How can I persuade my DD to brush her teeth?

[Liff]

Does anyone have any top tips on how I can persuade my (very strong willed) DD of 22 months to brush her teeth? She WILL NOT let me do it and I worry about what it's doing to her teeth!

Hi, I have the same problem, my daughter is 2yrs 3 months and will not brush her teeth, she won't even open her mouth. She used to be good and do it every morning and every night in the bath but now, she just won't! Really concerned as well so interested to see what responses you get. I've got pretty blue berry flavoured toothpaste with Pooh on and nice toothbrush, I've even tried brushing my teeth with her....

Hello, I give my DS of 20 months his own toothbrush with a tiny bit of toothpaste. While he thinks he is brushing his own teeth I sneak in there and have a proper go.

Hi, I posted about this recently - my DD is 22 months (and also heinously strong willed) and I have the same problem. I got a lot of good suggestions from here

www.babycenter.com/400_how-can-we-get-our-toddler-to-let-us-brush-his-teeth_500318_0.bc

I have tried everything, but one mother wrote on that site that she let it go with her first child, and then he had 5 cavities, so now she physically forces her 2nd.

I have been basically forcing my DD (which is not easy with a wriggling toddler) and it is the only area in her life in which I have done or would do this, but I think that unfortunately its necessary. She cries when I do it, but it is getting much easier as she realises that it is going to happen anyway, and I have been making a big deal of the rinsing and spitting afterwards which she is really starting to enjoy, and seems to erase the previous trauma!

hi

what i did when my DD (also very strong willed) was little was i gave her a soft toothbrush and a little bowl of water and let her 'brush' her dolls teeth. she made a MASSIVE mess with the water but enjoyed it and started to chew the toothbrush herself during play. she now does it herself every morning and can do her toothpaste herself too she is now 4.8yo and we have never had any more probs with tooth brushing since

We had this struggle with our dd too. What finally worked for us was opening our mouths wide and singing the theme tune to Star Trek... you know, 'ah- ah, ah ah ah ah ahhh, ah ah haa ah ah ah ah ahhh...' etc etc

Worked for us! And we don't mind sounding dreadful :)

You can get toothbrushes that play tunes but they're so quiet you only hear them inside the mouth and only if the brush is moving. My kids used to have them. Sell them in Boots and Superdrug.

I was (am) an evil mother and asked them what they'd like to do with £400 when they're older - spend it on toys and holidays or on having someone drill like a builder inside their mouths and having to pay for the privilege. That worked.

Or take her to the dentist. My kids brushed better after their first visit because a real dentist told them what to do which was far more appealing than advice from their mum.