How do you clean a 9 mth old's teeth?

[BornSicky]

My lovely DS has a mouth full of teeth and won't let me anywhere near them with a toothbrush.

I've tried giving him the brush to play with and brushed my teeth alongside him.

I've tried doing it for him and he clamps his mouth shut and pulls away.

He point blank refuses to go anywhere near the brush if it has toothpaste on it.

I've resorted to letting him chew a wet flannel, which is an awful cop out.

So, please, any ideas to help him learn?

I used to have to clean DDs teeth at that age when she was lying down on her changing mat. A distraction bribery in the shape of my iPhone or a toy usually did the trick.

let him brush yours while you brush his? often mine go slack jawed at the excitement of brushing my teeth and let me get in and do theirs.

perhaps try a different toothpaste?

kendodds lie down on his changing mat? oh, I wish! I barely use one now, as he's off, rolling, crawling etc. He's a squirmy beggar. Good idea to distract with phone though - that works for nappy changes.

mama that might work! He's obsessed with my teeth - always tries to grabs them.

Not sure about toothpastes - only found two for his age and he hates both.

I'm very sensitive to toothpastes and can't use most, but the one I have is not suitable for little people.

Wonder if there's a herbal one that he might be able to use?

I think its worth approaching gently as its not just about getting their teeth brushed tonight and the next night but about it becoming a habit they will continue for the rest of their life, not a hated activity they will slack off from as soon as you aren't in the bathroom with them.

Do you mean won't go anywhere near it when he sees its got paste on it or after a taste?

We get toothbrushes and toothpaste for ds from the dentist (think its a Scottish thing) and it is so mildly flavoured I can't use it, so trying a really bland one and just a tiny smear he might not notice the paste. They told us its the fluride coming in to contact with the teeth (no rinsing either) that is most effective in preventing decay.

Having a toothbrushing song might jolly things along too.

i think it's the smell and the taste of the toothpaste. He wrinkles his nose and clamps his mouth shut when he smells it. and if i have managed to get the brush in his mouth with paste on, his whole faces screws up and he pushes the brush out.

I might ask the dentists what they'd recommend.

A song is definitely in order! (oh the things you google when you have a baby!)

We used a 'brushbaby' toothbrush. You can get them from amazon now, I noticed. It's a chewable rubbery thing that they hold themselves and just chew. DD would chew hers for ages. She still uses one now, at 2yo, to do her own teeth and then I just run over them again with an ordinary brush.

DD is 23 months and this has been a constant battle for over a year now - have tried all sorts with varying degrees of success, usually anything that makes mummy look stupid gets a laugh nowadays and then I can get in her mouth and have a brush.

I think it's as Albrecht says its about encouraging good habits and that it's part of the routine. It's still hard work but definitely got easier through perseverence. Initially though it was about the paste - we tried a few different toothpastes and have had the most success with a boots mild mint one for kids in a small tube with (I think) fish on.

belinda thanks. Just ordered one to try and this little finger brush as well.

Glad i asked; lots of great ideas.

thanks all!

jcee thanks. I agree with both you and Albrecht about setting the good habits and the routine.

I've just ordered an orange flavoured baby's toothpaste to see if that makes any difference, but will hunt out the boots one if no joy.

Belinda The brushbaby works! It's brilliant. He chews and chews it, quite happily and he even likes the toothpaste.