Teeth Brushing

[Issy2008]

My DD (16mths) hates having her teeth brushed. Short of pinning her arms down to get the brush in her mouth (and somehow I don't think this will lead to her forming good habits!!) what can I do? Thanks

Is it the flavour of the tooth paste, how big is the tooth brush, can she hold a tooth brush and clean some of her teeth while you clean them properly and can she clean some of your teeth does she play with a doll who could have it's teeth cleaned.
I wouldn't get too stressed about it because she doesn't have any permanent teeth yet, she's on her practice set, but I agree it is all about getting in good habits. Good look and keep up the good work!

You could try to get her a theamed toothbrush or paste. We use wiggles toothpaste and DS loves it because of the wiggles. Also, try to give her the brush with the toothpaste on it, and then stand there and brush your own teeth with your own toothbrush. She may copy you.
By the way, Jenroy29 its not really a 'practice set' and its not just about good habits. If the first teeth get decayed, the second set does not develope properly. Never good to stress, but we don't want to send the message that it doesn't matter either.

She'll put the brush in her mouth and suck off all the paste butI can't get her to brush, nor will she let me do it! I'm off now to buy some themed t- paste and brush... hopefully they'll do ITNG stuff!

I have had occassional battles with my DD (now 5) on this issue. She has always and still does hate brushing her teeth.

I have found the following worked for us- for a while at least!!

Make brushing teeth into a game. Let her choose her own toothbrush and toothpaste.

we got a couple of books around the teeth brushing / dentist theme so we could help her understand the importance of brushing teeth.

Do yours at the same time - which someone else mentioned. I still often do this is my DD starts slipping.

start small - e.g if she's happy to put the brush in her mouth, encourage her to just brush the front teeth at first.

Give loads of encouragement for the tiniest development, telling her how shiny her teeth look.

We also introduced a reward chart, giving a sticker everytime she did a good job and she earned a treat after every 5 stickers Your DD may be too young to respond to this though.

Good luck.

My son screamed every night i brushed his teeth, untill they began to rot at the front.

After all that hell i realised a sticker reward chart really does work.
Get and chart and the most extravangent glittery impressive stickers you can and make them especially for when the child lets you get that brush in their mouth.
I couldn't believe it worked.
Also nice tasting toothpaste

and let her watch you brush yours first while she has a try (or doesn't)
Play with brush in bath too to get used to it in her mouth

You could make her a chart and everytime she brushes her teeth she gets a star and when she gets to 10 stars she gets a prize. A bit super nanny but it worked with my DD

I had trouble with both of my lo's. Got them both by singing "this is how we brush our teeth, on a cold and early morning...." made up and changed the words as I went along and they both found it funny.

A few months ago, my dd, now 2 yrs and 10 months got bored of that and absolutely refused to brush her teeth so I pulled up some pictures of rotten teeth on the internet and sat both in front of it for around 15 mins telling them what causes tooth decay like in these pictures and how to stop it. It might sound mean or gruesome but actually they were really interested in it and now insist on brushing their teeth at least twice a day. Also they have a competition running each time as to who has the shiniest teeth which is quite funny to oversee

I have to say I have tried most of the tricks mentioned here and sadly none of them have worked!

Also, do check the amount of fluoride in "nicer tasting" toothpaste; I was merrily using a certain brand because the DDs liked it, then my dentist gave me a list of toothpastes with the "right" amount of fluoride for their age groups and I was shocked to find the brand we had had way too little amount in it. Now have to struggle to get them to use the one I buy (eye roll).

Right, off to find some pics of rotting teeth, the only method I didn't try!

I struggle to get my DS to brush his teeth. The dentist advised limiting foods which were particularly bad for his teeth such as fruit, sugar, honey and carbohydrates like bread, pasta, potatoes, cereal, porridge, whole grains (wheat, corn, oats, maize, barley, rye, millet, quinoa, spelt, rice) beans, chickpeas, lentils, nuts, parsnips, root vegetables, yams, peas, squash, sweet potato.

He encouraged us to increase protein and fibre intake and also the amount of green vegetables that he eats.

I pretent to chase various bits of food eaten that day around their mouths. Oooh look I see a carrot. Lets chase that carrot. Now I see a sausage. Ridiculous but seems to have worked for my two.

I lie dd on the bed and lean over her, and ask her what noises different animals/a clock makes and make her laugh by tickling her or blowing raspberries on her neck, and brush away when she opens her mouth.