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Original poster

Don’t know what to do about brushing teeth

70 replies

Rubbermaid · 15/11/2017 20:26

My dd is 16 Months, has her top four and bottom four teeth plus molars on the bottom left. I’ve been brushing her teeth since the first ones emerged at 6 Months and although she’s never exactly loved it, she did at least tolerate it, after having had a bit of a chew of the brush herself.

However for the last couple of months it’s been absolutely impossible. She completely refuses to let me brush them, (clamps mouth shut, shakes head, wriggles, pushes, kicks etc) and although she’ll hold the brush herself she won’t put it into her own mouth. I’ve tried everything I can think of, letting her play with it for ages first with no attempt to brush her teeth, playing with the brush in the bath to associate it with ‘fun’, brushing my own teeth, etc etc. I’ve just bought her an electric one designed for babies as I thought, even if I manage to brush for a couple of seconds with that then it’s better than a couple of seconds of a manual one.

However she is just not having it and I’m getting really worried as I obviously want her to have healthy teeth and gums! It’s made bedtime really stressful which is of course not what anyone wants.

What do I do?

OP posts:
toolonglurking · 15/11/2017 20:31

I've got no advice (but lots of sympathy!), but I'll be watching replies with interest as my 19 month old is exactly the same - it's a nightmare!

Ausparent · 15/11/2017 20:31

Our Dd was like that. We didn't push it and she grew out of it. We got an electric toothbrush as soon as she was old enough so even a few seconds meant some cleaning.

I would really advise against forcing her as it can make it worse.

We would just do ours at the same time and give her her brush and eventually she joined in. We also told her that she could only have sweet things if she brushed her teeth and that helped.

She now does them herself with the electric toothbrush and it is fine.

I think there are some brushes out there which are more like chew toys which she may be willing to try perhaps other posters can tell you more?

Candlelight234 · 15/11/2017 20:32

I think you need to persist and even if you do it for a couple of seconds it's better than nothing. I remember a similar struggle with my DS when he was about 2, I did have to force him as he was a complete refuser.
I think I bought some strawberry toothpaste or some really mild value toothpaste but can't say that made a difference- he just didn't want to to do it.

Troubleinstore · 15/11/2017 20:34

How about one of those musical toothbrushes? Worth a try?

Crumbs1 · 15/11/2017 20:34

Persist. Strawberry toothpaste rather than mint. Make it into a game.

Ambonsai · 15/11/2017 20:34

I did mine when he was asleep
Strawberry or tuttifrutti Punch and Judy toothpaste
Or there's an app playbrush or something similar

user1488397844 · 15/11/2017 20:34

Bribe her? I went through a stage of this with my dd and honestly I had to pin her down on my knee & just get it over with. It's not nice but necessary and like you I tried everything else. So when she was younger I pinned her down & after that bribed her with a sticker. Also have you tried doing it in the bath? Sorry this wasn't more helpful! Good luck x

Crowdo · 15/11/2017 20:35

I had this with my son and I just stopped brushing his teeth for a while. It was literally impossible to do so without torturing him. But he wasn't allowed to eat anything damaging to his teeth as a consequence.

He grew out of it as he turned into a more reasonable human being.

Whatsername17 · 15/11/2017 20:36

Can you still get the aquafresh brush app? My dd loved it. They brush their teeth to the song then 'win' stickers to stick on their aquafresh man. Worked a treat for us.

Loverunandwine · 15/11/2017 20:37

I used one of those tooth brushes that slots on your finger, my son just thought he was chewing my finger!

kaytee87 · 15/11/2017 20:39

Finger toothbrush or have you tried letting her brush your teeth first? My 16mo loves feeding me, brushing my hair etc so worth a try.

IamChipmunk · 15/11/2017 20:39

My dd is like this. Im afraid i just pin her down and do a quick gentle brush while she screeches at me.
She isnt too bad with the bottom ones but curls her lip over the top ones to make it hard work!

MozTheMonster · 15/11/2017 20:39

I assume you've been to the dentist? Earlier the better to get children used to it.

EdmundCleverClogs · 15/11/2017 20:39

Have you tried having songs on at the same time? The Elmo Teeth Brushing song on YouTube helped us a lot, sat him on the floor between legs to hold and put the video on a phone/tv. We've now gone on to Disney songs (Just can't wait to be king is the current favourite distraction).

Original poster
Rubbermaid · 15/11/2017 20:39

Thank you some good suggestions there - The finger brush and app and strawberry toothpaste and stickers especially!

OP posts:
Coffeeisnecessary · 15/11/2017 20:40

This is the one thing I was happy to force my children to do- I know they will be grateful as adults! We've been through stages with them of holding them down,literally between my legs with arms held down to make sure the teeth are all brushed well, only have to do it a few times before they realise it's better to cooperate! Maybe that isn't the best way but they are good at self brushing now at 6 and 4!

Original poster
Rubbermaid · 15/11/2017 20:41

Will try Elmo on YouTube for sure!

Yes I took her to the dentists at 12 Months, dentist just quickly counted her teeth and dd was fine with it

OP posts:
AnonEvent · 15/11/2017 20:43

DD is a bit younger, but when she’s being really difficult about brushing her teeth I use a clean, wet, flannel, wrapped around my index finger and slathered in (strawberry) toothpaste.

And the scrub away with my finger, while singing some godawful song about tooth brushing. Usually the idiocy of it makes me laugh, which, in-turn, makes her laugh long enough for me to get a good scrub.

KatieHaslam22 · 15/11/2017 20:47

Used to face a battle before bed and after waking up regarding brushing teeth, but it’s none optional, just like having baths and changing clothes. My 3 yo is mostly ok with it these days but we have faced full on crying in the past (the crying technique didn’t last long as her mouth had to be open to cry, and I would take any chance I got)

Persist, it does get better! Eventually! Flowers

megletthesecond · 15/11/2017 20:49

Hold tight or pin down and quickly brush when they holler. Not at all fun but the only way round it when everything else fails.

EdmundCleverClogs · 15/11/2017 20:50

Will try Elmo on YouTube for sure!

The trick with music videos is put something they enjoy not you. The amount of times I have to point out my partner is brushing our son's nose/cheek/forehead instead of teeth because he's too busy doing Zazu's bit in The Lion King instead of concentrating....

Justgivemesomepeace · 15/11/2017 20:53

I found it easiest to assume the toothbrushing position. Stand behind them, or sit on the loo with them between your knees, back to you, hand on forehead, gently pull their head towards you until it's tucked in to your body and brush while they are moaning about it. Worked with mine, not as traumatic as it sounds. I still use it on my nearly 5 yr old when I want to make sure they've had a good scrub.

Needadvicetoleave · 15/11/2017 20:58

I used to lie DS down across my knees and tickle/ kiss "whose a cheeky monster" type thing, and when his mouth was open, in went the brush. I'd keep him laughing until they were all brushed.i then stopped making him laugh and instead sang the brush your teeth song (to the tune of row row row your boat) and now we just sing the song.

Original poster
Rubbermaid · 15/11/2017 21:00

These are great! Thank you!

OP posts: