I can't clean my daughter's teeth

[PennyPinkPineapple]

My daughter is nearly 14 months old, she has 12 teeth. Trying to brush them is so difficult. She won't hold still or open her mouth. I've tried turning it into a game by pretending to brush the turtle bath toy's teeth, making it into a song, cleaning my teeth at the same time, giving her the toothbrush to chew herself but she won't have any of it. If I try and force it she thrashes around and screams and it just makes it worse.

When DH does bath time he gives up straight away and says she won't let him do it. This means that three days a week her teeth aren't being cleaned at all. I don't know what to do, does anyone have any advice?

Teeth brushing is a non negotiable in my house (and there really aren't many things that were class as non negotiable).
It meant a few years of tears, tantrums, thrashing and screaming while we brushed teeth to be honest. Just had to persist.

There's a threat last posted in on Wednesday in the parenting top about someone having similar trouble with their 3 year old that might help - I'm on the app, so can't link

I hold my daughter down and do it. The screaming stopped when she was about 2.5 and now she lets me do it after she’s had a go.

sit on the bed legs apart, her head between your legs, her arms under your legs, feet pointing to your feet. She screams, mouth opens, teeth brushed

@DropYourSword yeah same it was never up for debate (at least with only 2 teeth if she tries to bite you should be able to avoid them) not pleasant but we got there

There's some good YouTube videos like the hey dugee teeth cleaning one that we just stick on, and DD sort of cooperates!

Some tips here www.kowhaidental.co.nz/blog/brushing-toddler-teeth#:~:text=Use%20a%20small%2Dheaded%2C%20soft,of%20a%20grain%20of%20rice.

Yep non-negotiable here too, which did mean a short period of holding her down while we did it. Not pleasant but she soon got the idea and stopped resisting!

www.kowhaidental.co.nz/blog/brushing-toddler-teeth#:~:text=Use%20a%20small%2Dheaded%2C%20soft,of%20a%20grain%20of%20rice.

Okay...there was me thinking I was being harsh getting physical about it 🤦🏼‍♀️😂 I'll turn myself into a human straight jacket tomorrow. Thank you everyone x

Would a new toothbrush help? Maybe one with her favourite character on it.

Elmo toothbrushing song! Or pretending her favourite characters are in her mouth and you have to catch them with a brush

Before doing this. Try brushing your teeth together with your DD. Give her own brush to try and then have a go!

Honestly, we do it in front of the telly. Probably not the best parenting but at least her teeth are clean 🤷‍♀️

Disney app worked well for my 2 year old, although I appreciate the age difference may make it less easy. 2 minutes of screen time isn't going to do any damage.

More harsh if she ends up needing fillings - if you have to hold her down then it needs to be done for her own good. Get some books about toothbrushes (the Hey Duggee one is beloved by my DD) and persevere. You have my sympathy as it's not fun if they hate it! It will get easier once she realises it has to happen. We sing songs while we do it - it's a good job I know all of the words to Let It Go and A Whole New World

Baby electric toothbrush, strawberry flavoured toothpaste and watching something on my phone 🤷🏼‍♀️ not ideal but gets it done with minimal battles.

I used the sitting on the chest technique as described above and then a cocomelon song on my phone until he grew out of it. Now my DS7 is a brilliant brusher and can’t believe I used to have to pin him down to do it (and cut his toenails!)

@KatieKat88 I completely agree but she just goes absolutely mental and ends up with toothpaste in her ears and pretty much everywhere except in her mouth. I'm going to try different toothbrush, toothpaste, TV (as well as human straight jacket tomorrow)

Don't get me started on toenails 😏 I have a job just wiping her nose@

You can get silicone brushes on Amazon that are mouth shape so you can get it in the mouth and brush more teeth at a time

I brush my teeth with my DD and she copies me but days when she does play up those things are a god send

My toddler likes the little baby electric toothbrushes in boots. It’s a nightmare to do but so is washing her hair and brushing it. She does go in during the day and pinch everyone else’s toothbrushes.

Yeah I think you just have to force it.

after bath time I wrap mine in a towel, kinda swaddled to stop arms thrashing about, she screams and I get in about her mouth. It’s not pleasant but she’s over it in seconds then we go and brush her dolly’s teeth together.

It used to be a huge wrestle in this house too. I DO NOT reccomend electric tooth brushes as they can be bit and pulled off. I DO reccomend tackling toothbrush from behind. Sit child in front and a big hug with their head to the side of yours (avoid head butting) and brush. The blippi song cracked it nearly for us, as well as a change in toothpaste (strawberry mint). Hopefully she will tolerate this in time.

Maybe you should some funny toothbrushes, my daughter uses oral b the third one, she adores Frozen, it helps us, my daughter is already 3