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Original poster

How important is teeth brushing?

126 replies

howsoonisnow85 · 23/01/2021 07:52

My DD is 11 months & has 8 teeth, it is absolutely impossible to brush her teeth, she just will not let me. The routine I have come to with her is that whilst I am brushing mine I have her in the bathroom & give her a baby toothbrush which she sucks/ chews on.
Do I need to force this more with her as it will cause her issues later on, or should I pick my battles & this isn't one until shes older?
Thanks!

OP posts:
CreeCree · 23/01/2021 09:38

Yeah, it's important OP. I admit with my first I was like you. I found it really difficult, he would kick and scream and throw his head around, even when we used those silicon finger brushes. So I told myself "he's only 1, how much does it really matter?!" to avoid it. It's not like I never brushed them, but I was lax about it. Didn't do a good enough job, to avoid the drama.

So anyway, he had to have 3 fillings when he was 3.5 years old. I felt like a total failure. I've never had a filling in my life and my son had 3 aged 3. With my second child, my partner holds her super firmly (think how you would if he/she needed a vaccine and was thrashing) and I just do it. It's unpleasant, she screams wildly, but I know now we have to do it thoroughly no matter what.

BertieBotts · 23/01/2021 09:47

Also if you feed them pouches, especially the fruit ones, don't let them suck it out of the pouch. Squeeze onto a spoon. If they do suck them out give them occasionally. (I did spoon squeezing when they were babies and occasional treat sucky one as toddlers)

RandomPatternedTiles · 23/01/2021 09:49

Exactly what @shouldistop said.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

9-12 months old Babies & sleep Dental health Families
Ihaveoflate · 23/01/2021 09:55

It's as non-negotiable as a car seat in my opinion. My toddler hates the car but I wouldn't let her crawl around in the back seat.

She hates having her teeth brushed but we sit her on a lap and pin her arms. She knows it needs to be done and it's over in no time. I hope it will get better over time but until then, I will continue to do what I have to do.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 23/01/2021 09:58

My DS has no problem with the toothbrush going in his mouth and doesn't mind the taste but how on earth do you do the brushing action? He just clamps his mouth shut and I can't move the brush. I think it probably would traumatise/hurt him if I tried to pry his mouth open!

He is 10 months and doesn't understand the concept of copying us or opening his mouth etc.

musicalfrog · 23/01/2021 10:14

[quote MisiSam]@musicalfrog sorry I meant how many minutes we are supposed to brush them for Smile[/quote]
😂 Oh! I just do it for a long as it takes me to cover all areas.

LouLou789 · 23/01/2021 10:25

Role play was really helpful for mine when I wanted them to do something. Get a favourite teddy or similar and say in a pompous voice “who can be good and have their teeth done?” Teddy “volunteers” (squeaky voice) but then makes a big fuss. Tell Teddy off and ask if there is anyone who can show Teddy how to do it properly (looking round the room) Ask several times. If your child doesn’t volunteer then have another toy “volunteer” and behave impeccably. Lots of praise for the cooperative toy. Repeat ad nauseam. Worked a treat for me, I in all sorts of scenarios.

Catty1720 · 23/01/2021 10:36

@howsoonisnow85

Thankyou for the replies & advice, she also hates having nappy changed & getting dressed so already feel like Im pinning her down alot! I will definitely try the wrapping in towel technique, I think that could work, and will look into finger brushes. Im not a bad mum, just a first time one trying to work it all out!
No ones saying your a bad mum being a first time mum is trial and error. I’d say make it fun use the duggee song or make one up also my sil has a Disney app that counts it down and her Dd loves it. Just keep trying it better to do a little than none at all
MindyStClaire · 23/01/2021 10:43

It's non negotiable here too, but that doesn't mean pinning her down. Hmm For one thing the brush would just slip and hurt her if we tried. As a baby we used those silicone chewable ones linked above. Now she's a toddler we sing a song - she brushes for the song once and then I "finish off" for another round. If she clamps shut,I stop singing until she opens again.

At other stages she's used an adult brush, brushed our teeth etc. You find a way and it will work for a while and then change as they get sick of the current routine.

MindyStClaire · 23/01/2021 10:45

Genuine question - how on earth do you get to the back of the teeth by pinning them down? DD would just clamp shut if I did that, I don't think I could physically force a decent brushing of anything bar the fronts of the very front teeth.

ErrorDetected · 23/01/2021 10:46

When all mine were small and hated it, I wrapped them in a towel and did it in small bursts, with jokes and hugs in between bursts. Sometimes letting them try brush my teeth with my own brush relaxed them enough for me to get a few swipes in too.

There are no issues at all with tooth brushing now.
It had to be done and forcing it was IMO not harmful in the long term.

AllegedlyChaos · 23/01/2021 10:54

We had those 'tooth wipes' that were in little packets from Waitrose. They worked well.

Chalkcheese · 23/01/2021 10:57

I see it like the same as when they need a vaccination or a doctors examination or any other medical procedure. It's best to make it fun and persuade them to cooperate but there is no harm in holding them still to make sure it's done. All my kids have gone through a phase of toothbrush refusal and come out the other side, because they know it's non negotiable. I think their momentary discomfort is worth preventing the pain of dental issues. I'm not even sure they are uncomfortable! What do you do about giving them antibiotics or having a throat exam or covid test or nails cut or their jabs if you won't hold them firmly?

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/01/2021 11:12

I think a lot of this is just awful.
I've a 19yr old with all her teeth, didn't like them being brushed, but we got there, without any cruelty, and yes, I think it is cruel to pin down a baby/toddler.

MaMaD1990 · 23/01/2021 11:13

@MindyStClaire it sounds horrible but when mine is shouting at me I use that opportunity to get to the back teeth. She doesn't always shout though, sometimes she just finds it really funny so when she's laughing I get in there quickly. It doesn't traumatise them, they don't know what's good for them and it has to be done. I think people are imagining a WWF type situation with a 2yr old but it's really not like that at all!

@howsoonisnow85 you're not a bad mum at all! You don't know unless you ask Smile

SnugglySnerd · 23/01/2021 11:17

We found it easier to brush while they were in the bath at first with a bath toy to play with. Once they got big enough to understand spitting out the toothpaste we progressed to a step at the wash basin but they were used to it by then.

MaMaD1990 · 23/01/2021 11:18

@IHaveBrilloHair I'll be sure to set aside money for therapy when she develops a severe mental health issue stemming from her teeth being brushed Wink

Onedropbeat · 23/01/2021 11:21

@IHaveBrilloHair

I disagree with everyone else. Whilst of course I think its important her teeth aren't going to all rot and suddenly fall out because she won't have them brushed properly. Carry on as you are, brush your teeth, let her "brush" hers and as she gets older she'll probably let you. Forcing her now may well make it a much bigger problem for years.
This is my thoughts too

Baby teeth aren’t forever , they understand when they get a bit older

11 months is still a baby

Alfaix · 23/01/2021 11:33

Those who are saying it is awful to pin them down: come back to me when you have extracted a tooith from a screaming 6 year old after 2 lots of antibiotics and no sign of the GA referral you did 6 months ago coming to pass.
Tooth decay is the main reason children are admitted to hospital. Don’t be soft- you might regret it!
If you are too soft to brush make sure you are super strict on food. Nothing to drink but water or milk. Limit fruit snacks. No raisins. sticky things like fruit winders, fruit as a pudding with meals, not between meals. Biscuits and sweets only as an occasional treat and never between meals.

Luxembourgmama · 23/01/2021 11:35

I think its just about creating a daily habit even if its just chewing now.

LittleBearPad · 23/01/2021 11:38

@Alfaix

Those who are saying it is awful to pin them down: come back to me when you have extracted a tooith from a screaming 6 year old after 2 lots of antibiotics and no sign of the GA referral you did 6 months ago coming to pass. Tooth decay is the main reason children are admitted to hospital. Don’t be soft- you might regret it! If you are too soft to brush make sure you are super strict on food. Nothing to drink but water or milk. Limit fruit snacks. No raisins. sticky things like fruit winders, fruit as a pudding with meals, not between meals. Biscuits and sweets only as an occasional treat and never between meals.
Apart from the fact, I didn’t pin them down, had chewable toothbrushes and let them do it themselves and both have had absolutely no trouble with their teeth. Stop being a drama queen.
FlyingByTheSeatof · 23/01/2021 11:39

Yup if they have teeth you need to brush them no matter how quick it just pop some toothpaste on your finger and swipe it over the tooth

Onedropbeat · 23/01/2021 11:41

@Alfaix

Those who are saying it is awful to pin them down: come back to me when you have extracted a tooith from a screaming 6 year old after 2 lots of antibiotics and no sign of the GA referral you did 6 months ago coming to pass. Tooth decay is the main reason children are admitted to hospital. Don’t be soft- you might regret it! If you are too soft to brush make sure you are super strict on food. Nothing to drink but water or milk. Limit fruit snacks. No raisins. sticky things like fruit winders, fruit as a pudding with meals, not between meals. Biscuits and sweets only as an occasional treat and never between meals.
Maybe it’s genes but I’ve never known any children to have extractions for decay unless they’ve had a terrible diet (crisps and juices)

If a 6 year old has adult teeth being extracted then that’s quite shocking it’s happened so quickly as they would have only just come through

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/01/2021 11:43

Extracting teeth from 6yr olds is highly unlikely to be because their teeth weren't brushed as thoroughly as they could have been as a toddler, but then as a dentist you'd know that right?

gamerchick · 23/01/2021 11:47

Maybe it’s genes but I’ve never known any children to have extractions for decay unless they’ve had a terrible diet (crisps and juices

So because you haven't seen it, means it doesn't happen? Ok then, makes sense.

It's lazy parenting not to make sure that part of their health is looked after. Dress it up how you want.