Teeth brushing problems (help)

soontobe05

Hi Ladies! 

I've been having a LOT of trouble brushing DD's teeth lately and it's really getting on my nerves because I do not want her having bad teeth. She won't let me brush them. I actually have to hold her down and still can barely do it. She'll take the brush and push it around in her mouth herself, but won't let me do it. Has anyone else had this problem? How do you get your LO to let you brush? Any suggestions are welcome! TIA!  

kcampy31

can't wait for replys...same problem here!!!

cszlachta

I don't have a feisty brusher yet so I don't have any advice there.  But if you really can't get in there and are worried about it, try serving cheese after meals.  It helps prevent tooth decay.  (Not a long term alternative to brushing teeth, but might help for now.)

Disneygeek77

I brush her teeth first while she holds her Elmo toothpaste.  She loves Elmo so this is a nice distraction.  She usually lets me brush her teeth for a while and then she wants to do it.  I just let her because I was pretty much done at that point. 

hersheykiss

Emmalee is not a feisty toothbrusher, but we learned a while ago how to fix the feistiness in other things. When we eat if she has stuff that requires a spoon, she gets one and we get one. So we maintain that philosophy in other actions, toothbrushing, hairbrushing, eating, etc. So maybe try giving her one. Also, E loves the fruit flavored toothpaste.

lkich

My DS is the same way but I just remind myself that these are baby teeth. I know it's not a solution but it helps me. Also, eventually he will learn to do it the right way.

I'mAcrossThePond

Okay, this is going to sound CRAZY (I read it on a baby blog and thought it sounded crazy too...) but it totally works!

When you are brushing her teeth, talk the whole time. Say:

"Ohhh! I see a monkey in your mouth! Let's get the monkey out! Oooh oooh, ahh, ahh...oh, there is a tiger! Roarrrr! Ut oh, there are some puppy dogs...wooof wooof....oh wait, I see a cow! Moooo!" Etc.

Just keep naming animals and making sounds. It distracts them so much, they don't quite know what to think.

Now, I just tell DS that we need to get the animals out of his mouth and he opens right up! 

JCapp8306

janineb:

My DD is allowed to brush herself, and I brush at the same time to show her how its done. then before she can have a swig of water to rinse and spit (her favourite part!) I say "mommy's turn. go aaahh" and she will give me a good 10 seconds or so to brush the top and then the bottom. If I try to do it first she freaks out.

by letting her do it herself first, it stops the temper tantrum from starting, and then she is calm enough to let me go in there. 

I do this and it works 

greenmtbride

We struggle with this too.  What is currently working best is both of us (Mommy and Daddy) sign the ABC song while we brush.  If he pushes the brush out of his mouth we stop singing.  So to get us to sing he has to let me brush. 

esutton76

I have been pretty lucky when it comes to brushing DS's teeth.  I started brushing his teeth while in the bath tub at a very young age and it has worked very well for us.  I buy a mechanical toothbrush and I brush his teeth for him at first and when I think I got them all pretty good, I will let him try brushing on his own.  Maybe this will work for you.

Good luck!