Do you have any tips for getting an 18 month toddler's teeth brushed? I always brush my teeth while she is taking a bath, which initially got her interested in brushing teeth. However, she likes to brush her teeth herself, which mainly consists of her chewing on her brush. I've tried asking her to brush my teeth so that I could brush hers, and that worked for a while, but not any more. As a last resort, I've occassionally tried holding her and brushing her teeth while she screams in protest. I know that is not a good solution, but I don't know what else to do! Thank you for your help!
Thank you all for your suggestions! I will definitely be trying them out!
Open wide, AAAHH, Open ... Aaaahh
When they start to bite down on the brush, take it out before they can close on it.
Repeat.
By the end of a week, you'll be able to clean their teeth. They learn.
You can let them hold the brush at the end.
You brush first. You can have her lay down with her head in your lap (as if you were the dentist chair). I ask DD to say AH and EEE to get the teeth. I also sing if necessary. If she is a screamer, lay her on the floor and kneel over her. It's just loud compliance. Brushing is so necessary and eventually she will get over it. My DD used to be a screamer. Screaming in protest is fine. It still gets the job done. You just have to tune it out. If you think that's bad, try dealing with a toddler that has to be held down or sedated when the teeth have problems. You can do it. Just keep the long haul in mind.
Now I brush (or she does) and we "check" our work. That way she gets control but I get to make sure she does get them brushed.
You just do whatever works, if the only thing that works is forcefully holding her... then that is it until she understands that you mean business.
In my house brushing teeth was never optional - I think for 6 months or so I held down my DD mornings and nights to brush her teeth under screaming protest...having them scream in protest is actually easier than flat out refusal to open their mouths... at least they open up wide and you get done fast. Eventually my DD realized that this was a loosing battle for her and ever since she has been very good about letting me brush her teeth or now that she is older brush herself with me only helping occasionally.
Why am I such a hardass about it? I had and have TERRIBLE teeth, at DD's age I had cavities in pretty much every tooth and terrible bottle mouth - my mother never cared or taught us about oral hygiene... and my adult teeth are not much better... I would really love to spare my child a life of dental issues. In the end she does not remember our nightly teethbrushing struggle from early toddlerhood but so far we have not yet had a cavity.
Good luck.
When my daughter was younger, I used whatever worked. We went through stages of things. For a while, letting her brush first and then I followed and made sure to get all sides of her teeth--getting the yuckies out. Then we did a bit where she lay across my legs and looked at things upside down. Sometimes we sat in the frontroom while she looked at the tv or her older brother and sisters would make funny faces. She thought that was funny. Then we went through a period of fighting about it. I do not have good teeth--drank way too much soda at 19 and 20 yrs old and I clench my teeth so really important for my kids to know they need to care for their teeth. We have times now that we fight and end with a crying session. Just something that must get done.
You might tell her you will let her do hers first but then she needs to let you do them after her. That usually worked with my boys.
I agree with others that you will have to try multiple things and rotate them. One thing I do is sing a song about brushing teeth (I think it's by Raffi).
"When you wake up in the morning, it's a quarter to one, you want to have a little fun, you brush your teeth. Ch ch ch ch..." I go all the way up to ten. My son won't let me stop before we get to ten and sometimes wants to go further (which strains my creative capacity). That is what is working right now.
We also got a vibrating toothbrush (for him it's Thomas the tank engine) which he likes better. Maybe she can pick one out? And toothpaste...
Good luck!
I started using an electric toothbrush on my dd at that age she is now almost 3 is a pro at the dentist, since she is used to the movement of the brush. Dont brush only at a.m and p.m do it at differant times throughout the day then a quick brush before bed. I had her toothbrushes in both up/down bathrooms. even if you only do it for 10 secs the next time might be 11secs, just work her into it.
That is how my daughter started doing it herself, by chewing on the tooth brush. I would ask her to show me how mommy brushes and she would do her best to copy. Just keep encouraging her to copy you and ask her to let you check that her teeth are clean and then brush them for her.
I told my guy, Mr. Independent, that he could brush his teeth, and then I would have a turn to brush them. He was still unhappy, so a few times I brushed MY teeth, then he got a turn, then he happily allowed me to brush his after he did. After a few times he forgot about brushing mine but still allowed me to brush his ; )
Let her do it and when she says she is done you do a real quick brush of them as well to make sure she got it really good. This worked for my kids (and i still do it at 2.5 and 3.5) cause they get to feel independent and you are really just checking their work.
I always ask my kids who wants to go first, me or them. Then we both get a chance to brush their teeth. My husband always used to pretend there was an alligator in their mouth and he was trying to get it out. They usually had fun with that.
