How thoroughly do you clean your toddlers teeth

[meepmoop]

DS is nearly 2 and hates having his teeth brushed but will try to do it himself

At the moment morning toothbrushing I give him the brush with toothpaste and he does a light scrub on the front of his teeth than pretty much chews it and swirls it around his mouth.

Evening me and DH take the pinning down tactic so I can give them a proper scrub but I'm still not doing it perfectly as DS doesn't really cooperate although he is getting slightly better at letting me do it.

I just worry I'm not getting every bit of his mouth. How do you find it?

We had a big problem with this when DS was 2. Then we discovered the Elmo tooth brushing song on YouTube and miraculously all was OK. DS brushed by himself until the pause in the song, then I took over for the second half (if he didn't comply, the song went off). After a while the songs progressed to Baby Shark and others.

YouTube was a revelation! I kid you not.

I also do the 'tickling your teeth' thing. Mostly my DC have been ok with having their teeth cleaned for them but it is non negotiable and I'll do it anyway! So important to ensure they have good dental health.

I actually say "I'm going to tickle your teeth" to my dd and she laughs and opens her mouth then at last minute turns her head/closes her mouth etc making it impossible to get in grrr! Tried strapping her in booster seat and doing it at the table/in front of tv still no

My son (who has 3 teeth as of yesterday!) thinks having his teeth brushed is hilarious. He also loves having a face wash with a flannel. I'm enjoying it whilst it lasts 😂

OP make sure he sees you and your partner brushing your teeth twice a day as well. Maybe you could brush his and he brushes yours?

Ill have a look at the Elmo song, that sounds promising. Will also try brushing mine at the same time and see if that helps.

I've got another one coming in October, it's going to be fun trying to do both. Hopefully we will crack it by then

@melissasummerfield how do you suggest I clean my toddlers teeth then?
He would entirely resist me brushing his teeth, he would put the brush in his mouth and chew it, but as soon as I tried to brush he would clamp his jaw shut.
It took just under two weeks of me wrapping him in a towel so his to realise he doesn’t mind it. He will accept me brushing them now with plenty of encouragement. He has all but four of his teeth. How long would you suggest I nambypamby him into letting me do his teeth? Cos I’d tried that for a long time - he had 6 teeth by 6 months old.

Have you tried him brushing mummies teeth while mummy brushes his teeth.

I must agree, I can't believe people are wrapping their children in towels to brush their teeth, no wonder they hate it.

My nearly 3 year old doesn't like us brushing her teeth. She's been like it for about a year, maybe longer. She's like it with everything though - very willful and wants to do everything for herself, so it's nothing we can change about teeth brushing. Currently I let her do it and then I have a turn, which of course is the proper go and I figure she's learning a skill too. If she resists then I pin her down on the floor. I had a tip from her old childminder - pin her down by putting her head between your knees she said to me - feet and body in the opposite direction, not under you. It's genius because they can't really escape when they're little. As she's got older this works less and we talk a lot about keep teeth shiny and nice for the tooth fairy when she's older. One of the dental companies have a teeth brushing app too - think aquafresh.

People don't just jump into wrapping a towel round their children to brush their teeth...it's a last resort situation after trying all the other tricks mentioned on this thread!

My ds (along with the macroglossia, sensory issues, absolute resistance to self care, reflux and restricted diet) has enamel hypoplasia, and had 4 teeth out before he was 4 under GA , he has to have another general anaesthetic in the Summer to have sealant painted on his teeth. It is a bloody nightmare to try to make sure his teeth aren't completely crumbling, and it is imperative that they are properly cleaned twice a day. At nearly 9 he lets me clean them with a very set routine, but he still hates it. When he was younger, yes I would wrap him in a towel....otherwise he would have had even more teeth removed under GA.

Can you show him the Hey Duggee toothbrush episode and give him a toothbrush to play with while he watches?

I've not been in the situation myself, but I'd be trying to build up a positive association with cleaning teeth rather than having to force him.

By the way the NHS recommends brushing teeth for children up to 7

Children aged 7 and over should be able to brush their own teeth, but it's still a good idea to watch them to make sure they brush properly

DD is almost 2 and until recently hated having her teeth brushed. DH got a chart free from a pharmacy which is to be ticked morning and night after tooth brushing. After 2/3 days, when she's told it's brushing time, she asks for a pen and willingly sits to have them brushed so she'd be able to tick her chart. Worth a try?

I inadvertently solved this when we saw a small child with very rotten teeth at the park. DS overheard us mentioning it and asked lots of questions. It wasn’t exactly planned but telling but him what happens if you don’t brush your teeth, how sore they get, that they might have to be pulled out etc, has led to the most compliant child you have ever seen at tooth cleaning time!!!