How on earth do you brush a toddlers teeth!?

[milkyman]

My 21mth will not let me brush his teeth He just grabs it and throws it. He has a chewable brush which he will happily use - not sure if this ok. I have noticed his teeth at the bottom are a bit brown. I took him to the dentist and she said nothing to worry about - it's just plaque.

He only drinks milk and water from a beaker. No unnecesary sugar, no chocolate but loads of fruit. Please tell me I'm not alone!

We did have a pinning down phase. Then tickling him til his mouth opened and then brushing. Then as he got happier with it all, we let him choose his toothbrush, put his own toothpaste on and have a clean himself. Then we give them a going over after.
He did keep wanting to use DH's brush so I bought an identical one, told him it's daddy's brush but quick you can use it while he's not looking! Then had the opposite problem of him wanting to brush his teeth all the time

I'm not above pinning down if required, but recent I've found funny faces and singing works well.
If you do big operatic notes that involves wide open mouths you can normally get right in with the toothbrush.

Or aometimes if I brush my teeth and make it a copying game, that works.

What electric toothbrushes do people use? All the ones I see are only suitable for ages 4 or 6.
I hate pinning down but tooth brushing and bathing/showering are the only things DS3 tantrums over.
I tried all the tricks I used on my other three but he simply refuses to even sit on my knee for brushing.

It makes it easier if you get them to lie down flat on their back on the floor. We used to line a couple of teddies up next to them and brush the teddies' teeth first.

I have also, (though I might have scarred them for life), shown my dcs pictures of people with really rotten teeth and explained that is why we need to look after our teeth by eating well and brushing properly.

I like the wrapping in a towel!

We use a children's head on our normal Oral B electric. You can get full children's models but they tend to be battery operated and break down quickly.

I think they are the ones I looked at Pirate they said suitable for age 4 or 6, I forget which. The brush bus ladies said ones for older children can damage new enamel so we should only use ones for babies/toddlers but I have never found any.

Pin them down. We used to do it at bedtime, easier to straddle them on the bed without someone getting injured. We pfaffed about with DC1, songs and games, but just couldn't get reliable access to his mouth for long enough, and combined with defective enamel, he ended up with caries and expensive repair work aged 2. We got serious about it, at least one solid brushing a day (because when they are cantankerous sometimes you need two adults to manage a proper brushing) and it became much easier as soon as they got used to it.

Please make it non negotiable. I spent a day recently clerking 6-9 yo children for GA extractions. The majority of them had at least six teeth that needed removing. Some of the six year olds had permanent teeth that needed removing.

None of them had special needs, their families all have access to free dental care (I'm not in the uk) there was no "weak enamel" and there was quite simply no fucking excuse. I was mortified.

A healthy set of teeth is an excellent gift that you can give to your children.

I am extremely fortunate that my 20 month old likes the taste of toothpaste and enjoys having his teeth cleaned, I would be beside myself if I couldn't clean them properly.

I don't want to advocate pinning him down as I'm sure long term that could be counter productive. Have you tried different toothpastes? Toothbrushes? Making a game out of it or combine it with a reward. It's so difficult when they are little.

sebsmummy, pinning them down and getting it done is honestly better than having to have teeth out under ga.

I pin down too. I pin his head between my knees so he can't move it, hold both hands with one hand and brush with the other. I think while their teeth are coming through and gums are tender it genuinely hurts them, but I think better that than teeth out under GA as someone said above. DS loves fruit and chocolate and I do have to get in there myself to get them clean rather than let him have a go.

We've had some success with the aqua fresh iphone app, another teeth brushing app with a dinosaur (forget what it's called) and the sesame street brushing song on YouTube, but if he's tired I often have to revert to pinning down.

I am not a natural pinner down of toddlers, and wouldn't advocate it unless not doing so is likely to cause greater harm, but I don't think it's been counter productive. Now all his teeth are through DS rarely screams like he used to, and happily has a go himself in the mornings. We also have a rule that he can do it himself in the mornings but I do it in the evening

I also find it easier to brush ds's teeth if he is upside down (and his dentist looks at his teeth this way too!)

I just worry in the long run pinning them down could cause negative associations, however if the alternative is rotten teeth then I guess there is no choice.

If you don't want to pin down, wrap in a towel. Dd was wrapped in a towel for quite a while and yes sometimes she cried but now at 2.2 she will sit and have them brushed without too much fuss. It's not done any long term damage and they need to know its serious and you will do it everyday.

Yep, pinning down. Wrapping in a towel is quite good too. Now DS1 is nearly 3 it's easier - he gets a choice. The easy way - making roaring noises while I brush. Or the hard way - being pinned down. He usually chooses the easy way!

We started with the swaddling in a towel but now at 20 months he stands on a kids step at the sink and plays with the running water from the tap while going aaaahhhh and me brushing, then he gets to rinse his brush, put it in the pot and then drink water from my hand which he finds hilarious - haven't had a single tantrum since introducing the step and tap. Good luck.

I play the 'silly mummy' game. First I tell them that I've got their toothbrush ready with treacle/custard/ketchup etc. Lots of 'NO mummy!' Followed by 'Oh yes, you're right it's not honey, it's mustard!' Until we agree to use toothpaste.

Then I try to brush their elbow/nose/teddy's teeth/belly button etc etc. It takes lots of patience but the end result is usually a toddler stood in front of me, mouth wide open, showing me where to brush.

But failing that, I will pin down and brush!

Electric toothbrush and a special tooth brushing song, plus the best brusher of the night gets to brush daddy's teeth for him (mummy being a bit too sensitive about being jabbed hard in the soft palate to play this game)

Sebmummy great that your child enjoys teeth brushing.

The massive majority do not. As a parent you make a choice, two minutes of discomfort for a proper decent teeth clean, of fifteen minutes of faffing about for an entirely unsatisfactory wipe.

How many children do you have? Any more than 1, and the need to get bathtime moving is also a consideration. Added to which, you see your elder child, with teeth that the dentist said were in the best condition they possibly could be, beautifully brushing their teeth and recall pinning them down to brush their teeth whilst they screamed and you think 'hey ho' as you reach for your younger one to pin down!

Can't imagine pinning down my ds. He is 21mths, very big and strong and wilful!

I used to have to pin down too but after various tooth rushing apps,songs,character toothbrushes etc I found what worked for me weirdly was saying " oh look I can see Buzz lightyear in your mouth " or various watever was the favourite character and saying let me brush him out for you ... lets try and brush Mickey Mouse off your top teeth ,he's hiding up there
so weird but it worked ...

OP, it's a heck of a lot easier to pin down a 21 months old until he gets the hang of teeth brushing, than having to pin him down aged 4 or 5 to have rotten teeth removed under GA. I know which scenario I prefer.