How do I get 10 mo to let me brush her teeth, or do I give up?

[ChukkyPig]

Went to the dentist recently, he scared the life out of me. He said I should be brushing her (2) teeth for 30 secs am and pm.

I always give her the brush to hold with a bit of paste on it and she sucks/chews the correct end, but she won't let me 'drive'.

Have tried being mean a couple of times and sort of holding her mouth open and trying to brush but then she just sticks her tongue in the way. And I don't want to give her a phobia about it!

Have now noticed it is a bit yellow between her teeth (yuck).

Any advice?

Or reassurance that at this age it doesn't really matter?

Anything would be helpful, thanks!

One hour after breakfast but who has enough time to wait that long?

Oh right. Thanx. That'll prob be ok as he doesn't get dressed or anything until after I've showered and dressed so would work out quite well. What about at night? I can do it in bath before bedtime bottle?

No, after milk is better then otherwise it stays on the teeth all night and the natural sugars aren't good for teeth health.

Ok. That might be a bit of a nightmare!! We'll see what happens. Thanx for your help. X

Teethbrushing my ds (15mo) is one of my worst daily trials. We've tried singing "This is the way we brush our teeth", daddy distraction, you brush mummy's teeth and i'll brush yours, look in the mirror - none of it really worked. You brush mummy's teeth worked for a bit but it's pretty hard to concentrate when you're being jabbed in the throat. These days it's headlock and screams most of the time, followed by instant quiet with the distraction of him switching off the bathroom light and closing the shutters. Tonight though (and it'll probably only be a one night delight) i put the lullaby option on the portably baby monitor and let him mess around with that while i brushed. Worked a dreeeeam.

Went to the dentist recently. She said the front teeth don't exactly clean themselves but if you can get them done once a day that's pretty good. She didn't say anything about 30secs though. I think that's pretty intense. She said do one session as a game, and one session properly. It's the back teeth that are the important ones. She also said (contrary to health visitor) that a straw is quite good from a dental point of view as the liquid goes straight down the throat. That's why when you see an adult drinking coke from a straw it's fair bet it's a dentist apparently!