Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

teeth cleaning hell

21 replies

bonniej · 20/10/2004 21:30

My dd is 16 months and hates having her teeth cleaned. I know they all do to some extent but it seems to be really distressing for her. She refuses to open her mouth and I have to physically hold her arms down to clean her teeth with her screaming hysterically the whole time. I have tried making a game of it, singing songs, holding her in front of the mirror but nothing works. She is such a lovely, well behaved dd that I feel positively mean every time I have to clean her teeth. I'm scared she will get a toothbrush phobia. She will hold the brush herself but only to suck the toothpaste off. DH says this is sufficient and just to let her do that but surely she's not cleaning them properly. What can I do to make it a pleasant experience?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

jamiesam · 20/10/2004 21:35

This might well be a top tip by now. Try pretending that you can see in her mouth the food that she has eaten that day and that you have to clean it off with her toothbrush. Sounds ludicrously easy, but still works a treat with my ds.

Angeliz · 20/10/2004 21:38

I'd personaly let it go for a while.
My dd used to 'clean' her teeth in the bath and now i do we take turns really (she's 3.6).
I would suggest reverse psychology , pretend you LOVE cleaning your teeth infront of her but then say it's just for mammy and you've lost her toothbrush, see if that works. After a few days she may get curious, but i wouldn't push it to the point of upsetting yourself just yet. (As long as she's not on the coke evry day )

lulupop · 20/10/2004 21:39

I think loads of them go through this. My DS used to scream the place down. Strangely though, only whehn I or DH tried to do it - when my mum did it he just let her. He is OK now, but what I do is, I lie him on the floor so that I am sitting with my legs apart and he's on his back with his head between my legs and arms under my legs. Admittedly this used to involve me manhandling him a bit but now he "assumes the position" voluntarily. I then get him to open his mouth by distracting him with a song and bribing him with a video afterwards - if that doesn;t work then I threaten to lose my temper I'm afraid. Then I do the brushing thoroughly but quickly, telling him he's had plenty of sweeties and if he wants more tomorrow we have to keep his teeth clean, otherwise they'll all fall out and there'll be no more sweeties ever!

This has gone from being a real struggle to only a minor irritation sometimes. You will find a way. 16months is quite young to explain things to her though.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Dental health Families General parenting

Fran1 · 20/10/2004 21:41

I was told by a dentist a couple of years ago that in the early years sucking the blob of toothpaste is enough.

With this in mind, i don't force my dd (20mths) to hard. We just have a morning/night routine of standing on step in front of sink with tap running, i give her her toothbrush, which she swishes around for a while under the running tap, then i put the toothpaste on and she sucks it off and occasionally attempts a brush (i brush my teeth at the same time and tell her to copy me). Then i say shall mummy have a go, and sometimes she says yes, sometimes she says no. So maybe once or twice a week i manage to brush them properly for her, and the rest of the time she just gets the blob.

I'm sure as both our dd's get older they will become more willing to do it, as you say so long as you keep it a pleasant experience.
If i were you i would not intervene for a few days and then start off gently trying to persuade her to let you have a go.

Does she get to see you brush your teeth so she can copy?

Good luck!

Original poster

bonniej · 20/10/2004 21:44

I think that's the problem lulupop. I can't explain to her why I'm cleaning them and can't even really turn it into a game as she doesn't understand. She doesn't have many sweet things, just the occassional small bag of buttons. She hasn't even got that many teeth yet! Would it be okay just to let her suck the brush for a while without causing any long term damage to her teeth? also while we're on the subject, when does she go for her first dental check? (I'm not obsessed with teeth btw it just gets drummed in how important it is and I'd feel like a bad mum if her teeth go bad )

OP posts:

Original poster

bonniej · 20/10/2004 21:46

Thanks Fran1, think you've just answered my first question. DD will be pleased

OP posts:

Angeliz · 20/10/2004 21:47

I 'think' dd was around 2 at first check-up.
I know people always have differing views but i wouldn't worry about it.

jamiesam · 20/10/2004 21:50

My ds2 had his first check up (late!) the other week at 14mths - got reminder at around 6mths. Having said that, ds1's (3 yr old) check ups are still a two second job, to check that teeth are coming through in roughly the right order and perhaps also that they're not too cramped.

Skate · 20/10/2004 21:51

Bonniej - have you tried cleaning her teeth with one toothbrush while she holds the other? DS2 (23 months) hates me doing it but for some bizarre reason will let me if he has his own toothbrush in his hand. He swills it around in his mouth (copies ds1 - ahhh!) and then I say 'my turn' and he lets me do it if he's still got hold of his brush. Sometimes I just give him my brush or 'daddy's brush' and that works well too cos it's bigger!

Before I discovered this I was like you - I'd have to literally pin him down on the floor to brush them - felt terrible but would feel worse if his teeth fell out!

KBear · 20/10/2004 21:53

I bought flashing toothbrushes recently and my children love them. You have to brush until they stop flashing - maybe you could buy yourself one too and make another game out of it. I think the more you force her the more she will resist and you might create a kind of phobia about it. I would relax for a while and maybe try the reverse psychology as suggested earlier. I use this all the time and it always works with DS!! Good luck

pixiefish · 20/10/2004 21:58

what about a little help from Barney?

Hulababy · 20/10/2004 22:02

That was the prize for first MNetters to nominate their dentists. We tested it out on Argos this week. DD loved it, but it's quite noisy!

At 16 months I wouldn't worry too much so long as she is getting used to using a toothbrush and getting a little brushing done occasionally. I'd be reluctant to push it too much yet, and just go with the flow. She'll pick it up eventually - just keep praising her for brushing er own teeth - and see if you can get her to move the brush about her mouth to count her teeth, eg. Can you clean your teeth at the same time too - see if you can have a competition to who can clean the most teeth??? But she may be too young for this just yet.

Original poster

bonniej · 20/10/2004 22:03

That barney looks great, pixiefish. We're on a jingling toothbrush at the moment but that's not impressing her at all. I think I'll take it easy for a while and just try to encourage her to brush by brushing myself. I might ring the dentist to book her check up but I can't see how she'll let him have access to her mouth when I can't! One more question as you are all so helpful, her two front teeth have a huge gap between them ( I mean huge, you could get another tooth in there) but the teeth either side haven't come through yet. Is this normal and will it close when her others come through? Sorry for all the questions!

OP posts:

Fran1 · 20/10/2004 22:17

dentists vary on when to do first check up.
My old dentist told me to bring her in at 18mths, but by then we had moved areas, and when i tried to get her an appt they didn't want to know until she is two.

And the gap my dd also has a big gap - and her other teeth are thru!! i used to worry because i have a man-made gap i.e cock up involving dentists, teeth removal and braces when i was 12. and i alwasy hated my gap when i was growing up - although have learnt to love it now! People tell me the next set of teeth won't necessarily be the same and they may squash up together more.

Fingers crossed for our dd's!!

yingers74 · 20/10/2004 23:05

bonniej, my dd did the same and to be honest I just let her get on with it, I used to just wipe her front teeth with a cloth. I never let her eat sweets and her teeth did not seem to suffer. During the last few weeks she has started to allow me to brush her teeth, I say 'oh there is something i have to get in your mouth' and she then lets me use the toothbrush to brush her teeth!

sorry i don't have any actual tips!

picker · 20/10/2004 23:07

for goodness sake is this all youcan think about? get a life

Fran1 · 20/10/2004 23:11

Did anyone here say this is all they can think about?

Its simply a subject which we all wished to discuss alongside leading our full and eventful lives which don't only concern teeth cleaning.

If you do not wish to discuss teeth cleaning, don't post!!!!!!!

joanneg · 20/10/2004 23:17

Fran - wouldn't talk to picker as picker is probably a 12 year old boy using his mums computer.

picker · 20/10/2004 23:23

yea right, if that makes you feel better

jenkel · 20/10/2004 23:28

My dd was just like this, screamed every time we cleaned her teeth, though she was quite happy to suck the toothpaste off. After trying for ages to clean her teeth with her screaming I just let her suck the toothpaste, didnt want her to get a phobia of toothbrushes. She is now 26 months and cleans her teeth brilliantly. She always used to suck the toothbrush when I cleaned my teeth, and then I started to clean dollys teeth at the same time and she just started, and looks as pleased as punch when she has done it.

ChicPea · 22/10/2004 22:22

DD 2 has always been generally cooperative although sometimes I had to sing. Now she is refusing as she wants to do it herself but I do at some point have to intervene. So now I say "Can you see the stars in Mummy's mouth because my teeth are so clean? Open your mouth so I can look for the stars in your mouth....(and as she opens her mouth and I'm quickly brushing them knowing the time is going to be limited) ooooh look at all the stars....". Works a treat!

Flip