We haven't gone yet and my baby's almost 9 months...been wondering if we're behind. Glad to hear waiting a bit worked for you. Our pediatrician gave similar tips, but I'm still anxious about cavities and stuff. Did your dentist mention anything specific about when to start toothpaste? We're still just using water with the finger brush (aka chew toy, lol).
"Did your dentist mention anything specific about when to start toothpaste? We're still just using water with the finger brush (aka chew toy, lol)."
Haha, I remember those finger brush days...definitely more of a teething toy than an actual cleaning tool at first! Our dentist actually recommended starting a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (like rice-grain sized) as soon as the first tooth popped through. She explained that even though it seems super early, the fluoride helps strengthen the enamel right from the start and can help prevent cavities later on. We were a bit hesitant at first because, you know, babies swallow everything, but she reassured us that such a tiny amount is totally safe.
Honestly, I was anxious too—it's hard not to worry about cavities and dental health when they're so little. But our dentist also mentioned that the most important thing at this stage is just getting them used to the routine of brushing regularly. She said it's more about building good habits and less about perfect brushing technique at this age (thank goodness, because my kiddo was NOT cooperative at first, lol).
One thing that helped us was making brushing into a little game or singing a silly song. It didn't always work perfectly, but it definitely made things less stressful for both of us. And now that he's older, he's actually pretty good about brushing without too much fuss.
I'm curious though—has anyone else had trouble transitioning from the finger brush to a regular toddler toothbrush? My son was weirdly attached to the finger brush for a while, and it took some creative convincing to get him to switch over...
We had a similar experience with the finger brush—it was basically just a chew toy for months, lol. Our dentist actually suggested starting toothpaste pretty early too, right when the first tooth appeared. She said just a tiny smear (like barely visible) of fluoride toothpaste is safe and beneficial. I was skeptical at first because my daughter swallowed EVERYTHING, but apparently that tiny amount isn't harmful.
Switching to a toddler toothbrush was definitely tricky for us too. My daughter loved chewing on the finger brush and wasn't thrilled about giving it up. We ended up letting her pick out her own toothbrush at the store (she chose one with her favorite cartoon character), and that seemed to help a lot. Also, brushing our teeth together made it more fun for her—she liked copying us.
Honestly, it's mostly about building habits at this stage anyway. Our dentist reassured us that even if brushing isn't perfect yet, just getting them used to the routine is half the battle.
We had a similar situation with our son—he thought the finger brush was just another teething toy, haha. Our dentist also recommended starting toothpaste early, but I was pretty nervous about it at first because he swallowed everything too. Eventually, I got a second opinion from another dentist (I tend to overthink things lol), and she said the same thing: a tiny smear is totally safe. Guess I just needed that extra reassurance... Anyway, brushing together definitely helped us too—he loves mimicking dad, so that's been our saving grace.
We went through something similar, and I totally get the hesitation about toothpaste early on. But honestly, I think the whole "tiny smear" thing is a bit overly cautious. Our dentist actually told us that fluoride-free toothpaste is perfectly fine until they're able to spit reliably. It eased my mind a lot because, like you, I was worried about my daughter swallowing everything. Plus, she seemed to enjoy the flavor more without the fluoride taste.
Also, brushing together is awesome—definitely agree on that! But sometimes mixing things up helps too. We got her a little mirror for brushing time, and she loved watching herself "brush" her teeth (well, mostly chewing on the brush at first, haha). It made her feel independent and kept her interested longer than just mimicking us.
Anyway, every kid's different, so whatever works best for your family is probably the right call. Just thought I'd share another perspective since I know how stressful these decisions can feel at first...
