Brushing teeth - 18 mth ds

[mavornia]

I can't get anywhere near ds's teeth to brush them

he has been teething again lately and i didn't want to upset him if his mouth was already sore but he has never been great at letting me do it

I've tried distracting him, brushing mine at the same time, making him laugh and then getting the brush but it's been ages snce his teeth had a good brush

any ideas?

also, he is the sort of baby who would retch easily and be sick if he cries too hard so I don't want to force him and provoke a crying fit

Have you tried brushing them whilst he is in the bath? It worked for my DD. Also, get another toothbrush to give to your DS and you can both do a bit of brushing. DD seemed to chew the brush more than brushing her teeth at this age, but it did get her used to the toothbrush again and made my life a bit easier

Mine's 18 months as well. He only got his first teeth at 14 months so we haven't been brushing them for long (and he's still only got 6 front ones so we haven't got to the hardest bits yet). He was always interested in watching us clean ours and when his teeth came through he was always demanding to clean his teeth, but we found the problem was that he just wanted to do it himself and wouldn't let us near - is that what yours is doing or does he just not want it anywhere near him?

We resorted to sticking Mr Tumble on the telly and and that did work (as long as it was DP doing it, not me). However, in the last few weeks he's been much more compliant - he seems to have cottoned onto the fact that if he lets us brush his teeth first then he can have a go himself.

I'd agree with laying off during teething times - we are also trying to be careful to avoid negative associations (pinning him down etc.)

Sorry it's not much in the way of advice but what I'm trying to say is that it might just be a phase and he might decide he doesn't mind after all.

Also, I don't know if it's an issue here but we use herbal toothpaste from Holland & Barrett rather than normal or children's toothpaste - I find that when he's given normal toothpaste, which is full of sweeteners, he just wants to suck all the toothpaste off.

Thanks for the replies - I have tried in the bath but he just grabs the brush from me and duks it in the water or tries to shove it up the tap

he will grab the brush and put it in his mouth for a second - with me madly brushing my own teeth to encourage him to do the same but - but he can't really brush and it's out again in a second

i'll try the tv distraction technique - thanks!

Dentinox do a teething toothpaste, would that help? I think it numbs the gums while you brush

A great tip I got from MN was to play "Who's in your mouth tonight?" e.g. "Wow, I can see a crocodile. Let me give him a tickle. He's run away. Let me chase him (with the toothbrush)" etc. Actually, at 18 months your ds might be a bit too young for this, but it worked brilliantly with my DD when she was 2 and it is starting to work with my ds who is now 21 months.

How important is it in terms of dental care? I've been hoping that the principle of learning and enjoying it is more important than the actual hygiene aspect? Are my dcs going to end up with rotten teeth?

Don't brush his teeth from the front (with you standing in front of him) - it's aggressive and scary (get your partner to try it on you - it'd make me heave too!).

Sit him on your lap (while you watch TV?) or while you sit on the side of the bath. Reach round with the brush and try from that angle. Best if they're wrapped in a towel. If they can't bear the brush just use the corner of a flannel for now and rub firmly.