help - teeth brushing nightmare

[ellehcim]

Help! - My two year old has suddenly started refusing to brush his teeth. He was having a half hearted attempt at it before but now refuses even to open his mouth and I'm ashamed to say this morning I sat on him to hold him down whilst I tried to brush them for him. I've bought him three different toothbrushes and different pastes but nothing works. To what extent should I push the issue at his age?

Hi ellechim

My ds now 2.5 went through exactly the same around christmas time. Was a nightmare I feel for you.

We tried all sorts including singing, buying him a mirror to look at himself, letting him do ours and sitting on him. I know what you mean made me feel sick to do it but then you also have visions of black teeth.

With my ds we tried to chill out a bit in the end after much sweating and handwringing, we used to let him do it himself whilst we brushed ours and showed him how to even if to start with that meant he just sucked the toothpaste off the brush. Then a few times a week we would do our best to give them a proper brushing (awful as it sounds that did involve some tears).

There were a couple of things that did help we bought him a stool and he would stand at the sink with us to do it. Also what was a big help was a visit to the dentist and the dentist told him his teeth were lovely and clean and to keep brushing that seemed to sink in.

He seems to have just grown out of it now. So dont worry should get easier.

My sister in law is however just going through it with her toddler boy.

You arent on your own

Hope some of this helps.

Hi,
My DD almost 2 is equally as awkward about having her teeth brushed. I found a kids "flashing tooth" in tescos and with the lights dimmed and her in front of the mirror I have had some successes with brushing.

I was at dentist today and talked about how we "brush " DS's teeth. She was happy with what we do , which is, twice a day he sucks/chews his tooth brush with a smear of toodler paste on it and when hes willing dh or i do a "Quality control" brush after wards. If hes not willing we don't. 50% of times we get someting brushed tho seldom all.
Dentist was saying that fighting over it can be counter productive, chewing his brush is fine and making it part of his routine so he expects to do it is important for preschoolers.