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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you for tips re toddler tooth brushing

39 replies

MissyCooper · 23/12/2018 23:25

DD2 is 18 months. She only has six teeth so far (two at the bottom and four at the top).

We brush them twice a day. Or try to. She LOATHES having her teeth brushed and it gets to the point of holding her head still and pretty much forcing her to have them brushed. Which obviously she hates. And it’s a horrible cycle. She gets really distressed (dummy and cuddle calms her back down again).

I don’t know what to do. It is so so important. DD1 never had this issue she just got on with it and now at 4 she has lovely teeth and will brush her teeth twice a day (and once at nursery) without complaint.

I am worried DD2 ends up having to have her teeth taken out because they’ll go bad or that this is becoming a huge issue. I suspect her mouth is probably sore from teething but she doesn’t cry like she’s in pain.

OP posts:

rebelrosie12 · 24/12/2018 08:41

Yep the minions electric toothbrush have turned both my toddlers round...they like the sensation and just sit there with their mouth hanging open!

Original poster

MissyCooper · 24/12/2018 08:51

Some amazing tips here. Thank you!

Going to get on the electric toothbrush for sure. DD1 has an electric toothbrush (Frozen. Standard) but I had assumed DD2 was too young for one.

OP posts:

Handprints2018 · 24/12/2018 11:17

My dc brushes a favourite toy teeth at the same time, works a treat.

Jimdandy · 24/12/2018 13:26

I tried absolutely everything with my daughter when she had all her teeth.

I did all the pink and fluffy stuff and sometimes it worked and sometimes I basically had to man handle her to do it.

Sandbox · 24/12/2018 13:30

I’ve alwaya done the ‘animal game’ so who can grrr like a tiger and brush front teeth with bubblegum flavoured toothpaste. Who can roar like a lion and quickly brush the back teeth. Hiss like a snake and front teeth again etc etc it does mean he gets to brush my teeth too which basically means being stabbed in the throat with a toothbrush

powershowerforanhour · 24/12/2018 16:47

Placemarking for reference. Letting them brush yours helps, aa long as you don't mind being given a tonsillectomy with your brush.

Coldhandscoldheart · 28/12/2018 18:04

Just coming back to say that chasing an invisible monkey round her mouth has been amazingly successful!

Stormyumbrella · 28/12/2018 18:18

I was told by a friend that worst comes to worst she brushes her children’s teeth in the bath. It works for my difficult DS (20 months) but it’s a bit of a pain to do for every tooth rushing

LittleLionMansMummy · 28/12/2018 18:25

We've tried all sorts with 2yo dd. Holding her down to do it felt counter intuitive as we didn't want to distress her and put her off brushing her teeth altogether. We ended up just letting her chew on the bristles and giving her loads of praise for doing that. She has a good diet and only drinks water and milk. She took a liking to 8yo ds's electric toothbrush so Santa just brought her a vibrating one in her stocking. We now struggle to get it off her! She loves it.

Gth1234 · 28/12/2018 18:44

can you buy her an electric one. let her pick it.

Hoopaloop · 28/12/2018 18:53

Still wrestling my 3yr old every time. Horrific. Blippi toothbrushing song worked for about 3 days then DH didn't follow up so routine lost and back to tantrum/struggling every time.

DraculaAD1972 · 28/12/2018 19:11

My 2.5 will not let us get anywhere near his teeth. It's a battle every single day. He is very big and strong for his age so can quite easily bat your hand with the toothbrush away.

The dentist suggested wrapping him in a large towel so he can't free his arms, but I found the towels were too small and he could fight his way out. Today I was at my wits end and decided to wrap him in the toddler duvet from his bed.

It was perfect! The ideal size, not too thick as to make him hot but thick enough I could hold him quite tightly. I think today he got the best teeth brushing he's ever had.

DraculaAD1972 · 28/12/2018 19:14

It's obviously a common issue as the dentist said you just have to do whatever you can to get them cleaned.

I said was it ok to use an electric toothbrush. Her reply was you can use the toilet brush if it means the teeth are cleaned!

planespotting · 28/12/2018 19:24

As @Whatjusthappenedthere said, we were told the same by the dentist.
DC does eat a lot of fruit but no added sugar stuff.
We do it twice a day and it was so stressful. What helped us:
A brush that you chew, brush baby is called
The sonic brush electric one
The colgate toothpaste that is mint but colourless
The Elmo song (warning, it is very catchy). See if you can spot Bruno Mars and Nicole Kidman

Some people take the "pin them down" approach but that really doesn't work for us. I want him to be happy doing it, and if that means we put the routine before getting a great technique in the meantime then that is fine

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