Help!! 18mo refusing teeth brushing!

[anothersantas]

DS 18 months is refusing to brush his teeth. I've tried everything - funny YouTube videos, songs, doing it myself so he can copy, turning it into a dance, trying to gently brush his teeth myself, etc etc but he refuses. He says no no and clamps his mouth firmly shut! I can't physically force the tooth brush in.

I'm so worried about his teeth. I managed to put a blob if toothpaste in his mouth with my finger after he drank some milk last night but that was it.

I hope it's just a phase but what if I can't get him to brush? I'm so worried his teeth will rot.

Has anyone had this issue with an 18mo?

Anyone?

We are having similar issues and brushing is very inconsistent and always a fight 🥺 sorry no advice but watching thread to see if any wise words are shared.

Same here. Had a breakthrough yesterday when I gave her an adult size toothbrush with kids toothpaste. She wanted to be the same as us 🙄 she's happily brushed them today.

I work in dentistry and was always told if they don't brush them place them between your legs on their back and place their arms under your legs. It doesn't hurt them at all.

I still do this with my two year old when he refuses to brush. No fighting with the toothbrush and no tooth decay.

Their is a video of it on YouTube by a dentist themselves actually. Sounds worse than it really is but trust me. There is no harm or trauma using this technique.

Use 2 brushes one for him to hold....and one for you.....let him watch you brush your own teeth....put him in front of a mirror so he can watch....get a bright fun toothbrush.....make it fun

I tell my 2 year old DD that either she can brush her teeth or I do it for her.

I have DT’s and they’re still in booster seats at the kitchen island. I clean their teeth downstairs after breakfast whilst they’re still strapped into their chairs

@Kitkat151

Use 2 brushes one for him to hold....and one for you.....let him watch you brush your own teeth....put him in front of a mirror so he can watch....get a bright fun toothbrush.....make it fun

Yes some all of this and nothings working. Need to just try telling DC plainly. It's tricky at only 18 months.

We have gone through phases of this. Have you tried a different toothpaste? One episode of refusal was resolved when I discovered that the one she used was stronger than previous and it improved when we switched to a milder taste.

In front of tv?

@anothersantas
Have you tryed and electric toothbrush for kids with spiderman or what ever he likes on it. Or do wat @bluebuttercupp said I would of held my nieces or nephews between mmy legs while crying with there mouth open to get it done sounds awful but it got the teeth clean and crying stopped as soon as brushing done they thank me for it now thou as they r growing up with beautiful teeth.

It is possible that they could be teething?

I have similar issues with my 22 month old, off and on. Have tried every suggestion on this thread and then some - he just clamps his mouth shut immovably. No advice but huge sympathy!

Sounds daft but novelty toothbrush? DD has a light up Peppa Pig one that glows different colours and flashes as it reaches the 2 minute time

@bluebuttercupp

I work in dentistry and was always told if they don't brush them place them between your legs on their back and place their arms under your legs. It doesn't hurt them at all.

I still do this with my two year old when he refuses to brush. No fighting with the toothbrush and no tooth decay.

Their is a video of it on YouTube by a dentist themselves actually. Sounds worse than it really is but trust me. There is no harm or trauma using this technique.

I'm sorry, but that's appalling - do you really think that physically forcing a child to have its teeth brushed its going to lead to better behaviour in the future? Guess what - with both of my boys (18 months and 3 years old), a silly song usually works or a story. 'The Wheels on the Bus' is a winner at the moment with daft bits popped in. Mouth opens, we have a song, teeth done, finished. The thought of pinning my child down on the floor like that makes my stomach turn.

With my daughter we had a problem around this age and I started singing a simple song "this is the way we brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth. This is the way we brush your teeth, early in the morning/as we get ready for bed". Brushed and sang it 3 times each time to begin with. Even if we didn't get a good brush I would just persevere for that length of time, even if it was a bit of a battle. In the end I think because she knew how long to expect it to take, she got much better, as it was more predictable for her. My SIL did the same with her cousin and it also worked for them.

Now she is 4 we still sing the song (but double the length) though she doesn't want it always anymore as she is becoming a Big Girl now 😢

I swapped to an electric toothbrush with a light and my 17mo is a lot more cooperative (although still not great) but at least some toothpaste gets in her mouth now.

My dentist said that he forces his two year old to brush, kicking & crying. He said to just get it done, with my toothbrush-refusing 18 month old.

My 17 month old wont brush his either. Ive tried everything. He just won’t open his mouth. Some days they don’t get brushed but he will have a chew on a toothbrush

Personalty I think pinning children sown to clean their teeth sends horribly mixed messages when it comes to consent and bodily autonomy. How are they meant to know the difference between being pinned down to have their teeth cleaned and being pinned down and abused? If you teach them that one is OK, isn't there a danger that they think the other is something they have to accept too?

Have you tried one of the brushes you put on your finger or the chewable ones? We have more luck with both of those.

My 18 month old has just learned the sign for finished and signed finished to me half way through tooth brushing today. It made me laugh! No advice but my little one can be really bad sometimes x

I have had difficulties with both my children and have had pin them down as above poster suggested. I have shocking teeth partly thanks to neglect by my parents so am determined not to let the same happen. Also to add my dentist would recommend the parent cleaning a child's teeth until they are at least 6yo to make sure they are cleaned properly. An 18mo shouldn't be cleaning their own teeth.

Consistency. Keep trying at the same time every morning and bedtime and eventually they realise this happens everyday and they need to get on with it. It's non negotiable. I've had 2 refusers. Younger still not great at times but it gets done but the 4 year old now opens her mouth no problem morning and evening and even asks for an extra brush at times!

A childs teeth needs to be brushed properly by an adult, it might sound appalling to force them to do it, but they need to have their teeth brushed, so needs have must.

If you have tried:-

They brush yours while you brush theirs.
Singing and dancing to distract
Simply you let me do it nicely or its the not nicely option.
They do it for 1 min then you do it for 3mins, or 1 minute each.

A women we knew wrapped her daughter in a towel for about 2 weeks until her daughter clicked, the allowing mummy to do it was alot better

I used the you have tiny baby animals stuck in your teeth picked from mumsnet. They are set free by brushing. Lots of there are two baby lions here and look 3 baby zebras hiding at the back. It totally worked. Proper electric brush with a whirly head, soft brush.