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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do I get a reluctant tooth brusher to brush his teeth?

14 replies

NorwichMummy · 13/05/2008 18:40

Think the title says it all. Ds is 2yo and flatly refuses to brush his teeth, he used to be fine with it but now is terrible! Massive tantrum every time and clamping his mouth shut. Any tips or advice please?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

chocolatespiders · 13/05/2008 18:42

i used to say to dd let me see what you had for dinner

then i would guess for ages then finally get it when i was finished!!!!
or i sang her a song

DeeRiguer · 13/05/2008 18:43

trip to dentist for check up
they get lots of stickers and encouragement

make him laugh and poke it in
he can have turn, then you?

no sweets or biscuits cause they rot your teeth if you dont brush em?

annwoo · 13/05/2008 18:45

Maybe let him choose a couple of toothbrushes with a character on - tigger and winnie the pooh worked with my ds. Then don't ask him to brush his teeth ask him which toothbrush he wants today.
Alternatively stickers?
Mind you even trying every trick in the book we still have problems.

MicrowaveOnly · 13/05/2008 18:46

tell him he can't have any sweets then...works a treat!

Original poster

NorwichMummy · 13/05/2008 20:02

the different tooth brush thing is definately worth a go! Have tried the mummy brushes, then ds brushes but doesn't cut any ice.

Dentist in two weeks so wanting to have made some progress by then, don't want to get bollocked by dentist!

OP posts:

DeeRiguer · 13/05/2008 21:19

no, your dentist will unite with you and echo your statements of practising good oral hygiene

ds at this age went on and off brushing i'd try not to turn it into fight the sweets threat should work or
i usually resort to 'its my job & i have too' or some such weary end of day retort

sillysillysally · 13/05/2008 21:29

I had similar difficulties. The following helped-

letting him choose a brush. Tesco's have a flashing one at the moment!
Using 2 brushes at once. DS thought it amusing for some reason.
asking him to open his mouth so i could see what he'd had for his tea. Falls for it nearly every time.
threats of no more cakes/ biscuits etc tomorrow!

missblythe · 13/05/2008 21:31

Set egg timer, when he has brushed for 1 min (is that long enough?) can have a sticker for a wall chart.

Worked for us for, ooh, several days!

dreamymum · 13/05/2008 21:34

mine will brush for any of these reasons- i let them use my brush, use my toothpaste if they really want, i brush at the same time as them, we brush together in the bath, if they have a new toothbrush they like

pickie · 13/05/2008 21:42

Our dentist did wonders, she was really friendly to them and took her time. She told them to brush well and gave them a certificate that they had healthy teeth (DD got a princess one)plus stickers,
DD since then is brushing 2 or 3 times a day and doing a great job as before that is was a job of holding her head and get on with it.

DS is too lazy to do it himself but happily lets me do it and always have done so but using our electric he does like..

I hope it will work outt!

charx · 14/05/2008 14:53

I had the same problem with my DD aged 2. At bedtime, we told her that if she didn't brush her teeth then she couldn't go to sleep with her toys.

I sit her on my lap and then we pretend her mouth is our house - we tidy the kitchen (scrub scrub scrub) and then go upstairs to her very dirty bedroom (etc etc). For some reason we finish with brushing her tongue, which she thinks is hilarious.

And in order to get her to the bathroom in the first place, I treat her like a tombliboo: 'Tombliboos in a line and scrub you teeth until they shine!! (She thinks its a game and races to the bathroom)

Hope this helps!

WanderingTrolley · 14/05/2008 14:57

There are great ideas on this thread.

Let him brush your teeth as you brush his.

Let him pick a bedtime story to read after his teeth are brushed, or read half, then teeth, then 2nd half.

Minkus · 14/05/2008 15:46

These all work with ds:

Letting him hold a little mirror so he can see what's going on

Letting him brush my teeth at the same time

Getting him to make different noises so it sounds funny when I do the brushing

Saying "oooh I can see some green/pink/blue germs now- hang on don't go away I think there is still a red/purple/orange one left"

Charx I love the upstairs/downstairs house cleaning thing, will be trying that one this evening!

lorre · 15/05/2008 14:57

Buy 'special'toothbrushes (however the novelty does wear off after a few weeks !). I get him to pretend to be a monster/lion /dinosaur and roar/growl etc then while his mouth is open brush his teeth.

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