Should you use a toothbrush and toothpaste for your toddler?

The first set of teeth appeared when LG was barely five months old. Over the next eight months he had another twelve. By 15 months, he had sixteen teeth. As a child who was diagnosed with calcium deficiency at birth and kept in ICU for treatment, this was a big deal.

I started cleaning his teeth when he got the first pair of lower incisors. I tried brushing a few times with the finger brush with little success. Over the past few weeks, I've started using the baby tooth brush from Johnson's and it is very good. Even Colgate has one I guess but I liked the structure of Johnson's better. The brush is available in all pharmacies in India. The bristles are soft - doesn't hurt the teeth or the gums. The question of whether or not to use a toothpaste is debatable amongst the pediatrician fraternity. While his birth Pediatrician told me, kids do not know how to spit, they tend to swallow the toothpaste so it's best to refrain using one until they are atleast two and half years old. On the other hand, the one I've been going to to since LG was five months old told I could use any tooth paste that we adults use - preferably Colgate though. He didn't strongly recommend a baby toothpaste. I like this Doc because of his cool attitude. His only advice to me always has been "Don't over protect your child. Let him grow naturally so that he develops a natural immunity to everything."

The Johnson's baby toothbrush is good. For one, he no longer bites my fingers. Seeing us brush everyday, he has taken to the concept of brushing every morning like adults and actually looks forward to it. He even imitates the act while the rhyme "Here we go round the mulberry bush ..brush your teeth, wash your face, comb your hair" plays. As far as the toothpaste goes, I will start in another week or so. I didn't want to put him off with the whole package right in the beginning.

Related Reading:
How to Get Your Toddler to Brush His Teeth
How to Teach Toddlers to Brush Their Teeth
How to care for your baby's gums and emerging teeth - BabyCenter
TOOTHPASTE FOR TODDLER