Teeth cleaning a 16 month old. Am I doing this right?

[Dotty38]

DD is 16 months now and I have been cleaning her teeth for her since the first came through when she was 4 months old. Until she was about a year old she was happy to have this done. Since she turned 1 it's been an absolute battle, she will not let me do it at all. I tried various things. I was sitting her on my knee and would brush top and bottom always being gentle when I know some are breaking through but she just clamps her lips tight and shakes her head to avoid me getting the tooth brush in. I have also tried letting her hold the toothbrush while I clean my own teeth with her, she will always take the brush enthusiastically but she isn't old enought to understand how to brush them properly so she just sucks the toothpaste off the brush and then ditches it. I then started to resort to lying her down wrapping a towel around her to stop her arms from pushing me away I would hold her head and then very quickly brush her teeth but this cause huge amounts of upset for a good half an our basically until she either gets her dummy or her Dad cuddles her infront of the TV!

I've asked a few friends and have had mixed responses some say it's fine to let them just play with the tooth brush themselves and others have said you have to have the battle. But I feel dreadful as it really is a full scale physical battle it's awful. But at the same time I want to make sure DD's teeth stay healthy.

She doesn't have a lot of sugar in her diet but she does eat a lot of dried fruit and has now started having plain biscuits like rich teas or malted milks. and of course on occasions at party's and so on she'll have cake and ice cream etc etc but not as a rule at home.

What do you think? Do I let her play with the tooth brush or do I face the battle each day and phsically restrain her to clean her teeth.

dotty - the same battle is ongoing in our house. In the morning I let DD2 hold and chew his own toothbrush but in the evening I make sure they are properly clean. I do the pinning down thing but do lean him back over my lap so he's upside down - I then pretend to brush his tummy, or his arm - so he laughs and opens his mouth (he usually then clamps shut on the tooth brush) but between tantrums and tickles we pretty much get it done every night without too many tears

Good luck

definitely keep going though.

Persevere! In my experience, they start co-operating at about 2ish.

I did the force thing. Am glad as my 4 yr old has lovely white teeth now and will happily brush his own before letting me give a quick once over. one of his frinds had a rotten tooth - he's only 4, diet good but lots of sugary dried fruit. His mum said it wasn't worth the fight sometimes...It is, I think

The battle is about to begin with ds2 though. I'm in the 'you have to do this' camp.

How about two toothbrushes - one for her to be distracted with, and one for you to quickly have a quick scrub with?

We brushed DS's teeth when he was watching ITNG, was usually distracted enough by TV to not protest too much.

He's 2.5 now, so it's a whole different battle of wills

Same battle here!! my DS is also 16mths i took him to along with me for my DDs appointment at the dentist a few week ago, and enquired if we were doing the right thing in basically forcing him (in a nice way ) to have them done. His advice was to not force the issue and just to play with the tooth brush, it has worked DS is now back to having his teeth brushed with no really issues!

Thank you for your posts. I feel so much better reading them. I think my gut was telling me that I should make sure her teeth are cleaned properly but I was so worried about being too harsh.