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Original poster

how can i get dd to let me brush her teeth?

12 replies

mads1 · 30/08/2006 13:42

DD is 16 1/2 months old and screams blue murder if we try and brush her teeth. She's quite happy to have the brush in her mouth to chomp and chew on but when it comes to our turn to clean them then we get the tears and have to literally hold her down.

I have also tried using my finger but she very rarely lets us put our fingers in her mouth either.

Any ideas please! i don't want her to grow a complex about brushing her teeth!!!

OP posts:

bundle · 30/08/2006 13:43

let her do yours at the same time?

Nemo1977 · 30/08/2006 13:45

with ds I used to let him brush mine as I brushed his and made funny sounds while I brushed depending on how I wanted his mouth. He didnt like it for a couple of months but then soon started copying the noises and face shapes.

prettymum · 30/08/2006 13:46

i brush my teeth with my dd (2), she watched how i did it and now loves brushing her teeth. i made a funny song which i'll sing when we brush and she wants to brush her teeth few times a day.

early on we used to use a flannel with a bit of toothpaste and brush her teeth after a bath and try and make her laugh at the same time, she got used to the routine

bundle · 30/08/2006 13:46

exactly. we do "eeeee" and "aaaaahhh" for back/front teeth.

MrsBadger · 30/08/2006 13:47

well, rest assured you're not the only one!

heaps of MN tried-and-tested ideas here and here ...

desperateSCOUSEwife · 30/08/2006 13:49

have you tried the oral wipes
they are good

Original poster

mads1 · 30/08/2006 14:16

Thanks!! lots of great tips!!! Can't wait to try them.
My dh is very good at making her laugh and gets a good go then! - very funny!

OP posts:

BernieBear · 30/08/2006 14:31

I placed a similar question on mn not so long ago, although my ds is 2.5. I did the following - he chose his own toothbrush, toothpaste (gel stuff which smells of bubblegum) and I bought him a mirror of his own. I placed "bear" next to him and we brushed bears teeth and then his. Bingo!! All these suggestions were from other mnettters.! Prior to this I was holding him down/headlock! Just moving onto the next life challenge of motherhood - not eating!!!!!! Oh deep joy...........

Original poster

mads1 · 30/08/2006 14:34

Wow! Just read the two links (thanks for that btw!) It was if i had written half the postings!
Good ol' mumsnet comes through again!!

OP posts:

harrisey · 30/08/2006 16:08

We count my dd2's teeth as we brushthem (she has 18 now, so takes a while)
She seems to like that.
Or if she is being especially stroppy we just pin her down and do it - it didnt seem to traumatise the other 2 kids!

bobblehead · 30/08/2006 18:00

I've started letting her pretend to brush the cats teeth using dh's toothbrush (obviously he doesn't know). The worst he'll get is a few cat hairs on it as she is no more of a willing recipient then dd!

beckyndanuk · 30/08/2006 18:03

Try singing "This is the way we brush our teeth" to the tune of "Here we go round the Mullberry bush" Thats always helped in our house! One verse for top teeth, one for bottom!

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