Brushing 2 year old teeth

[Cupofteaonesugar]

I really need some help because I'm just not managing to brush my sons teeth. He's 2. I've tried every trick in the book but he just won't let me brush his teeth.
I've tried -
Letting him join in
Encouraging him to brush mine
Brushing teeth songs and videos
Letting him hold 2 two brushes so his hands are full when I brush them
Different flavour tooth pastes
Watching his big brother brush his teeth
Brushing them in the bath

All of the above result in his grabbing a tooth brush and chewing it and refusing to let me brush them by keeping his mouth shut.
He's a wonderful boy but doesn't like to be fussed 😬

I'm just getting no where and I'm so worried about his teeth! Any tips or ideas?

Also just to note, he's not really talking much yet. It's coming on but explains to him about brushing teeth etc just won't work!

Had the same with my almost 2 year old, tried everything, decided it was non negotiable and swaddled him in a towel, super quick turned the wrapping into a game and then brushed his teeth. He was absolutely fine, and now he lets me brush his teeth most days without the towel as long we take turns and he gets to brush mine! I wished I'd just done it sooner, their teeth do need to be brushed, I just said to myself what would I do if he needed strapping into his carseat or be given antibiotics and he didn't want to do those things, I would have to do them anyway and I think about brushing his teeth like that.

We do tooth spiders. I used the same approach for my first son.

Basically I pretend that there’s little spiders running about their mouth and I have to brush them away. If we miss a bit, I say one was hiding. They’re usually compliant with this but took a few goes to make it a game.

My 2 year old was the same. I did the same as @seasidemum1 and wrapped her in a towel and brushed them. She would scream but at least her mouth was open so I could get in. A few months down the line now and she will say she doesn’t like them done but sit and tolerate it for 30 seconds or so which is better than nothing.

Another one recommending the towel swaddle. There are few things that are non negotiable in this house but teeth brushing is one of them. They soon learn that it’s easier just to comply but you really must ensure they get done twice a day, however hard it is!

I had to pretty much sit on my two year old tonight to brush his teeth (whilst he laughed and screamed at the same time). I have to do tiny short bursts which takes about 10 goes to get them completely clean and brushed… nightmare.

I put my 20 month old in his highchair to do it. He chews on a silicone brush with toothpaste for a minute or so then I clean his teeth.
He didn't use to like it but has been fine since the silicone brush, think he feels more in control. I also get him to 'help' me with the actual toothbrush a bit too.

Wrap them in a towel/pin them down and just get it done. It feels cruel but it's a hell of a lot kinder than taking them to get teeth pulled out because of decay a few years down the line. Teeth brushing isn't optional. They do eventually realise that it's best to just let you do it and then it gets much easier and you start to can make a game out of it etc.

That should say
*you can start to make a game out of it

It's been a long day 😂

Pin him down and just go for it whilst singing a merry teeth brushing song! I found lots of YouTube videos which showed me how to hold him safely with my legs leaving my hands free for brushing.

Do something similar. Also got a new toothbrush and have his stuffed animals “brush” his teeth sometimes.

We do the aaah… musical notes

sing a different note for different sections- go higher for the top teeth, lower for the bottom. Get him to join in.

also let him brush his teeth too- get him to help choose a toothbrush- my son chooses which colour one he wants. We may have 3 different toothbrushes out but it helps him feel in control. He’s 2.5 and knows brushing teethies is part of our morning and evening routine.

I use an app called Pokémon Smile. It uses your phones camera and makes the child wear a little Pokémon hat. It watches the brushing motion and suggests where to brush via pictures. At the end the child wins a Pokémon prize. There are about 160 characters to collect I think . I have 3 children, aged 2, 5 & 7 and all of them absolutely love brushing their teeth now thanks to this!

Mine also goes in the highchair so she can't run away. I do let her chew the tooth brush if that's what she wants, as long as I can brush the teeth before and after. Some days are more succesful than others. I brush twice a day so I figure that every tooth gets brushed at least once a day.

I bought my toddler an electric toothbrush so it does at least clean her teeth a bit when she puts it in her mouth and clamps her mouth shut, while I try and wrestle it off her to brush properly...

I pretty much sit on my 2 year old to get her teeth brushed, nothing works- the Duggy song which worked for her sister was useless.

Thanks all!
I think that I need to be abit more forceful with it.
My eldest was horrific and I remember pinning him down and then one day he saw his cousin brush his teeth and he was fine ever since! I always thought I'd down the wrong thing...
So I've tried to be a bit more chilled this time but now I think I've done the wrong approach again!
I tried with the towel this morning and got a few brushes in but then he got upset :(
I'll try with the high chair again.
With my eldest when I spoke to the dentist she said you should never force it as it'll create a bad relationship with brushing teeth and dentists etc but then o was thinking sometimes you just have to push these things for their own good!

it'll create a bad relationship with brushing teeth more likely than when your child has to have their rotten teeth removed under general anaesthetic they will definitely have a bad relationship with dentists.

Pin them down, this is non-negotiable. You need your teeth. Mine are mid- late teens, I have in the past pinned them for eye drops, teeth, medicine. They both still love me and have not suffered and neither child has a filling.