot Wheels electric toothbrush. Whatever one you get, I highly recommend a licensed character electric toothbrush. (If they're going to market to kids anyway, why not at least make use of it for good dental hygiene?) And goofy fruit-flavored toothpaste. I've heard other parents say that they let their kids pretend to brush the parent's teeth as an inducement to allow the parent to brush the kid's teeth. We just kept talking about how Big Boys brush their teeth every night (and how Bob the Builder brushes his teeth every night), so now he demands to squeeze on the toothpaste and do it himself.

AFAIK, a 2-year-old should be seeing the dentist soon anyway (I've read that they should go for the first time at 18 months). You'll probably have to do a lot of practice ("and then the dentist sticks a cool little round shiny mirror in your mouth so she can see the back of your teeth!") and hype ("I love the dentist!") before you go. But then at least you'll get the straight story on how often you need to brush, and you'll see if your child is having problems yet.

Comments

[TracyB]

FWIW, my son had two cavities when he was 16 months old. Yes, TWO CAVITIES!!!! My son, who never ever had eaten candy or sugary snacks or drank juice or brought a bottle to bed or any of that "bad" stuff. I felt like the worst mother in the world making the first phone call to the pediatric dentist and praying they could fit us in before the turn of the century. They fit us in that day. And I went through a huge list of no-nos with the hygenist. All of which I successfully answered "no!" So what made my darling 16 month old son have two (!!!) cavities? Damned if I know. The hygenist has me convinced that because I brushed his teeth after dinner but before his last bottle/cup of milk before bed, the milk stayed at his gum line and rotted his teeth. I guess it seems plausible, but I still don't totally buy it. He goes for his next checkup (has it been six months already??) tomorrow. He's actually been talking about it too, since I've been a maniac and mentioned the dentist about a million times in the last week.

He was cool with the hygenist and the dentist. The dentist told me at the time that babies should see the dentist for the first time around one year of age. First birthday, first dentist visit. Which is totally different than our pediatrician's advice (somewhere between 2 and 3 years old). The earlier they go, the less intrusive it is for them - if there are only 4 teeth to clean, it sure doesn't take long to do it!

[Linda]

I think it's twice/day, too, but we're lucky to get once/day in. It's usually 3-4 times/week. We are failing in the oral hygiene category. Can we go back to sleep? We're alright there.

[Toni]

I have a friend that's a dentist (and an orthodontist friend too). Both have said 2 - 2.5 for the first visit.

Also - did you know if their teeth are touching that they should floss too?

[Tara]

I can get her to brush but she will not use tooth paste does it make a huge difference?

[Linda]

Toothpaste doesn't matter at all. I've read that even adults don't need toothpaste because all the goodness comes from friction between the brush and teeth.

[Tara]

You are the best Linda, the very best! My mind is at ease now!

If only I could get her out of diapers for good!!

[Andrea]

Our dentist says one good time a day is enough, at least at age 1-3. Definitely go to the dentist starting young, to get the kid into the routine. A professional cleaning does wonders, too, for baby teeth vaguely stained by Polyvisol, juice and other plaque. Finally, flossing is really not so bad if you can get your kid to open up and hold still. Buy those kid-flosser things at the store- not cheap but they really help.

[Fixitladie]

I have a 2 yr old who has caries on just about all her top teeth, except the molars. I've been brushing her teeth at least 9 times a week since her first tooth showed up. When it's time to brush, she always wants to do it by herself, so I tell her she can brush after I have my turn. I tell her to say cheese and she holds the smile for 3 secs.! It drives me nuts. We always get into a fight as I have to hold her mouth open so I can get all the teeth. Lately during the brushing battle my heart hurts, I'm extra tender and I cringe [My Lord!] when I brush them because I just don't know if she's hurting or what. She is definitely feeling something,(not sure if it's acute or subtle pain) because she won't chew with her front teeth anymore. She was breast feed until 13 months, as were 2 other sibs. She has the same affection for her sippy cup at age 2, as her older brother(now 5) and sister(now 8) had for bottles at age 2. Neither of them got one carie(Carie, who's she?) My oldest(now 10) was nursed until 15 months and never wanted a bottle or sippy, she had no caries either. Unfortunately the 2 oldest have been to the dentist only twice in their lives(because of financial reasons), but the very recent last visit they only had 5 starting cavities between the two of them. My son has none at all.
I do have to admit though, that my 2 yr old has been allowed her sippy cup at night, but I'm a firm believer in half water/half sugary beverages at ALL times. I don't know maybe sugar is sugar no matter how much of it there is...[sigh]

My toddler is the only out of 4 children to get caries, and bad ones too. They have progressed in their rotteness really quickly just over the last 5 weeks. They are still white but the soft insides are showing which are light brown colored. Her teeth look like that (licorice??)candy that has a crunchy white outside and when you bite it has a sticky brownish inside??? Anyway they also seem to be worn down, like they are not the same height that they used to be. I'm trying to get into the dentist within the next couple of days. I'm worried that she'll have to have them all surgically removed. I just don't know.
I've gotten so many points of view it's confusing... don't give them bottles/cups at night at all... watered down bottles/cup are ok... caries are caused by sugar and bad brushing habits...bad teeth are genetic ...sippy cups are infamous for causing carries... a dentist visit before 2 could have prevented the carries... no dentist until age 2 necesssary... brush twice a day... only brushing when they let you is good enough... dental surgery for toddlers can be done without anesthetic... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!