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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Advice on getting my 23 month old to brush his teeth

19 replies

JoshuasYummyMummy · 21/06/2007 09:21

Every morning and evening it is a battle to get my little boy to brush his teeth.

He is generally a well behaved easy going boy but when it comes to brushing his teeth he clamps his mouth shut and flatly refuses.

For some reason he is slightly better with my husband and will at least let him put the brush in his mouth but I am very worried that his teeth aren't getting cleaned as well as they should.

We use a toothbrush that is suitable for his age and only put a tiny amount of toothpaste on - we have even tried without toothpaste in case it was that that he didn't like but all to no avail.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

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Soph73 · 21/06/2007 10:14

Have you tried getting him to brush his teddy's teeth first? Although our ds has always been good about brushing his teeth when we first started doing it he wasn´t too keen. So we had a big line of teddies which had to have their teeth brushed first then he would let us do his.

Ceebee74 · 21/06/2007 10:17

I have the same problem - although my DS (also a Joshua ) is only 11 months and only has 2 and a bit teeth.

I have slightly more success if I brush mine first (not very hygenic I know) and then he will at least let me put the toothbrush in his mouth but that is it - the toothpaste barely touches his teeth.

So sorry, no advice but I am interested in any advice you may get

ghosty · 21/06/2007 10:17

With DS we played a game and named his teeth after super heroes
"Open up and let's see who's in there today, Ooooooh, look, I can see Superman! Who else it there?"
And he would try to say, with his mouth open, "pidamaaaan" ... it was quite sweet.
With DD we did the same but with her it was moo cows and baby lambs.

Franniban · 21/06/2007 19:44

Yes we have the same problem with dd, now when we can get the tooth brush in, her gums are bleeing on the bottom set, I am worried that her teeth are not getting clean enough. Will try ghostys advise, but don't hold out much hope. Any other suggestions gratefully received.

Thinkstoomuch · 21/06/2007 19:49

My DS (24 months) has been more cooperative since we got a toothbrush he likes. It's only a cheap one from Tesco or Sainsbos, but it's a dragon design, or a dinosaur, and it stands upright. He likes the fact that he can stand it up himself on the edge of the bath.
Plus we have another toothbrush ready and sometimes have a go with that while he's distracted with the dragon one.

kittywits · 21/06/2007 19:50

I pin my 17 month old down in a half nelson, I find that pretty effective.I can't be doing with protractetd pleading

snowleopard · 21/06/2007 19:52

My 2yo DS is much keener since we got him a kids' electric toothbrush in the shape of a spaceman (make is Crest I think, got it from Boots). DP makes it fly towards him with beeping noises, then we switch it on, he has a go first and then I say "mummy's turn" and do a bit myself. If he clamps his mouth shut I tap his nose with the toothbrush and say "beep beep!" which makes him laugh and I sneak the toothbrush in. It's taken a while but he's gradually got more used to it and now opens his mouth for me to have a go.

eldestgirl · 21/06/2007 19:53

Have you tried an electric one? My DS loved messing about with that.

stressteddy · 21/06/2007 19:55

Hi there - try leaving the tap running(not very eco-friendly I know!) and asking him to wash his hands whilst you are cleaning his teeth
Also, put some liquid soup on there too to make it more "interesting"
This works for my ds. Sometimes hes bites and sometimes not. Just keep trying
x

MrsFish · 21/06/2007 20:03

I have always brushed mine at the same time, seeing as he copies everything else I do thought he would do this too. Now first thing he does every morning when he comes into our room is to ask for his teeth to be done, he then has about three lots of toothpaste. He still won't let me brush them as such, but he chews on it a lot, I must get through a toothbrush a fortnight

I also make silly noises when I brush mine and over exaggerate the motions, it makes him laugh and he tries to copy.

lizandlulu · 21/06/2007 20:32

hiya, i tried allsorts to no avail and postad exactly the same question on here a few weeks ago. the only thing i can do to brush my dds teeth is pin her down and wrap her arm in the towel. i know its not perfect and some people dont agree with pinning a child down, but she HAS to brush her teeth and if thats the only way to do it, then so be it. i have been doing this for about a week now and she knows what im going to do and has less resistance than she used to. if i waited until she let me brush them, i think the teeth would rot in her head! that for me is not a posibility!

Marmite · 21/06/2007 20:34

Have you tried trying to brush his teeth in front of a mirror so he can see what is going on? Try giving him a toothbrush too so he can brush his own teeth while yo do it properly.

wulfricsmummy · 21/06/2007 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Diplidophus · 21/06/2007 20:37

The eletric one worked for us. He also likes to do it when we're doing ours. Some days he flatly refuses. He's better with the fruit toothpastes.

maltesemum · 21/06/2007 20:42

DS went on toothbrushing strike when he was about 25 months. I told him food had sugar on it so we fashioned a smile out of some white bread and sprinkled sugar on it. Put the bread in a plastic bag in the breadbin for a couple of days and then brought it out for him to see. DS is now 5.3 and I've never had a problem since

mistersmum · 21/06/2007 20:57

I asked my dentist about it when I was last there and he said the important thing at this age is to get them used to the routine and to get the flouride in to them (our water doesn't have flouride added) so he suggested pushing the toothpaste down into the bristles (still using a little bit) and letting them get on with it and suck/chew the toothpaste off. I am a bit sceptical and do get get in there regularly but as I am now a bit more relaxed about it he appears to be too and is much better.

potoroo · 21/06/2007 21:17

We are still a bit hit and miss too (Ds is 2 and a bit). Sometimes I have to hold him down, but most nights I'll be lucky to get a brush in there for more than a few seconds although he will happily suck on it.

Mind you it has got marginally easier since he saw the Tombliboos brushing their teeth on Cbeebies...

Biglips · 21/06/2007 21:19

As ive always had done it this way....i brush her teeth first and then she brush her teeth last. She even brushed my teeth too but yes it does tickle!

TiggernPooh2 · 21/06/2007 21:30

My ds is 21 months and some days is good as gold, other I am afraid to say I lay him down and hold his arms. I do find though in this position I can nibble his feet as he is trying to kick me in the head which makes him laugh and I can get on with brushing and lighten the mood!!

I also brush my teeth first and his bear which works and we have a brushing teeth song.

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