How to Brush Her Teeth?

N.,

My son would constantly clamp his mouth shut when it was time to brush his teeth. So, I asked him to help me brush his teeth. I let him hold the brush and then I maneuver it around inside of his mouth to get his teeth clean. So far, it's worked out great. Good luck!

~ L.

Put her on her back on the ground and sit on her. Brush her teeth for her. Her teeth are way more important than any momentary displeasure she has to experience. Did it with my kids and they're fine.

N.,

Put her in the highchair-give her something new to play with and make it a game- open,shut,open brush,brush,brush. etc. let her have a toothbrush to hold and you have one-you can alternate between the two of you.

Good luck!

M.

I don't know if she is old enough to understand this and I can't think at what age I started but we play a game that I start by saying'I wonder if there are any suger bugs on your teeth , let me try and tickle those suger bugs" and I start brushing and looking for suger bugs and say tickle, tickle, when I find one. My daughter is now 2 1/2 and this game has grown into looking for princess and I name them as I brush and other characters that she likes and we tickle them all. But it started simply as suger bugs. Don't let this become a power struggle what ever you do. It is only her baby teeth fortunatley.

Hi N.,
Please look at my profile to see my experience on this subject. With that said, I agree with Page. At around a year old, I too had to lay my daughter on the floor and restrain her while I brushed. You may also try putting her in your lap with her head between your knees. Right now it is about control and I'm sure this will not be the last power struggle you have. The bottom line is NO toddler does a good enough job brushing and parents need to get in there and really brush. Some kids do okay with taking turns. When I had to restrain my daughter while brushing, I would tell her "When you hold still and open for Mommy I will let you sit up. It can be easy or it can be hard, your choice, but it has to be done." We also talked alot about the tooth bugs that eat her teeth and how we need to brush them away. I also took her to meet her dentist and had him tell her the same thing. I also use Oral-B Baby toothpaste with xylitol.
Hope this helps!
L.

This may sounds strange ..but I brush my boys teeth when they are in the tub. For some reason they enjoy it way more then trying to do it at the sink. It was a battle to the death to do it before. I also brush my teeth in front of them and make it sound so much fun. I'm slowly trying to get them back at the sink.