how can I avoid a teeth trauma every night?

[chocolatestar]

DS used to be fine getting his teeth cleaned but has recently started to refuse. He clamps his mouth shut and puts his hands over his mouth. I have tried me cleaning my teeth at the same time, him getting to clean his toy baby's teeth (this worked once), getting Dad to do it but nothing seems to help. I don't know what else to do and I often end up getting frustrated and making him do it then hating myself for it afterwards. Please help!

How old is your DS? MIne now 2.4 and finally (or maybe just currently) ok with this after MUCH trauma! Dunno if this will help but singing silly tunes and messing around pulling faces while doing my teeth got him giggling and i just put his toothbrush to one side and waited for him to pick it up himself. I do insist on brushing for him after he's had a go as he mostly just chews it. i sing a nursery rhyme; at the mo "sing a song of sixpence" so he has a sense of when the torture will end.

Not much advice to offer, just sympathy! My DD is the same, she's just turned 2 and where she used to be fine with teeth brushing she now covers her mouth with both hands. I tend to go for the patience approach, I sit down with her and make it clear that until her teeth are brushed, nothing else will happen. She does get bored and give up before me, but it can take a while some days.

Ha, this is good timing. DD (2.7) used to be fine. The last fortnight you'd think we were trying to murder her. Nothing is working, the only thing left to try is different flavour toothpaste, which I keep forgetting to buy.

He's 2.10. He used to be fine, I don't know why it has become an issue. I've tried a lot of games, trying to jolly him into it type stuff but it's become his thing to do at night. I am making it worse by getting worked up about it. I don't want to make a fuss but I don't want to not brush his teeth either.