Brushing

[jackie0]

IIs it OK to brush my 1-1/2 yr old's teeth once a day - in the mornings?, and not twice.  He sleeps off with his beaker of cow's milk while drinking it, then puts it aside.  Is milk bad for his teeth overnight? 

[Dark Angel]

Everyone should brush their teeth twice a day. And you shouldn't eat or drink anything except water after you've brushed your teeth at night. 

[woofgang]

hear hear, cows milk is a treble prob, it sets in curds and clings round the teeth and gums, it has sugar in it which stick to the teeth and the curds are acid. Basically all your happy little tooth decay bacteruium needs to live happily ever after!!

[maitre d']

Thirded, finally got ours in to see a dentist, only to find she's going to have to have some out [under sedation] for that very reason.  Horrified, when she used some disclosing tablets [having done her teeth].  Am now investing in decent rechargeable brush - dentist says the ordinary battery ones are useless.  Sooner they get used to doing it twice a day the better.  Good luck!! 

[jackie0]

Oh dear.  Poor kid. How old is she?  what are disclosing tablets?  what do they do?

[kick3m0n]

Fourthed.  Stop the bedtime drink (or switch to water) and brush at least twice a day.  More often is reccommended if jnr has any sweet snacks during the day (ie brush immediately after).

[silly moo]

Agree with everybody else - but would add that it's not a good idea to let a child fall asleep whilst drinking.
He could choke / drown.
Cup of milk, then brush teeth then bed and sleep is the ideal way.

[woofgang]

sorry to disagree with kick3m0n. My dentist says that you shouldn't brush immediately after a treat because the acid in the mouth has dissolved some of the tooth mineral and softened it so if you brush then, you will actually brush some of the teeth away!! better to have a drink of water or chew some sugar free gum to stimulate saliva then brush if you want 15 to 20 min later and seven times, never brush straight after drinkin fruit juice for the same reason

[nrmatth]

and by the way, disclosing tablets are those little red chewable pills that leave red temporary staining where your teeth and gums are considerably nasty from plaque and such.

[Marvin84]

so when is the best time to start the brushing regime...as soon as the first tooth is in?????

[woofgang]

or sooner with a soft brush to get babe used to the idea