Toddler clamps mouth shut when brushing teeth

[peaches35]

Whenever I try to brush my 18 month old’s teeth, he clamps his mouth shut. I try to wiggle the toothbrush around even whilst his mouth is shut around it but it’s hardly enough to properly brush his teeth! I’m concerned he’s going to need fillings at this rate What can I do?

Try the u shaped brush!

They all seem to be electric and he hates those unfortunately!

Can you make him laugh? Is there something he finds hilarious and will keep laughing?

Give him the toothbrush so he can do it, then have a 2nd brush for you

Duggee tooth brushing song. My 2yo watches it in open mouthed fascination, making tooth brushing easier.

Sticker chart?

Sticker chart?

He’s only 18 months!

Sometimes I can make him laugh but not every time.

Hey Duggee song, let him brush first and you finish off, they work for dh
For me as he refused the about I say "say ahhh" but we do it together, he loves it because we have so can say ahh longest competitions.

refused refuses
about above
so who

Sorry sleeping toddler on my arm

A couple techniques I’ve heard of is to watch Peppa pig episodes or something similar about tooth brushing. Coco melon I’m sure have tooth brushing songs

Let him do it for a bit even if it’s just chewing the brush. Make sure the toothpaste is very mild.

Talk about dinosaur teeth and look at dinosaurs teeth, brush his toys teeth etc

Oh god its a pain isn’t it? we found a few good teeth brushing videos on youtube. The sesame street one was a favourite and seems to have done the trick, also helped to have a mirror for them to look into so they can see themselves

It will get better.

"Oh my goodness, I can hear a frog (replace dinosaur/aeroplane etc) in your mouth! *frog noise, open wide, let me see its right at the back, I'll brush him out for you oh no he's run away..: etc etc" said in the tone of excited children's tv presenter works 75% of time with mine .

Hold his nose?

I hold DD up in front of the mirror and for whatever reason, this triggers her to open up and let me do it, then I just give her the brush to have a chew on and finish up herself

Can you get him to copy you while you also brush? Chew on his toothbrush? Family teethbrushing party???

I get mine to do a lion roar or some other animal noise, as big as possible. But if it comes to it I will make him cry so he opens his mouth, because brushing is essential.

Hold his nose?

There’s no way I could do that - it just feels wrong?!

He likes making animal noises so the lion roar could work - I will give that a try, along with some toothbrushing videos!

Thanks all