My 2 yr old won't/refuses to clean his teeth

[catbrockhurst11]

Hi all, could really do with some advice. My son won't clean his teeth and won't let me. He literally clamps his mouth shut! The nursery he goes to have been great, they've done group time with stories and songs about teeth brushing but I'm getting nowhere. I've tried a few types of tooth paste as well as brushes but no joy yet...He tried it but no more than just eating the toothpaste...Any tips on how to get him to start? Thanks v much.

I'd ask dentist for advice

No bedtime story until the teeth are clean.

We had about two weeks of tantrums every night, now he reminds me if I forget.

You have to be tough as nails on it though.

although I blatantly counted a 30second swop round the mouth as clean for at least a month .

I used to have to pin DS down, have two people so one could hold him and the other brush the works. He now happily stands and lets me do them.

Have you tried two toothbrushes so you can clean while he eats the toothpaste from his brush?

Make it fun and rewarding. Can he do something he loves straight after or during. ?

Forcing him wont work long term

We did a reward chart and he swapped a completed one for ds games - worked a treat

Forcing him wont work long term

It has with DS, I had a few months of forcing him, now he happily has them done.

Forcing him to brush his teeth is better than him having to have dental treatment which could have been avoided.

Electric toothbrush?
Child's novelty toothbrush?
Strawberry toothpaste?
Lie on back, tickle and brush when laugh and mouth opens; front teeth initially, moving onto backs. Worked with mine.
Bribery and corruption.
As a dentist, I also would advice gently forcing (!) if refusal lasts more than a few days.
Good luck.

Got one booked in for next week, just moved to the area, thx.

Thanks for the advice

I've tried that, he just really seems to hate it, but will try again. Thanks!

if you hold their nose they will open their mouth
eventually they get used to it

That's great advice, thanks very much. I'll definitely try the tickling, my husband and I have tried to do it as a two man job so that may well be a great way to approach it. Thanks again!

I'm new to this and have posted replies all over the show! Thanks all for your advice-particularly "The Week", much appreciated!

I had pin DS down to do it for a while (few weeks) - thing is, once they realise it is just a non-negotiable part of life they will accept it.

We had this, but started giving stickers if DS allowed us to get the toothbrush in. This was hit and miss for a while but eventually worked more often then not.

Combined with a vist to the dentist where he got praised a lot, and many reads of Dora the Explorer goes to the dentist, and he now deigns to have his nashers brushed.

We also pretend he is a hippo and has to open his mouth really wide.

Good luck!

We used to say there were dinosaurs / dogs / pigs / trains / whatever was flavour of the month in DS's mouth and they were dirty so we had to clean them.... Sometimes they ran away so we chased them around with the brush.

We talk a lot about brushing the 'sugar bugs' away then seeing them in the sink.
Follows on to not allowing too many sweets, biscuits because of the dreaded (!) sugar bugs. Don't rinse mouth out with water by the way, just spit out extra toothpaste and some will be left in, to help fight those dreaded sugar bugs....