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Original poster

Brushing baby's teeth - any advice please???

9 replies

BeckyHelen · 14/03/2007 01:06

My 10 mnth old daughter absolutely hates me brushing her teeth and makes it almost impossible for me to clean them properly, even though I try to make light of it and do it calmly. She flips her head back and shuts her mouth and puts her tongue in the way of her teeth and I end up brushing her tongue by accident!

Her top teeth are starting to cut through and i'm worried that it's going to affect the health of her teeth if I can't brush them properly. The way she reacts makes me feel like i'm torturing her rather than trying to brush her teeth. Any suggestions on what I can do????? Thanks.

OP posts:
sandcastles · 14/03/2007 02:15

The way I found easiest with dd when she was small, was to have her lying down (on her changing table) & I stood at the head end & made her laugh to get her mouth open. If nothing else it meant that she couldn't throw her head back. Now she is 3, she lies on the floor with her head in my lap (crossed legged) and I brush like that. She loves having her teeth brushed, but I fnd if she is standing, she gags alot.

Otherwise, I would recommend a flannel to gently wipe over them for a while. Give her a toothbrush to chew to get used to the sensation of the bristles. As she is teething, she won't much like the idea of you brushing, but you will probably find that the chewing on the toothbrush (just a small childs one) will help with teething.

mamama · 14/03/2007 02:28

Ds spends ages watching me do mine. When we do his, we go for one of the following options (DS choses)

  • Sing "This is the way we brush our teeth" to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush & brush happily

  • Headlock with a screaming toddler (but makes it easier to reach the back teeth)

pelvicflawed · 14/03/2007 07:15

We do the same as mamaama - keep singing ' this is the way we brush/polish/scrub our teeth until DS finally laughs and we shove the brush in (or perhpas he just gives in becuase of my awful singing!!!). he is usually at his worst about brushing just before a tooth pops in and on occassions we have admitted defeat - if the gum is really sore I don't think a day or two (as long as it dosen't go into weeks without a good brush will do much harm (we hope!!) Good luck!

pooka · 14/03/2007 07:57

DS went has just come out the other side having had about 5 months of headlock toothbrushing. Think he's just given up and realised it needs to be done. Also we say "aaaaaaaaaah" when we're doing it to encourage him to go "aaaaaaah" and open his mouth. Sometimes it's more of an "aaaaaarrrrrrrggggggggghhhhh" scream, but at least his mouth it open

Currypowder · 14/03/2007 09:35

Do this before you put your make-up on for the day!

Get 2 toothbrushes and let her have a go at your teeth. At the very least she has one to play with which will divert her for a bit.

DS is nearly 2 and it is 50:50 whether we have a strop or not. My teeth are however sparkling as they get brushed 4 times a day(along with my nose, eyes, ears...)!!

thehairybabysmum · 14/03/2007 09:46

2 toothbrushes usually works in our house for 15 mth old....also helps to hold down the arm of his that isnt holding the toothbrush. Also saying aaahhhh.

Failing this it is pin down and go for it...DH also likes to say the phrase 'I am the law, you will have your teeth cleaned' for added effect!!!

Things are improving here so hpefully if you persist then she will get more used toit.

DollyPopsOut · 14/03/2007 12:18

I sympathise, we have had terrible trouble in this house with it. If DD is teething and it really is too painful, I have been known to be a bit careful with what she eats, try to get her to eat some cheese last thing to neutralise the acid in her mouth and then leave it for a couple of days. Not ideal, but sometimes i can't do anything else!

When she is compliant or semi compliant, she stands on her step by the basin with me behind her holding her chin. We both then go aah whilst I have a quick scrub. If I can persuade her to let me sing whilst scrubbing away, so much the better. The chin hold stopped me from bodging her in the mouth when she wriggled away. She is older than your LO, but a variant on this might help.

Good luck - if it's any consolation it goes in phases and at times she is actually OK about it, so you may get one of those soon

SpareWheel · 14/03/2007 12:56

We had tantrums as well, but found the solution was:

  1. give DD a soft silicone toothbrush which she could hold herself and which she can use to soothe at the same time (the part-silicone, part-hard material and the ones on the end of the finger are both useless from my experience),
  2. always have toothbrushing at the same time each day and on 5 minutes' notice (then it doesn't come as a surprise),
  3. I brush my teeth at the same time so she can copy me like it's a game.

I wouldn't ever force it on her - that's a recipe for being on a permanent war-footing over toothbrushing and will make for problems later on. If she refuses, don't foist it on her. Keep trying it at the same time each day and eventually she'll join in.

percypig · 14/03/2007 13:12

DS is only 12 months, so I'm guessing he's only at the beginning of the tantrum stage, however he loves his toothbrush and would happily brush his teeth for up to 15 minutes.

We let him see us brushing our teeth a lot, bought one which is small and easy for him to hold, and like others sometimes sing the Mulberry bush song. At the minute we put the toothpaste on, brush a wee bit with him sitting on my knee, then let him finish brushing them himself.

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