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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Getting 14 month old to brush teeth

13 replies

frumperina · 23/11/2011 19:37

She used to be quite good and would let us brush her teeth but recently wont even open her mouth and just wants to carry the toothbrush round the house.
What are your secret tips to get clean teeth? Songs? Games? Holding her down?(only joking on the last one!)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SuckItAndSee · 23/11/2011 19:40

TBH i have resorted to the latter and i am not joking. IMVHO teeth cleaning is non-negotiable, and if all the jollying along has failed then it's still got to be done....

reciprocity has sometimes worked - we have a brush each, and she does mine/her sister's/her teddy's teeth while i do hers.

sprinkles77 · 23/11/2011 19:50

agree with suck. totally not negotiable. we do a bit of everyone brushing everyone elses teeth, doing it in front of the television and DH restraining and me brushing. DS is now a good as gold (20 months) about it, but does insist I brush his tongue and eyelashes too .

gamerwidow · 23/11/2011 19:50

We use one of the chewy toothbrushes (here)so she can "brush" her teeth herself.

EmmaPoppysMum · 24/11/2011 08:28

Had the same problem as you. Have now got a chewy brush and it seems to have solved all issues and she 'brushes' her own now!

plipplops · 25/11/2011 13:52

I went to a dental health talk thing when DD was tiny and they said that children couldn't reliably brush their teeth until they were 5 (or something). DDs are 3 and 4 and I still do both their teeth (I tell them they won't be allowed any treats ever again if they don't let me). I have done the hold them down method a couple of times as I agree it's non-negotiable, but it's horrible and if you can find a better way then definitely do it...

TheCountessOlenska · 25/11/2011 13:57

My dentist told me not to stress about brushing teeth at this age - she said modern toothpaste is so good that toddler just chewing on the brush was enough (then not rinsing). She also said that tooth decay in children was always linked to diet not bad brushing. I have relaxed about it since then, and actually DD (19 months) is a lot better at letting me do it now.

madmomma · 28/11/2011 22:34

Yeah I was told by a dental bod that smearing fluoride toothpaste on the teeth is much better than nothing, if you can manage to do that. I'm afraid I'm from the forced brushing brigade with my 13 month old though: I'm too scared of him getting decay.

Vizzini · 28/11/2011 23:20

When we first started brushing DD's teeth (at 15 months as she was a very late teether!) she hated it. We started commenting on the noise it makes e.g. " Wow daddy, listen to how noisy your teeth are!"
Then we brushed hers and exclaimed at the noise "Wow DD! I can't believe how noisy your teeth are. They are noisier that Daddy's. Daddy, come and listen". Then we let her have a go to see if she could make the noise and we kept taking turns.
It sounds mad I know, but it really worked. Now she loves having her teeth brushed. Maybe she's crackers though!

capecath · 29/11/2011 14:50

Teeth brushing is a constant nightmare for us sigh DS now 15 months. I usually have him in the highchair, after a meal, and so he can't escape and persist with opening my mouth going "ahhh" and encouraging him to open his with the toothbrush near his mouth. There is always much fuss and resistance. Sometimes it does result in holding him down which I hate doing... but more and more these days he seems to be liking going "ahh" himself (after about 5 minutes of resisting)! I just don't give up. I also let him hold another toothbrush and he likes sucking the toothpaste off it. When I do get in with no resistance I brush as much as I can and he loves it - lots of smiles and aahhhs! So I really don't understand what all the fuss is about!!

Keep persevering! I'd recommend trying to get him to go "aahh" which seems to work quite well for us.

smearedinfood · 29/11/2011 18:29

16 month old loves it. I'm not in the forcing it spectrum. He won't brush his teeth any where but in the bathroom over the sink with the tap running and likes dipping brush under the running tap. He does it but it is because he likes mimicking Mum do things, so brushing twice before bed happens every night for me. Just keep sugar to an absolute minimum and keep on keeping on, with lots of praise, they get it eventually.

Noopypappy · 29/11/2011 20:48

I use a tip that I got from here which worked brilliantly with my tooth brush adverse 13 month old. Pretend there is a lion in his mouth and start roaring. While he is giggling away the tooth brush goes in. Tell him you have to brush the lion out, he can't go to bed with a lion in his mouth etc. I didn't think the trick would work on such a young toddler, but it did! He is fine with brushing teeth now

birdofthenorth · 29/11/2011 20:56

Watching with interest, having a nightmare with 15 mo DD!

heavydutyjudy · 29/11/2011 21:57

Noopy, love that tip, am going to try with my toothbrush averse 20 mo DS

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