Help. Advice needed. My dd2 is refusing teeth brushing

[midwifeandmum]

Can any one help. My 2 year old wont allow me to beush her teeth. Ive noticed a wee bit of yellow discolouration on some teeth but I dont want to force her and hurt her.

[rootypig]

You have to force her, you won't hurt her.

[Lottapianos]

Give her a choice - 'you do it or mummy do it'. It may make her feel a bit more in control. Or get her to 'brush' your teeth first, then its your turn to brush hers. But either way, it's going to happen!

[notnowbernard]

'Pick your battles'

Mine was toothbrushing and I was going to WIN

it was a 2-man job every night. 1 restraining, 1 brushing. For about a year.

It didnt hurt her, just made her scream which helpfully gave better access

[BeCool]

Brush with her.

My 2 yo loves to "win" and "be first" - this is great when it comes to tooth brushing as I make it into a game with her.

I've done it for her a few times - I don't like it and I probably won't do it again.

DD2 is vvv stubborn - so if I get the run around at bedtime re teeth or going for a wee before bed (she refuses this also) I say no bedtime book. It usually works.

Stubborn DC are hard.

[BeCool]

oh the other thing I've done is shut us both in the bathroom, sat down and refused to move until she brushes her teeth.

She needs to know it's not optional. Some of the children in DD1's Y1 class have visible holes in their teeth.

[Cotherstone]

Tooth-brushing is non-negotiable in our house. It used to involve a lot of pinning and forcing - wrapping DD in a bath towel so she couldn't move, putting her over my lap and them pretty much forcing the toothbrush in. Sometimes now she will also let me clean hers while she cleans mine (though you've got to clean your teeth properly afterwards as well!)

But the biggest improvement for us has been the free Aquafresh app, it's a video of some dancing toothpaste brushing its teeth. They get points every time they clean their teeth properly etc. Its amazing, and DD now sits happily on my lap and watches it while letting me clean her teeth. Worth a look?

[PirateJones]

I've had to practically corner my 6 year old and do it in the past. Like eveeryone else here.

[PirateJones]

we get this and end up doing this

[Theyaremysunshine]

Things that helped were buying an electric toothbrush (they say for 6yrs+ but we used from 2), sticker chart and reward, helping me brush mine, he does AM, I do PM, no teeth brushing no story.

But if all else fails he gets held and teeth are brushed. Non-negotiable here too.

Off to check out that app though....

[Cotherstone]

I could snog the random old friend on my FB feed who recommended that app

[Highlandbird]

Electric toothbrush helped here too, especially one with lightning McQueen on it, could you let her choose an exciting toothbrush?

[OatcakeCravings]

Pin her down and do it or take her to tbe dentist for a mouth full of fillings in a couple of years time.

[fromparistoberlin73]

force her

[SolomanDaisy]

I used the towel wrapping technique I saw recommended in here for a while. Then moved to sitting him in my knee pinning his arms with one hand and holding his head in place with my head. I did actually accidentally hurt him once, one of his gums bled. It was awful. But I don't see what other choice there is really. He is much better about it now.

[HoneyBadgerPersonified]

I can't bear to force DS1 but teeth brushing is a non-negotiable for us. DSD has awful teeth and I'm determined he won't end up with the same. Most days he's ok, he brushes them and I 'check for bugs' (do a thorough clean and tongue brush) We shout 'go away bugs' whilst brushing (messy but usually works!)
Failing that, no treats for the day if he doesn't brush in the morning - this includes fruit juice, biscuits, raisins, sweets, cakes etc. Any extra snacks basically.
And no story if he doesn't brush at night. We have about a 95% success rate.

[Meglet]

Gentle brute force here. I figure they'll hate me more if I let them grow up with grim teeth than if I had to pin them down to brush.

5yo DD is still a terror for teeth brushing. 7yo DS is ok, but doesn't mind me doing his.

They have disclosing tablets, floss and electric toothbrushes at weekends. I still give them the once over afterwards though.

[nldm1]

We make our two sing. Put on their favourite tunes (DD's, who is 4, is AC/DC's highway to hell...!?) Then when they get really in to it we shove the brush in quickly and then mimic their mouth-full-of-brush singing, which makes them laugh and keeps their mouths open.
Ok, so it's a bit of a rigmarole, but tooth brushing is never dull in our house and the kids now seem to actually enjoy it!...Maybe our kids (and us) are just a bit odd though...?

[RandomMess]

My friend did the "If you don't let me brush your teeth then you are not any chocolate ever"

[Sparklysilversequins]

Mine at aged two didn't get a choice!

[spamm]

This is a non-negotiable in our house, we used to force it when he was two (of course gently, but it was a must) and now, at 9 years old he is better than me at doing it every day, 2x per day. My teeth are bad - having lost of work, and he knows it is because of some neglect by me when i was younger.

[BeCool]

I have downloaded the Aquafresh Ap - snog for Cotherstone !!!

[outtheothersidefinally]

The aquafresh app - I second that!

[Cotherstone]

So simple, so effective - I bloody love that app

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

My 22 month old gets the held down method. She will happily play/chew/suck the toothbrush but I ensure they are brushed properly. I've been very fortunate and never had and fillings/teeth issues and I want my daughter to be the same, not full of fillings.

[TeenageMutantNinjaTurtle]

My DH found that holding our dd upside down on his knee would make her laugh and open her mouth. She is then happy to have her teeth cleaned as long as she remains upside down. Its quite tedious but I agree its non-negotiable. Prior to the upside down thing, I would regularly find myself straddling her as she lay on the floor, holding her hands above her head with one hand and brushing her teeth with the other. It was miserable for both of us.

Might investigate electric toothbrushes and iPhone apps!!