Silly kid-toothpaste question

[tarynsmum]

All this talk about flossing and whatnot...

So I've been brushing DD's teeth (she has about 8), just using water and a little mini toothbrush. When am I supposed to use that gel stuff? (I know not the adult toothpaste, but the kid stuff). What is that anyway? Does it really clean her teeth, or is it just a teaching device?

[SnuggleBuggles]

The Tom's of Maine that we used (still use in addition to a fluoride kids' toothpaste since ds is 4.5yo) has calcium and silica that are supposed help to clean teeth.

http://www.amazon.com/Toms-Maine-Toothpaste-Children-4-58-Ounce/dp/B000FKLCV6/sr=8-3/qid=1170536047/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-4416414-7333758?ie=UTF8&s=hpc

We probably started using toothpaste regularly when he was about a year.

Beth

[brittone2]

You might also want to look into Spry infant gel (vitaminshoppe online has it I think). It contains xylitol, which is a good way to fight the bacteria that cause tooth decay. There's actually some good research out there on it. I'm more comfortable w/ it than fluoride for little ones. DS used that until he was about 20ish months and then our whole family started using the Spry mint (adult) toothpaste.

[icunurse]

We use Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry, too. Currently, we use the non-flouride version, but will switch to the Silly Strawberry with flouride when DS is older. I like that it's not full of a bunsh of surgars and stuff and that we can change it over to a flouride version without changing tha taste (one less thing to have to battle over with DS!).
DS - 2004

[TraciG]

I still use Orajel Toddler training toothpaste, it's fluoride - free, DD is 3

[TraciG]

I still use Orajel Toddler training toothpaste, it's fluoride - free, DD is 3