Brushing Teeth - any tips?

[heartinthecountry]

Dd simply will not let me brush her teeth. She clamps her mouth shut tight and moves her head away. I'm beginning to worry that her teeth are going to start rotting (she's 21 months and has most of her first lot of teeth). I know the books suggest letting your child hold the toothbrush, put it in their mouths themselves etc to get them used to it but a) her fine motor skills aren't fantastic and b) she seems to hve no inclination to put the brush in her mouth. Because she has learning difficulties she doesn't copy me at all so its pointless me doing it and hoping she'll follow suit. I just feel that until she has some level of understanding (even as simple as 'open your mouth' it isn't going to happen.

Does anyone have any experience? tips? or does anyone know at what age you need to really worry about cleaning teeth?!

We use an electric toothbrush. Although ds1 has sensory problems he doesn't seem to mind the electric toothbrush (loves it in fact). I know that it might seem abit harsh for 21 months but if she can tolerate it - it would clean her teeth well.

I know how you feel, it was and still is a real problem for us too with our dd who is now 3 years old. When the problem first arose, my health visitor said until they are 3, even if all you can get is a little toothpaste, into their mouths then that will be fine - so you have time on your side.
Have you tried using something apart from a toothbrush? Like the edge of a face flannel? Perhaps she just doesnt like the roughness of the brush.
We still have a fight to brush my dd teeth. I think the fortini that she drinks stains the teeth too and sometimes - yikes! Ive found little but often seems to work and especially if her bear gets its teeth cleaned first!
Good luck, Im sure you wont be beaten

we use one of the cheap battery operated toothbrushes from boots and dd now loves cleaning her teeth

My dd also resisted brushing her teeth until I made a game out of it......."ooh, what's that in your mouth? Let me have a look.....why it's a tiny bunny hopping all around....let me see if I can chase him away....ooh....now there's a little ladybird!" etc, etc. Like your dd, she would not allow me to brush when approached in a straightforward way, but would "play the game". Maybe it will work for you too......

thanks all for suggestions. trouble with electric toothbrush is that because dd is epileptic I am supposed to steer clear of toys that vibrate (can be a trigger), am guessing an electric toothbrush would be the same.
will try the flannel idea mulsey and a more 'fun' approach though as dd's understanding isn't great not sure she'll 'get' the bunny jumping round her mouth .

heartinthecountry,

Sorry i dont know much about sn. But i use a toothbrush that lights up and flashes for my DS's .

They love it, it really encourages them to let you brush their teeth.

Do you think anything like that would help? They don't cost much.

HIC my daughter was/is the same. I just give her the toothbrush after every meal and let her get on with it. Any intervention from me ends up with her not wanting to brush again.

Good trick...does she like looking at herself in the mirror? If so buy one of those cheap mirror with stand (you know the little/tiny dressing table ones) after her dinner put the mirror on the table and give her the toothbrush and show her herself in the mirror to encourage her to do it. Worked for my dd who was the queen of mouth clamping!

If you have afriendly dentist you could try taking a her for a visit to the dentist and get them to tell her what lovely yteeth she has etc and generally make a big fuss of her with stickers etc and also tell her she must let mummy and daddy brush her teeth every morning and every night. Sometimes the voice of authority can work wonders especially if the child likes the person in question. Good luck

If you have afriendly dentist you could try taking a her for a visit to the dentist and get them to tell her what lovely yteeth she has etc and generally make a big fuss of her with stickers etc and also tell her she must let mummy and daddy brush her teeth every morning and every night. Sometimes the voice of authority can work wonders especially if the child likes the person in question. Good luck.

My daughter is 7 and has motor coordination problems as well as being ultra sensitive to certain things. We got slapped wrists from the dentist last week for not getting her teeth clean enough but it is a major operation and can be very stressful when she starts screaming and shouting and you're trying to get ready for school. We have tried an electric toothbrush but she hates the feel of it. We have noticed it's easier when her head is supported by sitting on a chair with a high back so she can't wobble so much. Other than that we're a bit short of ideas at the moment and I'm feeling a horribly guilty Mum

heartinthecountry - now my dd is just turned 2 we have a sort of game where we name things that she's eaten and then try to brush them off her teeth. She joins in too, so I'll say, what did you have for supper and she says "pasta" and I say right lets open wide and brush all that pasta off your teeth etc. Seems to keep her amused enough to take her mind off the whole thing!

We also had a problem with her just clamping her teeth shut on the toothbrush and chewing it - and to be honest she still goes through phases of doing it. I try not to worry about it too much at this age - I know it's important to brush, but more than anything it's just getting in a routine where we brush teeth together even if it's not hugely effective all the time.

Could she maybe brush a doll or teddy bear's teeth whilst you have a go at hers?

Good luck.

What about trying one of those little rubbery baby ones to get a routine started, I know my two loved them- prob. because they could have a good chew on it.
I'm having problems getting dd's upper front teeth cleaned, simply because she can't hold her mouth in an "eee" shape IFSWIM.
DD also has a bit of a sensory issue there and I am trying not to worry too much at breakfast and bed time. I am going to get a kiddies electric and "attack her" when time isn't so precious, after lunch when ds isn't around to distract her.
Good luck

My dd who is two still does not have a regular teeth cleaning routine mainly as she has trouble opening her mouth wide enough and for long enough. SHe does like chewing the brush which is a little help but this has only been recently.

The other thing I found is laying her on the bed with her body facing away from me and she tended to want to reach her head back to see me and I think give her teeth a quick clean. Not sure if that will work but it does for us.

Our dd hates teeth brushing too. We just 'try' to get her to do it after evry meal, as part of the routine and so she feels independant! I have just bought a new electric one for her though, dont know how she will get on with that

my son is epileptic and exactly the same i at the moment have cracked the prob i bought him an electric toothbrush and we brush together and he is not allowed to stop brushing till i do and the dentist says a glass of milk after every meal