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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

Ok, so short of pinning her down, how the heck am I supposed to get teeth brushing done?

20 replies

Jic · 14/07/2009 21:18

You name it, I've tried it. DD just HATES brushing her teeth. Firstly, I get frustrated beyond belief when she insists on doing it because she isn't actually doing anything. I'm not expecting her to be great at it at the age of three, but she screams and screams when I try to take over. I'm anxious to get her to brush them and keep them healthy because I've heard that damage to the baby teeth does have an impact on the adult teeth when they come through. Any advice on how to make it less stressful and her more compliant?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Loopymumsy · 14/07/2009 21:33

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Original poster

Jic · 14/07/2009 21:36

Thanks loopymumsy some good ideas there. will definitely try brushing mine at the same time and not stressing too much, i think i make it worse because of my looks of sheer frustration!

OP posts:

kentgirl73 · 14/07/2009 21:53

we used to play dentists!!! she lay on the bed and i said open wide, what have we got hee today.....and then cleaned, as she got older she used to lay on the floor, head between my legs (her choice) and we made a song up about the best teeth in the land,etc and she used to laugh and laugh, did that with my son too, they both love it to this day!!!

BlueberryPancake · 15/07/2009 13:00

yes play dentist worked for us, also brusuing them during the day instead of bedtime. At bedtime he is worked up tired, cranky. During the day, it worked better. And then once he was over it we strated brushing before bed and he is fine.

littleboyblue · 15/07/2009 13:03

I used to give ds1 my tooth brush and he would brush mine whilst I brushed his. Doesn't work so well in the mornings, so I do actually pin him down........
There are fab ideas already here though, will have to give them a try! I will watch with interest for more

Bean74 · 15/07/2009 13:04

I explained to my DD (also 3) that teeth need to be cleaned otherwise they may go rotten - & followed up by showing her some google images of nasty looking teeth. Anytime she plays up now I remind her of the yukky teeth.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 15/07/2009 13:12

We have had to try lots of things and I sometimes still gently pin DS to let me "have a turn" (after he has "brushed" himself i.e. chewed the brush..). He is too little for most of the explanation or talking-type methods.

But one thing I tried lately which has been working well is brushing his teeth in the bath. It seems like because he is busy splashing etc he is less bothered, and he usually lets me have a really good clean without any complaining (I am still finding it hard to believe!).

Also if you do pin etc, be very careful to be gentle and not to accidentally push the brush too far and make them gag, that all just makes it worse...

notnowbernard · 15/07/2009 13:15

I tried everything with dd2

The only thing that worked was restraining her Sometimes a 2-man job

But some things to me are non-negotiable and teeth cleaning is one of them... I wasn't as fussed in the morning but before bed DEFINITELY had to be done properly

It was only a phase, it does get better

mummypig · 15/07/2009 13:17

Great ideas here and I have used some of them myself. Ds1 and ds2 both used to kick up such a fuss at bedtime that you'd think the neighbours would send SS round.

For ds1 the pictures of rotten teeth worked really well, although I still had a go after he did until quite recently (he's 7 now) because he sometimes missed bits.

I rather suspect ds2 has some sensory issues but even he has been happier about teeth brushing recently (he's just turned 5). What works for him is:
(1) letting him be in control (he squirts the toothpaste on and does all the brushing otherwise I get 'you're hurting me' on a loop or just bloodcurdling screams the whole time)
(2) having a cool toothbrush
(3) sparkly strawberry flavoured toothpaste (from Sainsburys) with an alien on the tube
(4) I brush my teeth at the same time
(5) We count to 60 while we are brushing (loads of fun)

Also last summer I wrote out a 'bedtime routine' and took photos of them doing everything - so it's a visual reminder of all the things that need to happen before the bedtime story. This might help if your child is a visual learner or if they like clear routines and knowing what comes next.

Sunshinemummy · 15/07/2009 13:42

I bought DS a cool electric Power Rangers toothbrush. He's been much much better since he got this.

We still have days where I have to force him but I threaten to stop him having juice and chocolate and he normally complies .

We also have lots of chats about what the dentist says - that he has 20 sparkling white teeth.

greenelephant · 15/07/2009 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Jic · 16/07/2009 14:14

Thanks for all suggestions, going to give them a try! greenelephant i agree teeth are so precious even the baby ones so i thinkk if it doesn't improve i will have to carry on pinning down! I'll never forget i saw a little girl she must have only been about six with black black teeth, i mean really bad, i felt so sorry for her but the mum said it didn't matter because they were only baby teeth.

OP posts:

littleboyblue · 17/07/2009 09:08

Just quickly, this morning I tried something different. I normally pin down, but we had a tickling session on the living room floor and I then got the toothbrush and asked him if I could tickle his teeth and as I brushed I was saying "tickle, tickle, tickle" It may not last but went well today.
Just thought I'd share.......

Bumperslucious · 17/07/2009 09:11

See my thread then buy one of these !

WoTmania · 17/07/2009 09:30

We sing the toothbrushing song (random crap about how big and white and sperkly they are) or I ask to count them/see how white they are. that sort of thing

mammamia25 · 21/07/2009 21:22

My dd, 23 months, also insists on "doing them herself" ie no real brushing at all, but one of the ways I do manage to get them brushed is for "dolly" to do it. It means I have to hold the toothbrush between the doll's hands, which isn't ideal, but it's better than nothing, and gets cooperation!

notsoteenagemum · 21/07/2009 21:37

Ds used to be dreadful it sounded like I was pulling out his teeth from the yelling not cleaning them until, and I don't quite know how it started but, I told him there was a Lion in his mouth and we had to brush it out, it transpired there were many other animals in there too! I would have a good look as he made an animal noise then we brushed it out.
He was 2 then but even now at nearly 5 he says lets go and brush the animals.

cornsillk · 21/07/2009 21:40

I have always had problems getting my ds to do his teeth - he's 11 and it's still a struggle!
The most successful thing we did was to use handpuppets to hold the toothbrush. Also making it into a game or a roleplay can work.

sazlocks · 21/07/2009 21:47

My DS is 18 months and I am a pinner down as well when he doesn't want them doing . Its pretty much the only non negotiable thing in this house (so far!)

DownyEmerald · 21/07/2009 21:54

Haven't read all tips, but one that worked for us early one - lasted about six months and by then she'd got into the habit of it and (mostly) went along with it was being characters in her favourite story at the time.

Ok Tallulah, time to get on Maisie's bus (dd gets on toilet seat backwards), here's Eddie the elephant getting on (me/dp sit on toilet seat behing), here's Eddie brushing Tallulahs's teeth.

She'd let Eddie brush Tallulah's teeth, but not mummy brush her teeth!

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