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Parenting

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Original poster

Tooth brushing 1 year old....

19 replies

keb2702 · 28/12/2019 21:07

I have been trying for months to get my 17 month old boy to brush his teeth.
He will not let the toothbrush NEAR his mouth. Have tried a flashing toothbrush, chewable one, flavoured toothpaste, normal toothpaste etc etc. Basically everything!
I have tried holding him down and forcing the toothbrush in. He just will not let me. I've given it to him to do himself but he won't, just throws toothbrush away.
Any tips or advice? I'm going nuts!

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Thewalker75 · 28/12/2019 21:08

Have you tried any apps or videos? The hey duggee toothbrushing song works wonders with my 19 month old...

MissRabbitNeedsAHoliday · 28/12/2019 21:09

I cant offer any help but can sympathise
DD is 2 and it's a nightmare trying to get her to brush her teeth, I have to pretty much hold her down and brush whilst shes screaming but its awful! I've tried everything you've mentioned too but nothing works. Hoping someone will come along with a genius idea to save us both soon!

MidiMitch · 28/12/2019 21:10

No advice but I feel your pain. I have an otherwise delightful 7yo unless being asked to wash or brush teeth. I have had 7 years of this - twice a day battle.

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firstimemamma · 28/12/2019 21:12

Mr tumble has songs on YouTube about brushing your teeth. The one that's exactly a minute long works for my 16 month old ds.

Not saying it'll definitely work for you but it's worth a shot.

LanguageAsAFlower · 28/12/2019 21:15

I had the same issue and we got my DS a little stool so he can stand at the sink, can't stop him brushing his teeth now! Also realised that he doesn't like the taste of Aldi kids toothpaste, I can't remember the one we have now but really mild taste.

Mylittlepony374 · 28/12/2019 21:16

You tube here also. Brush your teeth song by mother goose. Or Mickey mouse has one too. Not foolproof but helps.

Elbbob · 28/12/2019 21:17

Yes it's a total nightmare. I have a 22 month old...
My suggestions - apologies if you have tried these -
Make it part of a strict routine morning and night
Get them to 'help' brush your teeth
Get them a doll and brush the dolls teeth
Find an age appropriate book about teeth brushing or where its included in the story (we have a bedtime Peppa Pig book with a page about brushing teeth which we look at frequently)
Be very over excited about the purchase of a new toothbrush for him
Take him to the dentist
Give it time and repetition and be calm and matter if fact about it if no teeth get brushed / lots of praise if successful
And while you can't get near his teeth - no juice, no sweets, biscuits or sugary foods...

spacepoppers · 28/12/2019 21:18

Urgh. Two year old was a nightmare for this. We do the nighttime one in the bath, when he's distracted/doesn't want to get out of the bath, works well for now!

Indecisivelurcher · 28/12/2019 21:19

The oral B app is good! Times 2 minutes, during which time a sticker (picture) is revealed by a toothbrush brushing the screen. So they can collect the stickers.

MrsG010814 · 28/12/2019 21:22

As pp's have said, have you tried a song? My 23 month old went through a similar phase and toothbrushing songs (particularly hey duggee) helped massively. Also maybe let them hold the toothbrush or get another one so they can hold one whilst you brush.

sittingonacornflake · 28/12/2019 21:23

Another vote for hey duggee toothbrushing song. We go from screaming to smiling having teeth brushed in a nanosecond. It's magic.

GlamGiraffe · 28/12/2019 21:31

You have my sympathies. I have a 2.5year old and have found no solutions.

I have tried:
Songs and rhymes
Brushing each others teeth (aka me being gagged)
A large selection of toothbrushes and toothpastes
Dentist explanations and demos
Programmes about teeth
The surgery picture of black teeth which she says she doesnt want to get and explained upu brush them to make sure it doesn't happen.
Copying me
Looking in the mirror whilst doing it
Stickers

I have resorted to holding her down with all my might just to get a semi decent brush around all the teeth. I don't think they're actually that clean either but theres little else I can do. I think it's just going to be time for this one. If it's any consolation the dentist told me she held down both of her children screaming until they were 4 to scrub their teeth, so I cant feel too bad about it I suppose, it's just hard work.

FiresideTreats · 28/12/2019 21:34

I have to give my toddler a toothbrush and he gets to brush mine while I desperately try to brush his. What helps is only doing very short bursts and when he brushes mine I react in silly ways (bouncing backwards, screaming, laughing, anything to make him laugh) and while he's laughing I get a few scrubs in. May be worth trying without attempting to brush his at the same time at first so he doesn't immediately clock what's going on and clamp shut?

katmarie · 28/12/2019 21:37

I asked our dentist about this and his attitude was if you can get a quick swipe round with a brush/cloth/something similar, then that's fine. At the toddler stage its more important that they dont develop a fear or resistance to brushing so make it as fun as possible and dont worry too much if it's not a thorough scrub every time.

Summerandsparkle · 28/12/2019 21:40

Does he see you brushing your teeth? What works best for me is making it into a game and letting DD do it herself.

Make the toothbrush ‘forbidden’ or like it’s a treat. I’ll give DD the toothbrush while she’s in the bath and let her run it under the tap. Then I ask if she would like more toothpaste, then let her run it under the tap then put it into her mouth and repeat. Holding it in your hand for a bit and then waiting to give it to them can help- like when they want a toy they can’t have.

Yes she gets through a fair bit of toothpaste (I try not to put too much on). And her teeth don’t get as thoroughly cleaned but it’s the best we can do. As she grows up she is getting better at it- she’s almost 18 months now.

Just don’t force him. Try to make it as positive as possible!

f00k · 28/12/2019 21:41

I have the same issue with 15 month old DD. She clamps her mouth shut. Sometimes
If I let her hold it she'll chew on it so most of the time I pop some toothpaste on the toothbrush and just let her chew it. Then when she's having a chew and has her mouth open, I quickly grab it and give her teeth a brush before she can fight me off!

georgialondon · 28/12/2019 22:36

We sing the hey duggee toothbrushing song and brush our teeth at the same time. I tell her she'll have stinky teeth like the hey duggee king if she doesn't brush her teeth.
Before doing this it's was a real struggle.

I also race her to the bathroom to see who can start brushing their teeth first

Cait73 · 29/12/2019 17:09

We’ve just switched to the Colegate fruit toothpaste; toothbrush success 🙌🏼

Daybydayagain · 29/12/2019 18:21

The fruit toothpaste helped us too. That and a battery powered toothbrush from Boots (brush baby). It’s not easy still but way better than before.

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