Trying to figure out the best way to clean my little guy’s new teeth. I’ve seen those silicone finger brushes and also tiny baby toothbrushes with soft bristles. I started with the finger brush but it feels a bit weird, and he mostly tries to chew on it. Are the bristle brushes better for this stage, or just messier? What did your kids tolerate more, and did it make any difference in how clean their teeth got?
Funny, I remember when my grandkids were at that stage—tiny teeth popping up and everyone fussing over how to keep them clean. The finger brush always felt a bit awkward on my end too, and I swear the little ones just thought it was a new chew toy. I switched over to a soft-bristled baby toothbrush after a while, mostly because it was easier to get into the corners, but yes, it did get messier. At least with the brush, they started to mimic brushing motions, which I figured was a good habit in the long run.
I can’t say it made a huge difference in how clean their teeth got at that age, since you’re really just getting them used to the idea. Honestly, half the time it felt like a wrestling match no matter what I used. You’re doing great just by trying—those first teeth are tricky, but the routine matters more than the tool, in my experience.
That’s interesting about the baby toothbrush being easier in the corners—I always worried I’d poke too hard or miss spots since their mouths are so tiny. Did you ever stress about whether you were brushing too much or not enough? I get anxious about damaging the enamel, especially since those first teeth seem so delicate. How did you know when to switch from finger brush to regular brush?
I totally get that anxiety—those tiny mouths make it feel like you’re either missing half the tooth or poking too hard. I worried a lot about brushing too much at first, especially since the enamel looks so fragile. For us, we stuck with the finger brush until my kiddo started biting down a lot, then switched to a soft baby toothbrush. It felt weird at first, but honestly, the bristles seemed gentler than I expected. I just tried to keep it quick and not overthink every angle—some days are better than others and that’s okay.
For us, we stuck with the finger brush until my kiddo started biting down a lot, then switched to a soft baby toothbrush. It felt weird at first, but honestly, the bristles seemed gentler than I ex...
My little one definitely preferred the finger brush at first—less intimidating, I think—but eventually the chewing became a big issue. Swapping to a soft-bristled baby brush felt awkward, but it actually seemed to clean better, especially along the gumline. Some days were easier than others, honestly.
