To stop brushing 18 month olds teeth

Teeth brushing is a hill to die on. It’s absolutely non-negotiable.

Oh my, my 2 year old is a nightmare we have to keep trying new things each week 😂🤣 last week it was lets find the dinosaur hiding behind a tooth with the brush. This week it's if he lets me brush them for him twice a day he can have a gummy (child vitamin) each day 🫣

I think finding something that he will allow on his mouth is a good first step, even if the bristles are too soft for long.

I think a manual toothbrush is better for this age, the vibration and noise of an electric one could be too much stimulation and a sensory overload.

Also, have you tried letting him clean you teeth? Could you and his dad take it in turns to brush each other's teeth In front of him

Give him a manual toothbrush with nice paste on and let him do it himself. Surely unless he has sugary stuff it will be fine. Lots of plain water after all foods as well. With my DC (now adults) used this method. DD no fillings at all until early 20s DS none until 12.

Oh yes this worked too, I held him up to the mirror and then gave the brush, and we’d brush together. Looking at himself distracted him a bit.

Have you brushed your own teeth at the same time? My nephew refused teeth brushing for a while and when I asked my brother if nephew watched them brush their teeth he said no. So basically as far as nephew was concerned someone was poking a stick in his mouth.

My DS is autistic and refused. I tried pinning him a couple of times but he was strong and could have really injured himslef. I got a u-shaped brush that he chewed on himself and gave him a normal one straight after to chew on. Tried encouraging him to let me brush in a fun way rather than forcefully. He started letting me brush them at 5 for 100 seconds, he loves numbers so the counting helps. He's had a check up since (refused all check ups previously) and his teeth are perfect. So I would advise you don't push it hard, go in gentle and take your time. Encourage him to brush himslef, make sure he's not having extra sugar and that he has plenty of calcium. Tooth decay is usually a result of lots if sugary snacks and juice, the less there is of that the less plaque there is building up.

we had the same thing, although it was mostly around 2 that it got really bad.

These things helped:

• We put up a photo in the bathroom of a random child brushing their teeth (it’s from a Lovevery set, we bought it on vinted).
• And got a reusable sticker chart, gets very excited by the sticker.
• We got a different toothpaste (now use the oral b one).
• mostly let him start himself and then get hold of the end and ensure we scrub it for 10 sec or so. He likes chewing it.

The above combo works for now, if the next phase of non brushing hits, I’m considering:

• An electric toothbrush with lights and music etc.
• Creating a little independence station with a mirror etc. All v Montessori 😅

Anyway, don’t beat yourself up if some days are skipped or some days are a quick brush. The pinning down method and forcing it on him just made it worse and he wouldn’t come near a brush so I’ve gone the “gentle” route

The strawberry toothpaste helped us, now he's older he can tell me that mint tastes so strong to him it hurts, even in the really bland kids toothpastes

God this speaks to me, both my kids were like this. We had to do it as a team I.e. I would cuddle them (restrain their arms…) and DH would do it. It’s really difficult!

Both my kids HATE electric/buzzing toothbrushes

My view is at this age you just do what you can do when you can do it, don't make it a fight, if they get a bit of toothpaste in their mouth somehow or another, job is a goodun.

I found variations of the following works:

me + toddler cleaning teeth opposite each other,

letting toddler clean my teeth, then I have a turn and do their

letting "toys" clean their teeth (you hold toothbrush in the hand of the toy),

letting DD clean DS teeth,

pretending you've spotted something and you need to brush it away (i pretend i spot all sort of silly things in there and "quick let me brush it away" so it's a game)

standing in front of a mirror

give them toothbrush + paste in front of tv so they absentmindedly put it in their mouths for a bit

let them do it themselves and ask for 'a turn'

Evening teeth brushing is the most important so def prioritise that one. But it’s got to be done, by force or otherwise.

You should absolutely not neglect to brush his teeth but don't use physical force like some have suggested!

There's a few gentler ideas like letting him pick out a shiny new toothbrush and toothpaste for himself at the shops, find a toothbrush song or video on YouTube, do a star chart. If all else fails show him photos of kids rotten teeth online!😫

my son was exactly the same. I did find a hack though…. I used to swaddle him up in a towel and brush his teeth that way 🙈. Like most things with young children, one day he just grew out of it and started to let me brush his teeth!

You’ve probably tried it @notaurewhatusername but have you got an electric brush? You can get one with characters on. I really struggled with my DDs teeth as she hated me brushing them but she’ll just about tolerate it from an Elsa electric brush!

I know what you mean about choking, when they are throwing their head around and you’re loving a toothbrush it’s easy to hurt them without meaning to. I do think gentler methods work best.

I use the Pokémon teeth brushing app for my kids. The dentist suggested it.

Talk to your dentist about it and see what they say? Our dentist said the epidemic of young children having teeth removed under general anesthetic is mostly due to poor dietary habits. So while the brushing is important, remember that you can do an awful lot to protect your LO's teeth before you even get anywhere near them with a toothbrush.

My similarly aged child started refusing the toddler brush so I've gone back to a fingerbrush, we listen to the Jules brush your teeth song and I let her try to bite me because it makes the process fun for her.

Wrap burito style. Straddle. Brush. If he clamps pinch nose gently to open. It’s a phase and will pass but rotten teeth will hurt like hell.

I’ve always been told by the dentist not to force it.

No it would not be reasonable. Stop being lazy and defeatist and brush his teeth!!