Our dentist suggested rinsing too, but honestly, I'm lucky if I can even get pants on my kid half the time...brushing multiple times a day feels like Olympic-level parenting. We just stick to water mostly now—sanity first, right?
Haha, I totally get you—just getting through the day with a toddler feels like a marathon sometimes. Honestly, you're doing great by sticking mostly to water. Our dentist said even small steps help, like quickly wiping teeth with a damp cloth if brushing feels impossible. I've tried it, and it's surprisingly doable even mid-tantrum...most days anyway. Hang in there, you're definitely not alone in this!
I hear you on the damp cloth trick, but honestly, I found it pretty hit or miss. My kiddo hated it and it turned into another battle. Switching to those silicone finger brushes worked better for us—less drama, more effective cleaning...just my two cents.
We tried the silicone brushes too, but honestly, my daughter just ended up chewing on them and treating it like a teether. Didn't really feel like we got much cleaning done. Eventually, we switched to a super soft toddler toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste—made a huge difference for us. Less fuss, better brushing, and her dentist seemed happier at check-ups. Guess every kid's different though...
We had a similar experience with the silicone brushes—my son just gnawed on them too, and I wasn't convinced they were doing much cleaning-wise. But I'm not totally sold on fluoride toothpaste for toddlers yet. I've read some mixed opinions about fluoride at such a young age, even in tiny amounts. Our dentist recommended starting with fluoride-free toothpaste until he's better at spitting it out consistently, then transitioning later.
Instead, we've been using a toddler toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride-free paste, plus wiping his teeth down afterward with a damp cloth to make sure we're getting everything off. It's definitely more work, but his teeth look good so far and no cavities yet (fingers crossed). I guess it's all about finding what works best for your kid and your comfort level...
