Once upon a time, in a land that was so magical, it could only have been dreamt up by fairy princesses, there lived a kind, peaceful woman and her newborn daughter. This baby girl was the light of her mother’s eyes and the very center, warmest part of her mother’s heart. Together, they would sit and read stories while they snuggled and giggled for hours at a time. As the darling girl grew, the mother began to notice the child’s smile changing to a toothy grin. Of course, the mother knew exactly what to do, since it is after all in her nature. She began brushing the child’s teeth with a soft bristled toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste. The little girl laughed and laughed at how the bristles tickled her gums. This was the child’s favorite time of day, since she knew her mother would snuggle her to sleep after a long day of precious memories.
And that’s all there is to it! Lies. Lies. LIES!!!!! I am so glad to be writing this post after having had a beautiful, sweet, yet headstrong child. My answer to this question, altogether has not changed since becoming a mother, but the delivery of my answer is quite different than it was prior.
As a pediatric dentist, I strive to always follow the guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. When parents would ask me this question, I would tell them, “You should start brushing your child’s teeth when the first tooth erupts with an appropriately sized soft bristled toothbrush and a smear of fluoridated toothpaste twice a day, before bedtime and after the morning meal.”
As I think back to the families that I told this to, I remember the bewildered and dejected faces that read, “I have not been doing what is best for my child.” Now when I am asked the question, I ask, “What have you been doing so far?” If the answer is “Nothing,” then I tell them the guidelines and offer tips on how to start the process. Firstly, I encourage parents to use a warm washcloth to wipe the teeth and gums. I also encourage them to get a yellow banana rubber brush so the child gets used to the feel. These banana toothbrushes are great teethers and trainers, but they are not the best for really cleaning teeth. As the child gets more used the this, you can attempt a baby toothbrush with no toothpaste or with just a little dab. This can help your child get adjusted to the sensation.
Another option that has been successful with my daughter is the flavored xylitol tooth wipes. Xylitol is a sugar that has anti-cavity effects. Hallelujah! Where have you been all our lives? With that said, the wipes are just a tool I am using to get my daughter comfortable with me being in her mouth. My ultimate goal is to make toothbrushing time enjoyable.
I have found it helpful to have my daughter watch us brush our teeth. After several days of watching us, she began begging to use our toothbrushes. The thought occurred to me that she may not like her toothbrush because it is manual and not electric. I purchased her a children’s electric toothbrush that is like ours, and it has been a game changer! She loves using it, but she still does not like me brushing her teeth. I have also purchased a few toothbrushes and put them places where my daughter will be sitting for a while (car seat, in front of tv, etc…) so when she gets bored, she will play with it. With all of this said, I am still navigating the toothbrushing journey. I have goals that I want to achieve, but I will not get there overnight. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your child. And happy brushing!