Brushing teeth
When and how did you start with a routine for brushing teeth? Liam now has his first tooth through and although I know I don't need to start brushing it with a brush and toothpaste yet I think I should start getting him used to a routine of tooth care early on so it will be easier when we do need to brush them properly. Any advice?

My only advice would be start early so they get used to it but be very very gentle. Andrew has lots of teeth but his gums often bleed when I brush his teeth. I am being as gentle as possible but it does often turn into a fight. It really isn't the easiest job and there are bound to be tears but you've got to be cruel to be kind - he will get used to it eventually.

Charlie got his first tooth pretty early (4 months) so I got a couple of little fingertip toothbrushes (like little plastic "thimbles" for your index finger with tiny soft bristles on) and used those for quite a while, but without toothpaste. I can't remember when we started using a proper brush and toothpaste - it was probably around his first birthday.

I give Alex her toothbrush every day, usually during nappy change time as it occupies her! She has 5 teeth currently and really enjoys knawing away on the brush. I think that's all they need at this early stage really, rather than proper brushing.

I've been brushing alex's teeth since his first one popped through at around 6 months, we use baby oral b toothbrush and a tiny dab of milk teeth morning and night.

We started when Eleanor's bottom two teeth popped through, a few months ago now. We put the teeny-tiniest dab of paste on her little brush then I do one or two little brushes on her teeth (or somewhere near her teeth because she doesn't always open her mouth and I can't really see what I'm doing) then I give her the toothbrush and she chews it for a minute or two then drops it on the floor. We do it morning and evening. I doubt her teeth are getting a proper brushing but I think that's OK. As she gets a bit bigger I'll try to get a better brushing action, but for now I'm just trying to make sure we don't have a fight over it. I've also tried showing her in the mirror, but that didn't really help much, she just kisses the mirror. She quite likes the taste of the toothpaste so that helps I think.

I think I started by using Jess's face cloth to wipe over her gums, as suggested by our HV when she was a few months old, then she got her first 4 at four months, so carried that on for a bit and I guess by 6 months got her a baby toothbrush and started getting her used to me brushing her teeth. I now give her the brush whilst running her bath in the evenings and she chomps on it for a bit, and then I put my brush in my mouth, and whilst she thinks shes brushing my teeth I brush hers properly. We used non fluorodated (sp?) toothpaste as our dentist recommends until they are old enough to spit it all out properly, I guess 4 plus they said? then they dont need fluoride, as they shouldnt swallow too much of it. xxxx

I used to be a dental nurse and the dentist I worked with reccomended giving babies a toothbrush as early as possible for them to just chew, even if they have no teeth. That way it's not scary when they have to use one.

We tried Isaac when he got his first teeth through but wasn't interested. Then as he has congenital heart disease and in the past would have needed antibiotics before dental treatment, he was given a dentist appointment. He went last week and we were told it was crucial for him to have perfect dental health and so must brush his teeth twice daily and he cannot have biscuits, sweets, chocolates. :( Anyway, we have found that it is a 2-person job. The first person sits Isaac on their knee facing outwards, then lies him down a little then the other person brushes his teeth gently for about 10 seconds or however long we can keep the toothbrush in before he screams the place down!! He enjoys playing with it but doesn't like it in his mouth.....nightmare!!!

Hi! We do exactly the same as Gemma said, and have brushed Emily's teeth morning and night since the very first one came through- and now 9 times out of 10 she's really good and sits really still with mouth open for us to do it. Either I or DH brushes first to make sure we've had a good clean, then give her the brush to have a little go herself. We still have the odd battle when she's grumpy or overtired, but that's part of having a toddler I suppose!! Debbie xx

Thanks all of you. So we will be starting to "brush" straight away. I think after breakfast with Daddy (as I go to work then) and after tea with me. Let's hope he sees it as fun as we have a fight twice a day already for his saline solution nose spray and I feel so horrible for making him cry. I'm not sure yet from all the varying responses whether we should start brushing with toothpaste at all yet or just with a bit of water. PG - Liam gets flouride with vitamin D as a tablet every day. It's something standard here for the first year, not sure if it's the same all over the world. April, we saw one of those thimble like brushes whilst looking today to see what there is for baby's teeth and wondered if they are as good as they look.

Hey Rosi, We have fluoride added to the water here, much to my annoyance, as I would rather make the choice myself, and dont like it being added as a matter of course, so I guess Jess gets the fluoride that she would need from that? DH came down from bathing Jess tonight and said she wouldnt let me brush her teeth!LOL I said so you just gave in?! I told him my trick of putting his brush in his mouth and whilst shes trying to brush his teeth, to brush her! Honestly, men! hit a hurdle, and they give up! xxxx