Please can someone tell me how to brush my 2 year olds teeth?

[mummytomatildaandrose]

I am at my wits end. My DD is 2 and has had a bit of a rough ride in the last year which has culminated in her not walking yet. I digress although the reason why I mention her rough ride is because the last thing I want is for her to get toothache from rotten teeth! teething has been terrible so I could do with her keeping them for as long as possible! Whilst my DD loves her toothpaste and chewing on her toothbrush, she just won't brush. Can anyone help with a technique, please???!!!

Headlock.

I have an electric toothbrush that I use occasionally with DS2 (2yo). He is exactly the same, loves biting and chewing the brush but doesn't get a very good clean.

However, he LOVES the electric toothbrush. Not sure if it's because he sees us using it and thinks it is grown up, or if it's just the buzziness of it, but it's so much easier! He doesn't have to move it around much as it moves itself, I find I just have to 'guide' his hand to put it in different areas of his mouth. He gets a much better clean with that!

Worth a try perhaps?? When I first started using it with him I just smiled and laughed a lot when it buzzed in his mouth, to make him think it was a game.

Good luck

I used to count dsd's teeth with the toothbursh, sometimes singing silly counting songs. I'd go oneeee(circular montion) twoooo and so on. Or the the 'Wheels on the bus' with toothbrush going round and round. Also to try it herself I got mine out and we faced each other brushing in exagerrated silly ways

Our dentist recommends wrapping in towel after bath and just going for it. Dd got used to it very quickly and now brushes herself (with supervision)she's 3 now. Ds 18 months screams the place down still though
Also if she's chewing on the brush and using toothpaste they will be getting a bit of a clean. Has she her molars yet?

Winnybella - GREAT suggestion!! But might get social services knocking at my door!!

KirstyJC - a friend has an electric toothbrush for her DS and she said he loves it too, so we might try that.

Strawberrycake - that's a brilliant suggestion - will give it a go - did you see my response to your message by the way, so sorry that you are having such a tough time

Katiepotatie - also a great suggestion - will try it. All teeth are through apart from 2 and a bit second molars - have never counted down anything so much in my life!! Teething has been terrible!!

No, seriously. DD usually eats most of the toothpaste, then will brush for like a second or two and then I have to step in to do it properly.Sometimes she lets me, sometimes I have to hold her head.

She's just 21 mo and I can't reason with her.

I'm not hurting her, btw- but also I don't fancy her having cavities at 3yo.

Same for saline spray- DD still bf at night and sometimes her nose is so blocked that she can't. She doesn't like the spray, but she likes to bf. Also not good to be breathing through the mouth as it dries the mucus membranes and makes her more susceptible to catching viruses etc.

So sometimes it's necessary. But I hope you'll find another way