Brushing teeth

[Mouscadoo]

I would like to start introducing tooth brushing to my daughter who is 16 months. I have tried a few times and she gets very angry and wont let me do it. I know this is something that will just need to be done and that she is still young but I am looking for any tips that anyone might have. She is actually very strong for her age so its not easy lol. Thanks in advance!

I bought DS a chewable tooth brush, used fruit flavoured tooth paste, and then left him to it. I think it's more important to just get them into the habit of doing it rather than worrying about cleaning their teeth properly.

I do my LO teeth’s whilst he wrapped in a towel after bath then I give him the toothbrush to do himself.

We got DD excited by making silly noises while we do it - "aaaaaaaaah" with mouth wide open to do tops of them then "eeeeeeeeeeee" whilst baringvher teeth like a little lion so we can do the front of them. Maybe turning it into a game will help?

Our dentist and health visitor also said if they're upset then missing the odd one won't hurt. We miss maybe 1-2 a month if DD reality isn't in the mood. Also find now she's a touch older that if she tells us her teeth hurt we ask her which ones (e.g. top right) and we skip over those ones for that brush. Means she's less likely to refuse her whole mouth and they only hurt for a day or two (damn molars coming through!!). It means we haven't had to turn it into a battle ground.

Yeah I did the wrap them like a burrito whilst singing about the toothbrush looking for scraps of food left in DS’s mouth. We made it a game. But one where he couldn’t get his hands out.

Dd hated getting her teeth brushed it was traumatic for us both for years (she's only just accepted it now she's 3 and has been getting them brushed since around 7 months!)

Try lots of different toothbrushes, dd prefers an electric one.

I tickle her tummy and make her laugh whilst dp brushes her teeth that helps get her mouth open wide enough for a good brush!

We also bought her the how to brush your teeth with snappy crocodile book & sang lots of silly songs.

People also recommended the hey Duggee app I think it was to me but it never worked with dd.

It's awful I sympathise but like you said it's just one of those things that need done!