Two year old and Teeth Brushing - HOW???

[Tallulah1978]

My 2 DS WILL NOT brush his teeth. When his first teeth appeared and for some time he was happy to have a little brush himself and let me do it almost properly, but now, at 2 years and 4 months, and since he was 22 months he wont let me near with a tooth brush.

His lovely white milk teeth are starting to look yellow with plaque, and as he's a boy who is fond of garlic......well.....

Any ideas of how to get him brushing again would be much appreciated....

[differentnameforthis]

ScreaminEagle, I love that! How inventive!

[LoveBeingAHungParliament]

Ok some some willcross over other advice. Dd has had a toothbrush to 'play' with at brushing her teeth for a long while. She brushes mine whilst I brushed hers. Singing a song can help although sometimes that results in a big noooo .

I now sit dd on the toilet seat and I am in front of her so can get a good look. Plenty of good girls and well dones, she loves the tooth paste and wants me to put more on the brush so I put half on to begin with and if she's let me have a good brush I will 'let' her have some more.

I have recenty made a big effort after watching the programme someone mentioned before, I sobbed my way through watching it.

Dd also really likes routine and washing her hands in the sink so we brush teeth first thhen have a wash and finally she can wash her hands ( she loves bubbles so will remember the mirror tip for the next rime she goes through it) watching me brush my teeth and her doingvthem for me really makes gerblaigh so I don't know if get sees you do your teeth.

[thumbwitch]

um, I think your last line went a bit awry there, LoveBeing!

[LoveBeingAHungParliament]

pmsl I was on my phone, I have asked for a little symbol to pop up when people post from their phone cause iphone comes up with some weird words sometimes

[snala]

Different -
If games etc dont work should I just leave his teeth on those days then? Hope they don't go yellow with plaque?

Im sure early experiences of having teeth took out at the dentit/hospital would leave a much worse effect (and dental phobias) than mummy holding him to brush his teeth!

What would you do if your Dcs REFUSED teeth brushing?

[differentnameforthis]

snala, I have said what I did when my dd2 refused brushing!

Another option is to brush (wet brush, no toothpaste) when they are asleep.

[LadyThompson]

Mmm, well, my SIL who is a dentist (and has three young children of her own) says cleaning their teeth is so important, if force has to be used (judicially) so be it. She advises cleaning teeth when they come out of the bath and are wrapped in a towel so their arms are trapped by their sides. I realise that sounds a bit draconian but I'd rather that than fillings, decayed teeth or even extractions as my SIL has often seen.

[WingedVictory]

We have a step stool for the bathroom basin, which DS absolutely loves. He climbs up without its being time for Teeth Time, and begs for it! (this one from Ikea is v solid, and not too expensive, unlike the JJMB one we first bought - one is now in the bathroom while the other is by his window so he can peer out).

Because Teeth Time is so nice now, he will let me take the brush away (sometimes) and have a go at the areas missed by his chewing.

We use adult toothpaste, following an encounter with a toothbrushing advisor on a project at our local Surestart centre. I hope that the fluoride content (1400ppm compared to 1000ppm of baby toothpastes) makes up for his brushing technique deficiencies. He does swallow it, but what can you do??

The toothbrushing project person (I think it was a project of King's College London) said at this stage (DS was then about 18m, now 2), it is the habit which is important. I am hoping she is right!

[potteringon]

This might sound trivial, but could you change the time/place when you brush his teeth, to try and break the habit of him refusing to let you brush them?

I used to brush DS's teeth during his evening bath and he hated it. I changed to brushing them very last thing, in his bedroom, just before I popped him into bed (after getting scared watching that Alder Hey programme!). He's not fussed about having his teeth brushed since.

[tibni]

ds (severe sensory dysfunction and ASD) has always struggled with teeth cleaning so we have tried every trick possible. He is 9 now and at our last dentist visit he said that ds has a "clean mouth" - we were so proud

It has been non negotiable in our house too. Toothpaste is his big issue as he gags at the sight, smell, taste of it and we have tried every brand going to try make it easier for him. But over the years he has slightly desensitised so he gags now but isn't actually sick.

For young children (ds has learning difficulities) time can be difficult to grasp. We use a count down method 10 - 0 with me controlling the speed so ds can see the end. I also give him a square of kitchen towel as he can not cope with spitting into the sink (sensory).

When ds was younger he would not have got stickers, rewards or punishments he just didn't have the understanding but numbers always made sense. He also has a large egg timer that can be used as a visual prompt.

Hnag on in there - you will get there, it is a battle worth fighting.