2 yr old hates teeth cleaning.

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Help. My 2 yr old ds hates his teeth being cleaned and although dp and I clean them twice a day, I have noticed today that there is a build up of plaque on the sides of his molars.

I am really worried about cavities for him, but he won't allow the dentist to look in his mouth so we cannot tell if there are problems. I have even tried pinning him down occaisionally, but I feel so guilty that I have stopped doing it.

Worst thing is, he has a very sweet tooth and loves his yoghurts, fruit bars etc, he doesn't like cheese that much and no longer drinks milk.

Any advice, tips would be gratefully received as I am panicking. :-(

Don't panic - you can solve this problem. From what you say about him loving his yogurts etc, the best way to deal with his problem is through the foods he loves. Next time he wants a fruit bar or yogurt, tell him he can't have them because he won't have his teeth cleaned! He's old enough to understand if you keep it simple. Tell him that the yogurt and fruit bars make his teeth dirty (like getting paint on his hands) and that if he won't have his teeth properly cleaned, then he can't have them because his teeth will get sick. I used to let my son have a special toothbrush of his own which he "cleaned" his teeth with and then I gave them a final "polish" with a different toothbrush. I was the one really cleaning his teeth, but he didn't know that and feeling in control of the process made him more compliant. Hope these ideas help!

Does he like Peppa Pig? Peppa goes to the dentist is a good book. Also some kids don't like mint so maybe get a fruity toothpaste.

Thanks, so much for your replies.

I will definitely try the bribing through foods tactic. I have also sourced some sugar and sweetener free kids yoghurts, which is a relief and I am also trying to persuade him that he likes cheese so that he will eat it after having sweet stuff.