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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

Brushing a toddler's teeth without a straitjacket

16 replies

MrsJamin · 19/05/2009 20:57

How do you brush a young toddler's teeth without physically restraining them? 16 MO DS just won't let me clean his teeth (he's nearly got a full set) - he squirms, takes out the brush, clamps his mouth shut and then wails - which means I can actually clean his teeth but I don't like having to produce tears for good oral health. He's too young to be able to explain why I need to do it, and too young to reason / cajoule him into it. He eats lots of fruit and eats well generally so I'm really worried that I'm not cleaning his teeth thoroughly enough. Help, MN, please?

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countesscaloriecounter · 19/05/2009 21:06

Thia is what I use for my DS. Gets the teeth clean just by him chewing on it.

www.brushbaby.co.uk/Dental-Advice-Centre/

Slickbird · 19/05/2009 21:11

I went through this with my DD2 within the last few months too. Apart from letting her have a shot herself - which is what she wanted to do - (Minimising the toothpaste on it obvioulsy) I started distracting her by singing, "This is the way we brush our teeth.." and "Down in the bottom of the deep blue sea" and then letting her lie upside down over my knee to count the fishes while I quickly brushed them again. (Apply this method x however is necessary!). Soon it stopped being an issue. I also found letting her see her elder sister brush her teeth or us helped.

Good luck!

Ready4anotherdecaffCoffee · 19/05/2009 21:12

I just stick mine in a headlock and go for it. Personally, i think looking after their teeth is more important than a couple of tears. I still put ds[5] in one if he won't co-operate, although it can be like trying to contain and octopus crossed with a tiger

Ready4anotherdecaffCoffee · 19/05/2009 21:12

giddykipper · 19/05/2009 21:15

I'm a big fan of countess's chewing brushes too. Also, have you tried a kids electric toothbrush? DS quite likes the novelty of those. The other ploy I have used is to let them do yours while you do theirs.

FattipuffsandThinnifers · 19/05/2009 21:27

I'd also recommend doing yours at the same time and letting them copy you. I also resorted to singing the Tombliboo teeth cleaning song at one point too .

louismummy · 19/05/2009 21:44

children are not skillful enough to brush their teeth until they are 8 yrs old. i have seen sadly many, many children needing several filling aged 3 yrs old. They can come some very nice families, one in particular the mum was a gp.
i personally have always favoured the headlock method, much in preference to drilling my kids own teeth. for me brushing is non negotiable. by about 3 yrs they become more compliant as both mine have.

cyanarasamba · 19/05/2009 21:50

Wasn't there someone on here who had to pretend to her DC that the cat was brushing their teeth... Can you imagine??

DH does bedtime here - he swears by teeth brushing in front of the mirror with lots of grinning.

piscesmoon · 19/05/2009 22:07

I think it is absolutely essential to clean their teeth thoroughly and agree with loiusmummy-it is non negotiable and they can't do it themselves at that age. They get used to it.
If they don't like having a nappy changed you don't leave them so why leave teeth?

Gingeme · 19/05/2009 22:23

We all brush our teeth at the same time so lo's can watch their elders though this can get a bit crowded in our small bathroom.
I have learnt a good trick with ds4 as his toothbrush has a rubbery back I squeak it against his teeth and make out its a mouse then we have to find the mouse in his mouth. This has worked for about a week now but I think he's getting wise to it now. Other than that its headlock every time
My 5 year old does his own but I still give them a going over when he has finnished.

littleboyblue · 19/05/2009 22:25

I give ds my toothbrush and he brushes my teeth while I brush his iyswim

isittooearlyforgin · 19/05/2009 22:35

thank you countess! have just ordered mine!! have tried brushing teddy's teeth, stickers, singing, brushing mine and older dd at same time, letting ds have a bash... all to no avail so have been using the headlock method which always makes bedtime a much better experience hopefully this is the answer to my prayers!

MamaHobgoblin · 19/05/2009 22:53

DS is 14 m, so probably too young yet to pretend the cat's brushing, etc. We do try and clean ours at the same time, which helps some, as he likes to copy (but just chews the brush). He likes the first few seconds, because he likes the toothpaste - thereafer, it's a matter of pinning his arms down while the other parent brushes. I refuse to believe I'm scarring him for life by doing this! We can rationalise it for him as he gets older, but at the moment it has to be done like a dirty nappy has to be done, so that's that.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 20/05/2009 09:40

We tried various things with DS, some work for a while but the only thing that always works when everything else fails is firm insistence including holding him/pinning his arms (gently) if necessary. He sometimes cries and makes a fuss, but no worse than when having his face wiped after meals so I know it is not really upsetting him that badly.

Also I've found that the more firm and consistent I am, the more he accepts it as something that WILL happen whether he wants or not, and he tends to just put up more of a token protest now rather than really kicking off - almost just doing it for fun. His dad is a bit more soft about it, so he gets played up much more when he does it cos DS knows he can get away with more!

JoyS · 20/05/2009 20:54

DH is past master at it, it does my head in so I just leave it to him. He uses the following techniques:

-Asking nicely

-Having DD pretend she is a crocodile/lion/shark/other toothy animal

-Seeing phantom items in DD's mouth (bit of chocolate, fairies, leprechauns etc)

-Having a go with Daddy's electric toothbrush (urg)

-Headlock

PatTheHammer · 20/05/2009 21:03

Watch the episode of Peppa pig where they go to the dentists. Then do your best impression of Mr Elephant and Miss Rabbit, pretending to inspect their mouth as you brush. Complete with a 'pink drink' at the end! worked for us .

I second the suggestions for singing and getting them to do your teeth at the same time. We used to sing the rainbow song but I would add on 'Your teeth will be red and yellow and pink.....etc.....if you don't let me brush'.

Just realised I sound really weird! But what the hell, it all worked

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