"We got her a little mirror for brushing time, and she loved watching herself 'brush' her teeth"
Haha, genius idea with the mirror—wish I'd thought of that earlier. We went fluoride-free too at first; cheaper, less worry, and honestly tasted better than the fancy stuff...or so my kid's face told me.
Haha, genius idea with the mirror—wish I'd thought of that earlier. We went fluoride-free too at first; cheaper, less worry, and honestly tasted better than the fancy stuff...or so my kid's fac...
Haha, the mirror trick sounds adorable—I wish someone had thought of that when I was little. Might've spared me a lifetime of dental anxiety. We didn't have fluoride-free toothpaste back then, just that minty stuff that burned your mouth off and made brushing feel like punishment. Good call starting gentle and easy with your kid; probably sets them up to be way less nervous about dentist visits later on.
Honestly, as someone who's still anxious every time I have a dental appointment (even though my dentist is super patient), I'd say it's never too early to get kids comfortable with the whole dental routine. Sounds like you're doing a great job making it fun and stress-free. Keep it up—your kid will thank you someday!
I get the idea of starting gentle, but I'm not totally convinced fluoride-free is always the best way to go. Our dentist actually recommended fluoride toothpaste pretty early on—said it helps prevent cavities even in baby teeth. I was skeptical at first, but after doing some reading, it seems like there's solid evidence behind it. Maybe worth checking with your dentist to see what they think? Always good to hear another perspective...
Yeah, I was skeptical about fluoride at first too, but honestly, I've seen toddlers come in with cavities already forming... it's surprising how quickly it can happen. Early fluoride use really does seem to make a difference, from what I've observed. Worth chatting with your dentist about timing though.
"Early fluoride use really does seem to make a difference, from what I've observed."
Definitely agree with this. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry actually recommends scheduling the first dental visit by the time your baby turns one or within six months after their first tooth appears—whichever comes first. It might seem early, but it's more about prevention and getting parents comfortable with proper oral care routines. Plus, catching any potential issues early can save a lot of headaches (and toothaches!) down the road...
