When my son was younger, I was able to wipe his teeth clean with a cloth during this bathtime. Then I tried the toothbrush and he hated it and would just shake his head and not let me in. I also tried the toddler toothpaste. Now he doesn't even like the cloth and will try to bite down or not open his mouth. He is such a good boy with everything else and transitions to different things so well, so I am not sure why he doesn't like this, but I am scared he will have a mouth full of cavities. Any advice.
Use a spin brush of some sort. Even if it's in their mouth, it's still brushing their teeth. Plus, you can zip around his mouth faster.
Well, I had to get creative and make teeth brushing fun for my daughter, we sing and dance while we brush. First I brush for her while I talk about the foods we've eaten that day, to get to certain spots I will say "OH! OPEN WIDE, I gotta get that banana off your back tooth, oh I see some chicken" ect and she thinks it funny that I am brushing the food away. For round two when she gets to brush, we sing. I take somgs we know and just put new lyrics on them, For example if you've ever heard the song "I like to eat, eat , eat, apples and bananas" I sing "I like to brush, brush, brush, brush all my teethers!" There's a ton of songs I sing, Just make it a fun event, sure brushing her teeth takes a little longer, but it's done good. I also use the Toddler training toothpaste, flouride free.. One negative to that is I can't seem to get her to want to spit it out!
All 3 of mine went through that stage. Dental hygeine is non-negotiable in this house. I tried the distractions, the humor, the cool brushes and paste, but in the end they just hate it. So I told them "we can do this the easy way or the hard way, your choice." Most of the time they choose the easy way without resistance..
We cannot negotiate with our 22 month old. We just do it quick & get it over with. We stay on a schedule which helps i.e. after breakfast and before bed so he knows its coming. The more you do it the better they are about it.
I do not know how many teeth your son has but perhaps he also really hates the brush on his gums. Until my kids had enough teeth we also used those over the finger blue gerber brushes. They are massaging as well as good at cleaning.
A suggestion from our Pediatrician was to use an electric toothbrush. Not just for the WOW factor but also because it is more efficient and you can clean more in the short time you are in there than with a manual.
Just keep at it. It needs to done and he'll realize it is non-negotiable.
A.
I'm looking forward to the responses you get, cause I'm in the same boat. Or atleast I was until one day....
I've been letting my daughter (17 months) watch me while I brush my teeth and in turn she'll put her brush in her mouth with the toddler toothpaste on it but obviously she's not sufficiently brushing....while other times she'll let me in to do it. I think it'll get better in time. In my experience it seems that every time I write into Mamasource with a question that within just a couple of days my daughter is doing the thigns I was worried she wouldn't do..haha.
Good Luck!
Hi L., i'm a dentist with 2 young kids, 5 and 3 year-old. I let the kids pick out their own tooth brush whenever we are at the store. they always pick the most ridiculous looking ones, but it worked. they almost always complied with me brushing their teeth. I also let them hold their toothbrush to try to brush their teeth on their own, while I jump in to brush their teeth for them at the end. it took a while in the beginning, but now, they let me brush their teeth at night with no fussing. I think sometimes if you allow your child(ren) to have some control over certain things (like picking out his/her own toothbrush), there'll be less fussiness! good luck! also, please use a toothpaste without flouride!
Hello L.. I do something silly to make my son laugh and then get in with the washcloth and clean his teeth that way. At least that way I am in his mouth. HTH.
Hi L. - we just had my son's 15 month check-up & the dr. said that right now toothbrushing is really just for practice. So, if there's actual brushing going on that's great, but if not that's ok, too. I let my son "brush" while i'm changing his diaper in the morning & at night. He likes to do it & then I say, "My turn," and try to brush for just a second. He only has six & a half teeth so far, so there's not much to do anyway...
good luck-
A.
my daughter saw me brushing my teeth all the time and wanted to do it herself so try it that way. Kids want to be like their parents so let him see that you brush your teeth and he will do the same.
L.,
Unless you are giving him a lot of foods that will damage his teeth, give him the toothbrush while you are brushing your teeth. He won't do a very accurate job, but he will be beginning to develop a very good habit. IMO, it is the habit that is more important at this age than precision cleaning.
R.
Have you tried giving him the toothbrush? I know my son will hold it in his mouth and suck on it, but at least if it's on his terms he may not be so afraid of it. Also, I assume you're using a baby toothbrush, yes? Oh and I made up a song to sing when I started brushing my son's teeth and he always laughs. It's kind of to the tune "Your Mama Don't Dance and Your Daddy Don't Rock n Roll." It goes, "You gotta brush your teeth, cuz when you get your teeth, you gotta brush 'em." I said it's *kind of* to the tune! Anyway, that's all I have.
My son will be 2 in March and not until the past few months did he not give us a problem. I used the little rubber finger brush at first and he was fine... for a while. I also felt it didn't really clean his teeth. And the toothpaste became a snack for him. I guess it was like candy and he would suck it off the brush. We use a regular toothbrush now. Although we have 3. 2 for him to brush with. (Keeps both hands busy) And one for Mommy to use. Works pretty good. I also got a toothbrush from Target that the bottom lights up. It wasn't even $2. He likes the light. My doctor also recommended those Tooth Tunes. They're about $9 and they play music when you brush. My son also LOVES Thomas & Friends so his stocking will have a Thomas toothbrush this year. I'm sure he'll want to use that all the time. Good luck and don't give up. I know it's frustrating, but give it time. It'll come.
Try letting him hold the toothbrush while he's in your lap or at least sitting down. He'll probably chew on it, and suck on it. At this point that is better then nothing at all. Eventually he'll be used to it, and will sometimes let you brush his teeth until more and more often you'll be the one doing it. Let him see what you are doing when you brush your own teeth too.
