Teeth brushing..

[Lizjjackson]

I am not sure where to post this question.. I am having a lot of trouble getting my 18 month old to let me brush her teeth.  At first she loved it and now will not open her mouth at all.  I am concerned about cavities but am I being to concerned about something that will come with time?  When did you begin to have more success with teethbrushing and how???  Thanks!!

[oilerbaby]

I personally think that brushing the teeth is something non-negotiable.  Have you tried giving her the toothbrush and letting her have a go with it and then have your turn after she's done?  You can also take her to Walmart (or wherever) and let her pick out her toothbrush...  I would perserve with it every evening, even if you get just a quick brush or two in. 

My girls were always good with teethbrushing.  We would always say "aww" for the molars/back teeth and then tell them to say "eeee" for the front and hold the top/bottom together so we could give them a brush (if that makes any sense).  Even now when we brush their teeth at night when we say "eee" they automatically assume the position and it makes brushing easy. 

Good luck!

[Jonahs Mom]

We have also had on and off problems with toothbrushing. We have always brushed together with DS in his bumbo. After each time he chose to stop brushing we did something new, so we have introduced new toothbrushes, toothpaste and now a finger brush. He seems to be better with that. We reward him after with letting him splash in the sink which he loves. Any reward and personal involvement (like picking her own toothbrush and toothpaste) is good.

I agree though, non-negotiable. My dentist was saying that someone has to give up, the kid or the parent. And that he has seen 3 year olds in the dentist to have teeth pulled. He said the worst part is that most wont let you freeze them, so the parents have to hold them down, and some are wrapped in a blanket.  He did two and wouldn't do it again - it was very traumatic for all involved. I don't know about you, but that motivated me to keep on trying.

He said even if you can only brush with your actual finger, or a wet cloth, do it.

Is she maybe teething and it hurts?

If she hasn't had them brushed for awhile, keep in mind her gums will probably hurt when trying to brush. Kind of like if you don't floss for a long time and then decide to (you know, before our dental appointment  ).

[Lizjjackson]

Thanks, yeah we still brush every night but it is an ordeal and I am hoping she will grow out of it.  I do like the idea of trying with my finger.  I think that she does not like having something in her mouth unless she can control it.  She just wants to suck off the paste when she holds it herself.  Hopefully it will only get easier..?? 

[Layla]

Happened here too. What I would try is getting down to her level, giving her your toothbrush & you hold hers. You open your mouth so that she can brush "mummy's teeth" and automatically she will open her mouth (or you suggest that she opens hers) and voila, you are brishing her teeth while she is having fun as well. If she's teething molars or eye teeth, I wouldn't expect her to be too coorporative but I would still try. It worked here and now she is ok with me brushing her teeth every morning and night. She will ask sometimes to do it herself and I let her but otherwise she is ok with me doing it. She also at the start just wanted to eat the toothpaste....

As long as you don't mind having her move your toothbrush all about your mouth, i think that might be something worth trying.

hth'
Layla

[Missy Lou]

that's a good idea layla.  i'm like lizjjackson with my DD - DD clamps her mouth shut and flips around like i'm holding down a cat.  it's a HUGE fight and i can't force her mouth open plus i don't want teethbrushing to be traumatic.   

[Lizjjackson]

what a great idea layla.. i will try that tonight.  so good to get other ideas,  iam not always so creative!

[Layla]

Thanks ladies - I am not that creative either. I posted the very same thing months ago and someone else gave me that idea

Good luck 

[linfran]

We found with ds he hated the taste of the kids' minty toothpaste but we found a raspberry flavour one he thinks is great.  He is nearly 16mo (with 16 teeth) so we started brushing quite early.  He won't let you do it but dh cleans his own at the same time and ds copies.  His daycare also asked us to supply a brush and paste as all the kids with teeth clean them after lunch - bit of peer pressure even at that early age!

[Erin M]

We tell dd (27 months) that we'll brush her teeth for a count of 20 (we count slow, so it really is the recommended 30 seconds LOL) -- when she's not having that, we do "Dora 20" (counting in Spanish) or for the length of time it takes to sing on of her favorite songs (ABCs, Twinkle, twinkle) -- doesn't work every day, but it does work enough days for us to continue.

[skatty]

When I used to look after my friend's DS when he was a toddler I had to ask him which colour toothbrush we'll be using and which toothpaste. He had about 4 different colour toothbrushes and 2 different toothpastes but it gave him some control over the situation and really helped 

[PeepersMom]

OH, yeah!  We do that, too!  Let him brush mine and I can brush his. Forgot that. It does work well.  And he does have his selection of toothbrushes (my old toss outs) to choose from.  all these ideas work sometimes, and not others.  we go through a few different things every few days.  Sometimes it just doesn't work, sometimes we go weeks without any trouble at all.

Meg

[Scate]

I bribe my daughter with Zymaflour (Flouride) tablets - telling her she can have a "sweetie" if she lets mommy brush her teeth nicely - works like a bomb on other unsuspecting children too!

Cate