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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 toddlers' teeth - How?

22 replies

BikeRunSki · 13/04/2010 15:09

My DS is 19 months old, and just goes mental when we try to brush his teeth. He has never loved having his teeth brushed, but used to tolerate it. Now, if we are to have any chance at all, then I have to pin him to the floor, whilst he strugles to get away. This can't be good for anyone! I have tried buy him and I the same baby toothbrush each and sitting with him and getting him to copy me, but he just chews his brush and doesn't really scrub. We've tried adult toothpaste (as recommended by HV) and baby toothpaste (thought he might prefer the milder taste), baby "ordinary" toothbrushes, those baby toothbrushes with a round handle like a teething ring and even adult toothbrushes (thought bigger head might get job done quicker).

All to no avail... I am paranoid that all his teeth will rot away by the time he's 2!

Help!

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rubyslippers · 13/04/2010 15:11

chewing is ok apparently

this seems to be phase a lot of them go through

try to let him brush his teeth in the bath or with you so you do it at the same time

you can get a timer thing which may make it more fun

DS used to have to be pinned to the floor as well but he has been to the dentist regularly and in spite of my fears his teeth are really good (he was also a big chewer rather than a brusher)

lowrib · 13/04/2010 15:23

I've been struggling with this too. When he was smaller it was OK as long as we had 2 toothbrushes, so he could hold one too, but now he wants to hold both! I've been thinking about getting a third (which seems a tad ridiculous!) but we had a breakthrough last night. He was totally absorbed with looking in a cupbnoard, and he actually let me brush his teeth with no argument while he was absorbed in what he was doing. This the first time his teeth have had a proper brush in weeks

How I'm going to replicate it I don't know, but I'm going to have a go. I'll let you know how I get on.

Original poster

BikeRunSki · 13/04/2010 15:34

Lowrib.... of course - distraction!

Been to dentist today and he was not concerned, just said to perseverse. No idea if he has his own children though.

OP posts:

onadietcokebreak · 13/04/2010 15:40

Spoke to my HV about similar. She said the main time was to get a pea size amount in mouth twice and day...the brushing action will come eventually.

We do the teddy brush his teeth game and what can mummy see with the toothbrush..oh yes cereal from this morning, bananna for snack, sausage roll etc!. It works but takes a while!

DorotheaPlenticlew · 13/04/2010 15:42

We had this at the same age, and I was worried too, but it passed. Now (at 2.8), DS whinges and runs away a bit sometimes, but eventually lets us do it. Then we give him the brush so he can do a bit as well (whole process is still extremely cursory, compared to how an adult would brush). Dentist says his teeth are fine.

We got past the worst by staying calm and pretending that if he didn't want his teeth brushed, we would just brush his toy's teeth instead (using whatever fave animal was near to hand and miming doing its "teeth" whilst lavishing it with praise). Eventually he started to get jealous and would usually come over and co-operate.

Also sometimes found that if he was pretending to be a lion or something, whipping out the brush while he was "in character" and brushing his sharp lion teeth led to otherwise unthinkable levels of access.

onadietcokebreak · 13/04/2010 15:42

www.brushbaby.co.uk/About-The-Brush-Baby/

Have a look at this also.

MarionCole · 13/04/2010 15:44

Have a look at the brush baby toothbrushes that they sell on the Mothercare website (can't link now I'm afraid). They are designed to be chewed so are great for a chewer. They are not cheap but at least it means the teeth get a clean.

LoveBeingAMummy · 13/04/2010 15:47

Having two brushes so dd can brush mine whilst i did hers has been known to work as has brushing her toys. She does however love the toothpaste and i can get roundtwice quite quickly by putting half the toothpaste ondoing ti again straight after with the rest.

MarionCole · 13/04/2010 15:47

lowrib · 13/04/2010 15:48

There is indeed a product for everything

thehairybabysmum · 13/04/2010 16:36

2 brushes, they chew and i brush.

We have easy way or hard way. Easy wasy is htey open their mouths and hard way is held on lap whilst me or DH brush anyway. Only took a few 'hard-way' gos for the message to get across. Still have the occaisional struggle but generally both DSs (4 and 2) happily open mouths.

Mine have these which they love also. here from Boots.

Also i would use the baby toothpaste as it is more mild. I recently bought the next age up childrens toothpaste for DS1 and he finds thte taste too strong.

tiggymum · 14/04/2010 21:21

www.icanforkids.com/icanbrushmyteeth.html

Try this as well - really short DVDs that make brushing teeth look fun, works a treat, they watch it and then want to brush their teeth - bit like baby brainwashing really - it has a cute little song that goes with it too.

tiggymum · 14/04/2010 21:23

Sorry it didn't work, will try again

www.icanforkids.com/icanbrushmyteeth.html

FanjolinaJolie · 14/04/2010 21:27

We sing the 'brush your teeth in circles' song to the hokey cokey tune.

Pretend we're jungle animals and see if 'lions' teeth are whiter than 'hippos' etc etc

Try and make it fun even it if kills me.

ButterPie · 14/04/2010 21:30

In our house it goes:

Me: Oh! You forgot to brush your teeth!
DD1 then gets so wound up in laughing that she "forgot" to brush her teeth that we can get her to the bathroom, she gets her own toothbrush, I put baby toothpaste on it, I stand behind her so she can see in the mirror and brush while giving her lavish prasie on how lovely and sharp and white her teeth are and how the dentist will be SO pleased, she lets me do this for 30 seconds so I do as well as I can before she does it (ie she chews on the brush) I do try and tell her I need to hear the brushing though.

She used to refuse, and now she doesn't. I have no idea what changed, sorry!

Alicetheinvisible · 14/04/2010 21:31

Found that getting DD to look in the mirror at her teeth while i brush them to make them 'all shiney like a lion' seems to work very well and i even get giggles fromher. This has been a new development though as before she would just chew the brush and clamp her teeth down so that i couldn't do it.

j0807bump · 14/04/2010 21:37

sorry to go against all else but i use the cheapest toothbrushes because ds 2.8 still chews them like mad.

it was hell at similar age and found it was the toothpaste that was the prob. once he got used to the brushing without paste or very watered down it v.quickly became easier.
i know the paste is v.important but hold the belief better brushing of the teeth is far more beneficial than a screaming kid with a mouthfull of mint but still dirty teeth. it really only took a week or so for him to get really good but i think if i'd continued with the battles we wouldnt have sorted it

i encourage very big ahhhs! so i can do top and bottoms. i do in the bath or sitting on sofa with him holding his water cup to sip on occasions

madeindevon2 · 15/04/2010 15:22

the only thing that worked for me i read on here a while back.
i have to "find" in his teeth while brushing what hes been eating that day.....
ahhh theres some cherios
theres some crumpet
bla bla
its the only thing thats worked.....now he just lets me brush or "tickle the teeth"
its taken a long time getting to this. having tried various different toothbrushes and toothpaste

lovechoc · 15/04/2010 15:38

DS has always brushed his teeth in the bath so it's part of his 'play time' in the bath - in the morning he's been practising this more at the sink and is managing well so far.

There are days when he isn't keen so I do it for him but I always encourage him each time to have a go himself and most times it works.

Good luck and just keep persevering - he will get it eventually!

burtie2u · 15/04/2010 15:57

I have a few issues with brushing DS teeth and read some advice a few months ago here on MN. Someone suggested sitting on the floor with your legs in front of you and DC lying on your legs with their head at your crutch and feet to your feet. I started doing this when DS refused to let me brush his teeth and it really worked for us.

HeadFairy · 15/04/2010 16:01

Tooth tunes toothbrushes worked for ds.. we got the one that plays "The Bare Necessities" and he chews and brushes until the song is over, which I think is about a minute. He loves it and I usually have to prise the toothbrush out of his hand!

Original poster

BikeRunSki · 18/04/2010 22:14

Thansk for the advice everyone. We've got a Brush Baby now, and it is going down a treat!

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