Can't Get Toddler to Let Me Brush His Teeth

I had a similar problem with my son around that age. My son also hated bugs for some reason so I told him there were little bugs he couldn't see in his mouth and we had to brush them out. I would ask him what color buggies were in his mouth and he would say orange or blue and he would open his mouth wide and let me get rid of the buggies. For whatever reason, it worked. It may not work for you son but don't give up. Keep trying! And stick to a routine. That helps. In fact, sometimes I forget and my kids quickly remind me that it's time to brush their teeth. Good luck!

Two things really helped us when nothing else would work. One was finding a toothpaste flavor he liked. Tom's strawberry. The next was asking him what color he wanted us to paint his teeth. I couldn't believe what a difference it made to just stop calling it brushing teeth. If your son is chewing on the toothbrush for 30 minutes, I wouldn't be too worried - he is definitely getting some cleaning in there. also, it will get easier when he gets a little older. hang in there!

I have the same issue. She used to let me brush her teeth but after she turned 19 months she decided she will do it herself. Okay when you give him his toothbrush let him brush it for a while then ask him,"can mommy brush your teeth?" you don't have to wait for a response. Then hold on to the toothbrush while he's brushing and say,"good boy!" just keep aying that and eventually hell stop brushing an yu can brush his teeth. My daughter still sometimes refuses me to help and when she doesn't want me to help when she's done she just gives me the toothbrush. Goodluck to ya!

You can buy him the blue mouth rinse that will help him find those not so obviouse places. Let him then brush away all the blue. He'll get to do it himself and you'll be able to see that he was thorough or if there are places he needs to rebrush.

Boy, do I relate! Both of my children were highly reluctant to let me brush...but with each one I found something to motivate them. I looked for SOMETHING in their mouths, and was always astonished when I found it...with my daughter, it was zoo animals, elephants, etc., all with wild colors. I'd find them everywhere in her mouth, and it was the only way she let me look and stick her brush in there. Every time I thought she was going to object, I'd find another animal. With my son, animals didn't work so well, but SpongeBob did! He's three now, and I still find all the characters in his mouth each night, laughing like Squidward, meowing like Gary, etc. By the end of each night, each child was laughing, and proudly showing me their teeth. Then I could gush about how clean they were.

I hope something like this works for you. It sure did for me!

Well this may sound like a cop out but i just settled for letting mine do it himself. At least there was no more yelling about it on his end and it is still getting done. i figure i win becasue he is brushing as best he can and he wins becase i gave him that task to do alone. i just make sure he sits down to do it and after about five mintues he looses interest in it. good luck.

Maybe its time to teach him about sugar bugs living in his mouth and that he needs to brush to get rid of them. Otherwise let him know the sugar bugs will eat his teeth away. Sometimes the truth helps more. Hope it helps take care

My son seemed to be unreasonable about most things at two. He would take a stand on what seemed like silly, easy things much like what it sounds like your son is doing. If he reacts this way about other things too, cries easily, seems easily frustrated about things check out The Finegold Program. It turned out that my son was sensitive to Salicates, artificail colors and flavors. Once those simple things were out of his diet he clamed down and was much more open and rational(potty trained in 2 days). They equate the feelings that kids get from these things to adults drinking 10 or more cups of coffee and trying to think straight. Best of Luck!! Oh, and don't be too h*** o* yourself it sounds like you are an excellent and creative Mom, Well Done!!!

This may not be any help to you now since your child is older but maybe to mom's reading this with younger children. I gave my son his first toothbrush when he was only 6 months and had only two teeth. Naturally all he did was chew on it but the point was to introduce it young so that having it and using it was a normal thing. He has been brushing his teeth on his own adn with help since he was geez i'd say 13 months and now at 28 months he's a pro at doing it himself and I rarely have any problem with him doing it every morning and night. It's so routine for him that even sometimes when i forget and put him to bed without brushing he reminds me and goes into the bathroom to "brush teef".

As an older child something that might help is taking them to a good childrens dentist. If the dentist is good and makes that first visit positive than that might encourage your child as it did mine. Now when he's brushing I say "do it like the dentist" and he brushes even better and is more encouraged to get those sugar bugs out.

We do very little TV. When I had this problem TV was the treat/reward. As long as the mouth was open wide for brushing the TV was on. Remote in hand I could turn it off if the cooperation stopped. If this seems strange let me reassure you that the toddler, now 6 lets me brush her teeth easily without any bribe.

Up to a month ago I had the same problem with my 15 month old, she refuses to let me brush her teeth, she would rather do it, what works for me now is to give her her toothbrush while I brush my teeth and let her brush her's, then when I am done with mine I take her toothbrush and lie her flat on the bed, that way her mouth is open and then I can have access to her teeth and brush them, she doesnt mind by then because she had her turn to brush them now mommy is just making sure it's done properly..

Have you tried letting him pick out his own toothpaste? My kids like cartoons like dora and spongebob and they sell toothpaste w/the characters on it. Just a thought. :) I had a really hard time w/my kids. I had to just about sit on top of them to brush their teeth. Talk about exhausting!

I had this little Mickey Mouse toothbrush holder as a kid and you could press a button and it sang "Brush brush, brush your teeth, each and every day, up and down and all around, brush decay away!" It still makes me laugh.

I told my kids that we had to make sure we brushed the bugs out of their teeth or their teeth will fall out. I saw a couple other comments along those lines. :)

Bribe him with something he really loves...that sounds terrible, but it can help when needed :) hehe.

Good luck!!

K.