Cannot brush toddler's teeth

[sunshine080]

I'm at my wits end, i cannot brush my toddler's teeth properly. Not because she tries to fight me, but because she will not stop biting the toothbrush/pushing it with her tongue or pulling her top lip over her teeth. It's a subconscious response I know, but this is what makes it so difficult to mitigate. I've tried opening my mouth wide but she won't copy me. Any tips, please!? She's 18 months.

Have you tried one of those silicone U shaped toothbrushes that you can get off Amazon? That way you can wiggle it side to side and it doesnt matter that she bites it, in fact you'd probably want her too!

My LO was the same when he was that age too. Now at 3 he's much better although he does still try and bite it at times

@febbabies2023 Yes we started with those but she just pulls it out of her mouth. She's really tolerant of her regular toothbrush but her mouth action means I know I'm doing a pretty piss poor job even though we spend about 5 minutes of me trying! I only get so frustrated because I had to have milk teeth pulled due to erosion as a child and I've always been terrified of the dentist as a result - I don't want that for her 😔

Have you tried putting your fingers in her mouth? I had to do that a lot with my toddler a while back to get her to open her mouth enough to get the brush in. And being as quick as a flash so when the tongue comes from one direction the brush can go to the other side! You've got my sympathy, it's a tricky phase but unless her diet is particularly sugary chances are she'll be fine as it won't be too long until her understanding and thus hopefully cooperation will be a bit better.