Washing teeth without screaming or biting?!

user1470064958 · 2017-07-13T11:52:26+00:00

How on earth does everyone manage to wash their babies teeth without screaming/ biting or full on tantrum? I currently have to pin DC to even attempt it twice a day. It's become an absolute ordeal. Any one got any tips?

Spudlet · 13/07/2017 12:54

No tips, but posting because we're having real issues with this and I'm really hoping someone will have a tip or two I can use too! It's bloody awful, ds gets hysterical (he's 18 months old).

I'm hoping it's a phase...

HerBluebiro · 13/07/2017 12:55

How old? Are they teething?

Early on there was a bit of pinning. And opportunistic brushing when mouth opened to scream. Then when older made it more a game - you brush mummy's mummy brush yours. Then let dc do it.

Yura · 13/07/2017 12:55

By starting early - we started at 3 months with both, so they are very used to it. Not much help for you though.

guiltynetter · 13/07/2017 12:58

i started at 3 months too but it doesn't make any difference to my DD. she is 3 now and still have to do the occasional pinning! i know it seems so awful but it's just non negotiable, it needs doing. it's actually easier to do when she's crying as she opens her mouth we have had some success with character tooth brushes, she has a crocodile at the moment, she likes squeezing the toothpaste on herself. other than that, just hope for the best 🙈

Notsosureanymoors · 13/07/2017 13:04

Teeth brushing at 3 months? My DD is 11 weeks and this is not something I've even considered! Sorry to thread hijack but how is best to start this?

guiltynetter · 13/07/2017 13:07

i started at 3 months too but it doesn't make any difference to my DD. she is 3 now and still have to do the occasional pinning! i know it seems so awful but it's just non negotiable, it needs doing. it's actually easier to do when she's crying as she opens her mouth we have had some success with character tooth brushes, she has a crocodile at the moment, she likes squeezing the toothpaste on herself. other than that, just hope for the best 🙈

19lottie82 · 13/07/2017 13:07

Have you tried to get them to do it themselves while you do your own?
It's a lot less traumatic for them than being pinned down and having something forced into their wee mouth.

Play the "now you're a big boy/girl you can do it like mummy does" card.....and go shopping together, let them pick their own toothbrush etc..

anchor9 · 13/07/2017 13:09

washing teeth

mine is 11 weeks. should i be washing his?

KaosReigns · 13/07/2017 13:11

I do mine at the same time and pretend I'm having the time of my life with my 1yo, I brush for her at first then let her chomp on the brush. Now nail cutting is all out war.

Emma2803 · 13/07/2017 13:12

Tombiluboos brushing their teeth on YouTube!!! Watched it for a few days while brushing teeth (this is a big treat for him) and then gradually stopped. He was about 2. Nothing else would work, it was a screaming match all the time and I had resorted to letting him just chew the toothbrush but this obviously was not enough.

Emma2803 · 13/07/2017 13:14

Tazerface · 13/07/2017 13:15

I have mine the chance to do it themselves or have me do it for them. I made it clear it was a non-negotiatable activity so they were pinned fairly often at that age!

Wrap in a towel, put them on the floor and brush. There seems to be one Mumsnetter who was traumatised by this and who always shows up on these threads to implore you not to do it - IMO if you're traumatised as an adult then you need help for it, your parents are responsible for you keeping your teeth!

Also tried all those ideas Lottie - sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

seventhgonickname · 13/07/2017 13:16

Flashing toothbrushes are good.If they really won't brush then a piece of cheese will at least neutralise the acid.Also no fizzy drinks ,sugary things.

snotato · 13/07/2017 13:16

I had this trouble with my ds.I'd have to pin him down to brush his teeth twice a day,until I found a fruit flavoured kids toothpaste in sainsburys (he hates mint)
He still didn't want his teeth brushed,so I asked him if he prefers the fruity toothpaste to the mint,he replied yes.so I explained to him that if he didn't let me brush his teeth with the fruity toothpaste we would have to go back to using the minty one.
It worked wonders.

Note3 · 13/07/2017 13:17

I have a daily battle brushing my toddlers teeth and this has been the case since the start. I have some success with distraction ("can you see..." then I name real things around and silly things like monkeys).

Also singing and chattering about rubbish and lots of praise for the slightest compliance

Bizarrely she's better if other people brush too (husband or children)

sonlypuppyfat · 13/07/2017 13:18

Washing teeth, I've never heard it called that before

Doublechocolatetiffin · 13/07/2017 13:19

I always sang a brushing teeth song to my DD - she likes nursery rhymes so I sang when she let me brush her teeth and stopped when she didn't. Usually she's ok with teeth brushing, but if it's really bad then CBeebies on the iPhone is my solution!

BlindAssassin1 · 13/07/2017 13:22

Yeah DS was and occasionally still is a bit of a horror about teeth. If its any consolation the dentist told me when they are little even if you get a bit of brushing done and not as thorough as you'd like, don't worry, its more important to follow the other teeth rules, like avoiding squash and chewy sweets, only water between meals, rinsing mouth well etc.

KimmySchmidt1 · 13/07/2017 13:25

At 3 cant you talk to her and explain why it is important to brush teeth? Explain that if she doesn't brush her teeth every day to clean the dirty off them they will go black and very painful and bleed and then she will have to go to the dentist and have them taken out. That will mean she will not be able talk because you need teeth to say words properly. Then show her pictures of rotten teeth on the internet. Then say she is being very stupid for not brushing her teeth and she will ruin her face.

That is, after all, the explanation behind why people brush their teeth! I find forcing children to do something with no explanation of why is as unsuccessful as forcing adults to do the same.

Dandelionrarrrr · 13/07/2017 13:29

We changed to an electric one (child's brush part that fits on our regular oral b electric brush) and he gets to choose which flavour tooth paste. A bit of power for him... so he thinks.

Tazerface · 13/07/2017 13:41

Kimmy the OP hasn't mentioned an age - explaining doesn't work so well with a one year old.

muddlefuck · 13/07/2017 13:44

washing teeth?!

Verbena37 · 13/07/2017 13:54

You only need to start wiping teeth with a soft clean muslin cloth once the first tooth comes through.

After that, either carry using cloth until they're older or get a little finger thing you put on your finger to do it.
Or just crack on with baby toothbrush.
Pretty sure you don't need to brush if no teeth are evident.

With DS, who has ASD (although we didn't know that until he wasn't 11) and who still a total sensory meltdown with anything in his mouth, we used to use a little finger puppet toy or get one of his toys to hold the toothbrush and say let 'Mousy' or whoever, brush your teeth. It mostly worked.

Original poster

user1470064958 · 13/07/2017 14:57

We have tried different brushes and more of a softly softly approach but she's now sussed what's about to happen when she see the toothpaste.

Kimmy unfortunately DD is 13 months so only so much explaining I can do ATM.

She didn't teeth until 7 months so we couldn't start too early unfortunately

It's driving me crazy twice daily at the mo I hate it as she gets so upset and just clamps her mouth closed.

OP posts:

Verbena37 · 13/07/2017 15:08

I'd just plonk her in the bath and give the toothbrush to chew on whilst in there....or a silicone feeding spoon to chew on. Just so she gets used to having something in her mouth.