Brush Brush Dem Teeth

Just a quick response for you. I agree with Kristen W. I have been in the dental field for 20 years. I just want to respond that white spots on children's teeth are not caused by fluoride. White spots are areas of decalcification of the enamel. This is caused by plaque sitting on the teeth too long, acidic foods, and sugary foods, not fluoride. I really wish people would do better research and not take it as fact if it is on the internet. These sites are not done by actual scientists who have done the research, so please take them with a grain of salt. T.

When my kids were younger and hating the toothbrush, our Dentist said, to use a dampened wash cloth, and wipe/clean their teeth with that.
It gets it clean.

But yes, you should be 'brushing' your child's teeth. Twice a day.
Regularly.

you should brush twice a day...it's definitely a struggle with my second, but we try! Try different positions (laying down, sitting on lap, etc) and let him hold a toothbrush while you brush...lots of tricks, we sing and it usually works!

I'm a dental hygienist. Yes, it is VERY important to start brushing and flossing now. I know it's not easy, but in our house, it's just one of those things that's not an option--like getting diapers changed. I try to make it fun and interactive, but it still happens, no matter how much they cry or protest! I usually let my kids brush their own teeth after breakfast and lunch, but I do it before bedtime to make sure it's done really well on a daily basis. That's also when I floss. I always sing the ABC song once for the bottom teeth and once (in Spanish) for the top teeth. Then I count the teeth as I floss them. This way, my kids are learning something else as we're getting the job done. As far as fluoride is concerned, it is very important that your child gets fluoride--in the right amount! At this age, you need to find out if your drinking water is fluoridated (call your water company), then make sure your son is actually drinking tap water (you can use a Brita filter without losing the fluoride)--not only milk or bottled water or premade juice. If not, get a prescription for fluoride drops from your doctor or dentist. Until your son is 2, you should use a non-fluoridated toothpaste or only water to brush. After he's 2, use only enough fluoridated toothpaste to color the end of the toothbrush bristles. Keep the toothpaste out of reach. Once he's able to spit reliably (about 3-1/2, for my son), you can start using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste when he brushes. You never really need much more than that (even for an adult).

Whoa...opening up a can of worms with the fluoride questions. Fasten your seatbelts, folks, its going to be a bumpy ride!!!

Brushing is crazy important at any age - after meals and snacks if possible.

Fluoride - in moderation like many things it is beneficial (my father in law is a dentist). Some people believe it is poison (which it is in large amounts). So, that being said...you need to research it and use your best judgement in deciding what you believe.

There are parts per million, and tons of safety regs in place...so in spite of what some believe...you will not die from fluoridated water or toothpaste...but you be the judge. There are people on both sides of the argument with valid points.

I choose to use fluoride paste and pills for my kids because honestly...my mom had no access to fluoride while pregnant, and my sister had no fluoride as a kid and her teeth grew in without any enamel...she is 29 and has spent probably about $20,000 in dental work in the past 7 years.

But don't let anyone bully you or freak you out either way.

I brush my 9 month olds teeth with non-flouride toothpaste from Melaleuca that's safe and made for little ones. Before I got it the toothpaste, I just used a wet toothbrush. I do it at night before bed. It takes only a couple of seconds. =)

Ugh....enjoy this tooth brushing while you can! haha My two year old needs to be pinned down most nights. LOL

And avoid flouride for now. It's not harmful, per say, but if (for example) your four year old grabs her tube of flouride toothpaste when her two year old brother says he wants a snack...and feeds him dabs of it? Well, his teeth will resemble something from the cheetah family. :-p (Ugly brown spots on all of his front teeth.)

To answer question number one: brushing is important as soon as little one has a tooth. As soon as little one has several teeth next to one another, it is important to brush AND floss. Crazy silly to put in practice...but necessary and true. Twice a day!

Fluoride in *excess* is poisonous (even the natural/environmental factors can make drinking water unsafe - like in areas of China). Fluoride in the correct amount is desirable. It arrests oral disease and deterioration. Although it isn't related, I *think* about it sort of like iron. Too much = not good. The right amount = necessary. To little = not good.

It's tricky though, because toddlers will often swallow their toothpaste. This, in addition to fluoride added to city drinking water and/or other fluoride additions, can amount to TOO much fluoride. So, INHO, it is best to talk with a *trusted* dentist to figure out what is best for your child, their age and in for your area. (I'm in an area that doesn't fluoridate water, so it's actually not harmful for them to use fluoridate toothpaste, even if they're swallowing trace amounts.)

Also, depending on your diet and the amount you brush/floss, your need for fluoride drops or increases. My friend, who is a dentist, does not use fluoride toothpaste because she has a good diet, brushes and flosses multiple times a day and does a fluoride rinse (not sure if that is proper terminology) once every few months.

I love the world health organization and have found their articles very interesting:

http://www.who.int/oral_health/events/Global_consultation...

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/oralhealth/en/...

NO !!!!! FLUORIDE IS SO TOXIC, do not use it. Biggest deception that the media and dentists have portrayed. Do NOT listen to the comments below on adding this to your child's water, toothpaste, etc. ALL complete ignorance. So many people are living in the dark ages about this. Please read some articles here to inform yourself:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/0...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/1...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/0...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/0...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/0...

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=fluoride&k=f...

Ever heard the Never Smile at a Crocodile song?? It is sure to bring out those teeth if you sing it and make goofy faces while brushing. :)
We used non-floride toothpaste when we lived in our old place because that city floridated it's water so we didn't want to overdo it. We recently moved to a non-floridated city so we use mild floride toothpaste... This is one of those situations where between you and your dentist you can make your choice, but I just avoid too much. The earlier you start brushing the better though! Just tell yourself how much money you'll be saving on dentists in the future if your little guy knows it's just the way we do it!

You really should start brushing his teeth twice a day by now. Do not use flouride. If kids swallow it their permanent teeth will get white spots on them that will be there forever. Use a toddler "training" toothpaste that is flouride free. Flouride toothpastes should be used once the child can spit while brushing his teeth.

Our family dentist said to brush with water (or a non-flouride toothpaste) until they are old enough to spit reliably... We start with a kid (low flouride) toothpaste at age 4.

J.

My kids have the white spots on their teeth from fluoride, even tho we didn't do the fluoride pills or fluoridated water. They must have swallowed too much toothpaste. So I'd avoid the fluoride toothpaste for now.

Ive been brushing my sons teeth every day since he he got his first tooth. I use the orajel training tooth paste (the thomas the tank engine one, its the only flavor my son enjoys. The orajel training tooth paste is fluoride free and does a GREAT job at keeping his pearly whites pearly. He is 2 yrs old not and brushes them twice a day. It is nto good to use fluorinated toothpaste because too much fluoride will stain teeth later in life. It will leave white dots on teeth that cant be removed. I do use fluorinated baby water though for him. I use purified nursery water that is specifically made for babies/ toddlers. Good luck.

D.,

I am not an advocate of fluoride. Go to www.mercola.com and also goggle "fluoride" and see what comes up. They are studying fluoride more and more and finding it doesn't really help tooth decay and it causes your kids to become toxic. You need to decide for yourself by researching though.

Also on the back of the toothpaste tube it says to call poison control if your child ingests more than a pea size of fluoride toothpaste. Would you want your child to put something that is that toxic into his mouth????

Look and see if you can find fluoride free toothpaste (which is very hard to find) by going to the natural food section of the store. Shaklee also has a fluoride free toothpaste and you can go to www.nutritionandhealthnow.com to check out there products. It would be in the personal care section.

N.