For the life of me I cannot brush 20mo teeth

[BQ91]

Hi all,
i am at my wits end. I cannot brush my toddlers teeth. I have tried everything, different toothbrushes, toothpaste, playing videos, doing it in the mirror, watching me brush, brushing teddy, you name it. She throws her head back and screams at the top of her lungs, and will not let the toothbrush anywhere near her mouth. She will quite happily hold it but as soon as I put her hand to her mouth she screams and tantrums. Short of pinning her down to do it have you got any other suggestions? I’m worried her teeth will start rotting. Thanks

Aquafresh app is the only thing that worked here.

I had this issue with my DD at about the same age. The dentist said give them the toothbrush and let them do it, at just a random point of the day like after lunch Chuck the toothbrush on the high chair tray and say here you go... and be casual don't push them. Then rub your finger over their teeth with toothbrush every day twice a day as it's the toothpaste that's doing most of the leg work. Then every three days or so, you do have to pin them down and brush their teeth properly. Over time, they get better - mine is now 3 and does a really good job of brushing her own and then I just do a quick whizz round. I never would have believed that a year ago!!!

Swaddled in a towel so they can’t free their arms might be the only way.

Mine is 21 months and is just starting to understand a simple ‘IF you clean your teeth, we can read this book/play with this car/watch Hey Dugee.

I have had to pin on occasion and just do it though.

The Hey Dugee toothbrushing song is your friend.

Hey Duggee toothbrushing song worked for us.

Thanks all, I will give these suggestions a try, wish me luck haha

a) Hey Duggee for background, as pp.
b) stick your tongue out and make all the faces, until they crack up
c) leave the water running for some fun splashing
d) let them hold another toothbrush because 20 month old brains are adorably small enough not to differentiate between the brush they are bossing and the one you are sticking in their mouth

And e) look for teething sensitivity and be prepared to go super relaxed for a week or so. All of ours have had a weird sort of teething second round at this age.

I had to pin Dts down. Not pleasant but it worked.

My 19 month old used to be great when brushing his teeth but in the last few weeks he's decided he doesn't like it anymore.

I just have to be very distracting and usually end up singing the baby shark song, he tries to sing along and that's when I get in there and give a good brushing.

Put a bit of muslin on your finger and wipe around teeth. Try brushes when older.

Wrap them up, pin them inbetween your knees with their back for you and the bigger the scream the better.

Tooth brushing is non negotiable. Screaming or not.

I've Been pinning my 17 month old a little bit that's the only way for now

I didn't bother with apps. I would lay them flat on their back, clamp their head between my thighs, grab their hands in one hand and brush with the other. No fillings for us.

Does she like cocomelon? I got my daughter the cocomelon electric toothbrush and she is crazy about it. We call it the "tickle toothbrush" and tell each other how silly it is.

I always pinned my daughter down. She's 3 now and she is fantastic at letting me brush her teeth.

It might be easier to persuade an older toddler with more understanding, but we've just started pinning down our 13mo. She used to smile and open her mouth for you to brush her teeth, then suddenly she went from baby to toddler and developed an attitude 😂 And now there's no getting anywhere near them. She won't even chew the brush, she touches it to her lips then flings it across the room.

So now I sit on the toilet and hold her across my body with her right arm tucked behind me (so kind of holding her like a baby), then use my left arm to pin her left arm against her body. And I brush her teeth with my right hand. She cries and clamps her lips together but keeps opening her mouth to cry and I take my chance and get in there. I give her loads of praise and tell her what a good job she's doing, then lots of praise and a clap afterwards. She gets over it really quickly once we're done.

I was unsure about doing it this way because it feels awful but I read a few forum posts by other people with the same issue and it seems to be 50/50 on whether to take a gentle approach or just pin them. And several people who did the latter said further down the line they had no problem getting their toddler to do it willingly, once they got through this phase. I was feeling so stressed knowing her teeth weren't getting cleaned at all, and at least this way I know were taking care of them.

This

Is she teething? If so might just be a phase. It's much much harder with our 19mo whenever she is teething as it must be sore for her.Its usually how we know she is.

Just going to say how much I love that so many are advocating here for the hog-tie method.

Mine either cooperate or are pinned down. Teeth brushing is non negotiable.

We used silicon finger toothbrushes, they’re softer, if she’s teething. She might bite you a bit but at least her teeth will be clean. DD also had White Glo unicorn toothpaste with glitter, it’s very appealing. It was for older kids but there’s bound to be pink and sparkly toothpaste for toddlers. Perhaps you could tell her it’s not for her then she’ll be desperate to get her hands on it? DD didn’t like tooth brushing at all and was quite fighty (and weirdly strong). I went with persuasion when she was tiny and if all else failed I pinned her down (sorry, know it’s not nice but it’s better than rotten choppers). Since she got older she was persuaded by her nanny who has a not great set of teeth - DM very kindly told DD they got like that by not brushing properly when she was a little girl (they didn’t but whatever works)

Wrap in a towel and pin them down!

Join the club op! Ds is 2 and a half and still hates getting his teeth brushed.
We literally pin him down twice a day to do it, arms pinned down in a towel or blanket. No amount of bribery works with him, we've tried stickers, new toothbrushes, different toothpastes, YouTube videos, paw patrol on the telly if he stands nicely, you name it we've done it!
He used to hate having his nails cut too bur suddenly likes it so I hold out hope the same will happen with teeth brushing!

Unfortunately, it may be a case of 'pinning her down' if that is the only way. It's distressing for a short while but much better than needing an extraction at the dentist!

Screaming means their mouth is open. Easier to brush haha