brushing 1 year old DD teeth

[busybumblebee]

I don't suppose i could have some help?

My DD has just turned 1 and has never let me brush her 2bottom teeth. She is not too bad on her 2upper teeth, even when they were coming through. (Her teeth started to come through 6weeks ago-a late starter)

Have let her play with the brush,and we make train and plane noises to encourage it into a game. what is interesting is that she will open her mouth for those top teeth but sticks out her tongue when we atttempt the bottom.

So not to make a big deal out of it and to keep the situation calm, we left it for a few days, which went totally against what i really wanted to do, and when we went back to brushing her teeth she was better but soon got back to how it was.

We also tried going from the cheek and sweeping across the teeth, but she soon caught on to this! I will say she can be quite a independant little girl, which is why i have let her play with the brush and let her brush mine.

Nothing seems to work at the moment, so any help really wanted

I have to say that my DS is 8 and I still occasionally brush his. I think it is more important that they are clean than whether they can do it themselves or not. I used to brush my DS teeth at night and let him do them in the morning. I remember my dentist saying at the time that this was the best way, and that a parent brushing their DC's teeth was good. As I said at the beginning of this post though, he mainly brushes them himself now. I tend to give them a good going over when he has been at his fathers for the week-end as it gets forgotten sometimes, much to my annoyance!

Why don't you get one of those brushes that play a tune, but only let her have it if she allows you to brush her bottom teeth. No bottom teeth cleaning no musical brush and go to use the non musical one. They love gimmicks.

Have you tried using one of those soft rubbery gumshield type brushes made for babies. They bite into it to brush their teeth and because of the shape the soft rubbery bristles get all around the teeth.

My DD is quite independent too and got teeth fairly early. Occasionally she will let Daddy brush her teeth for her, but never me. SO I alternate between a normal toothbrush (albeit one with a flashing light cos it's more fun) and the gumshield sort of one that you bite into.

DD loves brushing her teeth and ends up doing it at least 3 times a day. Not sure how effectively but she is learning slowly.