how do i get him to let me brush his teeth?

[babber]

DS is 22 months and although keen to brush his teeth he won't let me do it... needless to say he doesn't do it properly himself and i'm really concerned that his teeth are becoming damaged. He doesn't eat lots of sugary stuff but has fruit every day, and he does eat occasional cake and biscuit an juice. Also he likes to have his bedtime milk whilst he cuddles up for a story meaning that although he chews his toothbrush and sucks toothpaste off brushes after his bath he then has a cup of milk without brushing afterwards.
Can anyone offer any ideas on how i can get him to let me do it for him and how to change the bedtime routine!
he's actually only got 12 teeth so far so hopefully not too much damage has been done!

Hi, I had a similar problem, we just switched the milk/tooth-brushing around without any problem. We did have to do holding down tooth brushing for a while though. I would warn them (after they failed to be moved by persuasion) that I would count to three and then hold them down to brush teeth. This went on for a while until they realized I meant business and let me brush them without too much fuss.

Good luck

I say 'teeth first or no stories'. When I start lifting her into the cot without a story she soon changes her mind.

Both of the above, plus brush them together (i.e you do your own teeth at the same time).

What everyone else said (DS is 26 months) and/or try a Brushbaby

thanks for all the responses...

I just said to dp last week that we should invent a toothbrush for kids which cleans your teeth by chewing - looks like someone beat us to it!!!

Its hard to say brushing or no stories as he considers himself to have brished his own teeth if you see what i mean? I have tried the 'pin him down and do it forcefully' technique but was a bit distressing and i was worried about hurting him...

might have to give those brushes a go... and will be switching to milk before bath tonight...

thanks again x

My DD responds well to a matter-of-fact approach: I approach her with the toothbrush and quickly get down to her level and say, "Okay, open your mouth and RAAAHHHH like a dinosaur!" She likes raahing like a dinosaur and I say, "Raaah" back at her and then "Let's see what you had for dinner, Mr Dinosaur!" When I want to move onto her front teeth I say, "Say cheessseeee!" She enjoys the game and I get to have a proper brush. Only then can she have the brush. Brushing in front of the mirror also helps: I brush her teeth so she can see herself (doing the dino routine) and then she brushes her teeth and tries to emulate what I have done.

I had the same problem with my DS (18 mo) who has lots of teeth but absolutely no way I could ever get in to brush them after his bedtime milk or in the morning, as he would go into complete meltdown, if I gave him the toothbrush he would just chuck it across the room. Then last week in desperation we got hold of a handpuppet which is like a huge fluffy bird, and now he will open wide and happily let the puppet brush his teeth! Not sure how long the novelty will last but it seems to be working for now :) Good luck!

My DS is 3.2 almost and I still have to pin him down - though I am thinking that he has some sensory issues. It is VERY distressing and I am out of breath and worn out by the time it is done. He doesn't even like to do it himself.

I have him upside down - a tip from others that one, even if you are not pinning them down then come from behind rather than the front! But I have to have him on the floor, me neeling, head between my knees in a lock , then brush in one hand, his hands held in the other - and brush! It's perfect really as he screams blue murder all the way through so I get in his mouth well - but you would think I was sticking sharp needles in his mouth. I have tried all sorts!

i'm having the same problem at madaboutcows with my DD (16 mo). she hates having the brush in her mouth under and circumstances and streams blue murder whilst i'm brushing. i know it's important to do it every day, but i'm worried that it's painful for her.. she's got her front 8 teeth, and 4 moulers that have just come through in the past month. it's my least favourite part of the day and we've both come to dread it :( i'll try a brush baby, but can't see her going for it

Let him brush yours

We brush teeth together and he copies, started off doing it mutually. Get through a lot of toothpaste.

Earlier we told them that we were going to 'tickle' teeth and tickled feet gently as we did so, then that they needed to get the dirt and mess off (DS1 hates mess, DS2 has the indignation but not the disinclination to make it).

babber are you me?! DS is also 22 months and it's a real battle. Like you we've tried the pin him down thing, but I don;t have the heart. (although I may reassess that if we're in the same position in a few weeks!)

I;ve found that things tend to work for a little while then the novelty wears off, so all of these have had some success - although not lasting

• brushing my teeth at the same time
• making a game of singing "aaah" "aaah" "aaaah" in arpeggios and random notes. Occasionally he'll join in and do it with me
• letting him hold a tooth brush in each hand while I brush with a third
• getting him an adult toothbrush to hold while I brush his teeth
• letting him have a go at brushing my teeth
• holding him upside down over my lao and brushing (sort of like pinning him down but he was in such a good mood he just let me do it - only worked twice!)

It's a real battle! I'm going to take a couple of the suggestions on this thread and see if we can get any further!

I have tried all of those and for a very short period he was half ok if he had a brush too, but now like I say he won't even do it himself! But as mentioned I think he has some sensory issues anyway

Do they make mouthwash for children?

Hey purplepidin I don't think mothwashes for Children would be a good idea unless they are natural. Mouthwashes have been researched to show they can be a contributing factor to some cancers in Adults as they break down the first line of defense in the mouth. I'll see if I can find the study.

I just end up pinning mine down (4yo and 2yo). All the games and bribery in the world haven't worked with them so I just let them have a little brush on their own then I get in there and do the job. It's a pretty rotten part of the day TBH but it has to be done.

I am a right softie (extended bfeeder, co-sleeper, no punishments etc) and I pin her down. I don't feel too bad about it as it's a non negotiable. I have teeth anxiety and never want her to get decay while I can control it. I do try to keep it jolly and she struggles like an alligator but she's not ready to do it herself (she can, just refuses)

I don't worry about it. It's one minute twice a day and she knows it's good for her.

I got the dentist to give instructions! I have taken DS (now 4.5) to the dentist since he was 1 and last time took his toothbrush with us and asked for a lesson in how we should be doing it and how long for etc. Worked like a dream - now just have to say every now and then 'remember, that the dentist said that mummy/daddy had to do some of the brushing...'.

pah, my DS has yet to open his mouth for our dentist