Tooth brushing

[lobsters]

Can anyone help with an issue with have with tooth brushing? DD is 19 months old and hates having her teeth brushed, she always has. I've tried some different tooth brushes and tooth paste (although the choice isn't huge). She just cries and tries to stop me doing it, it's becoming a bit of a battle now and i have to hold down her hands. As she gets holder it's going to become harder and harder, so I'd love to be able to make it better.

Ta

DS was like this (he's 2.10 now) and is somewhat better these days. The only thing I did was persevere with it all ...... its sooo exhausting - especially the pre bedtime session.

I ended up 'brushing' his teeth for such a short time it was literally seconds but from this I re-gained his trust and after a couple of weeks at 3 seconds he would let me brush for a little longer and so on.

So long as she's getting a little bit of toothpaste in her mouth and you're careful with what she eats and drinks then I would suggest relaxing about it for now .... it will get better.

I was going to post about this too.

DS is 2.2 and I have tried all of the above and more.

He hates it. I let him have the brush himself, but he just sucks the toothpaste off and hands it back. If I try to do it, he just clamps his mouth shut.

I do not know what to do next - so exhausting.

I think it's much easier if you make it into a game and don't try to achieve "proper" brushing.

I always brush my teeth at the same time and see who can make the most bubbles in their mouth. If DS swallows the toothpaste and runs out the room, I don't worry about it.

Pinning a child down whilst you do it for them is only going to end in a big problem in the years to come.

I got my DD a toothbrush with a little bell inside the handle that she likes very much.

She also likes the taste of the fruity toothpaste.

I put a tiny bit of toothpaste on the brush and give it to her. She usually sucks on it, then 'brushes' for a bit. I praise her a lot and then usually step in and give few more solid strokes- she doesn't like that bit, but I do it very quickly.

DS (22 months) does all his own tooth brushing now - seems to do it properly and really loves it. He brushes twice a day and it's generally him that reminds us rather than the other way around.

He used to be just as you said - we had to do it, there was lots of screaming and we had to hold his hands down. For a while we found that what worked was one of us tickling him and the other brushing. He would giggle with the tickling and open his mouth, and it seemed enough of a distraction/enjoyment that he didn't mind the toothbrush.

Then we just let him watch us do ours - it wasn't too long before he'd wander into the bathroom, see me brushing mine, and demand his own toothbrush. Now he does it off his own bat, and I'm really hoping he stays this way!

So this is a common problem, phew!

We have phases of this, but it comes and goes. But what hefferlump says is good, that's what we did. Also brushing our own teeth at the same time.
We used to brush his teeth in the bath - now we don't because it's easier for him to escape that way (and in water is never a good place for a struggle with a toddler! ). We do it before bath, when he's playing. Just sort of approach quietly and have lots of hugs and praise afterwards.

Well I was in tears this morning about this .

(Actually probably more a build up of lots of things but this was the straw that broke the camels back!)

I ended up bribing him with a Buzz Lightyear in Tesco's. I'm not 100% sure if he understood, but I said we could go back and get it if he was a good boy and let mummy brush his teeth tonight.

So we will see .

I do agree with the tickling tactic - this is one of the only things that works, but I need DH here to do it and he is not always around.