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Help battle for control of toothbrush-

samfish2bcrabsamfish2bcrab
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

So, who's got tips for toothbrushing?  

We made the mistake of allowing Lila to wander around with a toothbrush, we thought the novelty would wear off once she was very familiar with it and we'd then just carry on brushing her teeth at the appointed times.  uh uh.  She fell with it in her mouth and luckily was not hurt, but that put an end to that.  now we try to brush her teeth and she's having none of it.   She clamps her mouth closed, flails and attempts to headbutt.   it's all very UFC.

So, what's your toothbrush routine?   Any tips?   or failing that, do you have a special brand of duct tape you like?

 

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Re: Help battle for control of toothbrush-

  • StillKathrynStillKathryn
    We always do it in the bathroom and I brush my teeth while DD brushes hers and I sing, etc. she doesn't really brush hers, just wanders around w/ it in her mouth, etc. and then we switch and I let her continue to hold her brush and I brush her teeth w/ another kids brush.  I tried the spin brush - FAIL, it scared her.  I try to brush her teeth while we are both sitting on the floor, but she seems happiest if she can watch herself in the mirror while I do it, so I hold her up on the bathroom counter and do it, she also really likes to show me she her tongue.  Then we practice spitting (LOL her fave part) and then we kiss ourselves in the mirror.  But, honestly, the few times she's had a total hissy fit about it, I've just skipped it the whole thing.  Maybe just skip it for a few days and see if that helps.
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  • samfish2bcrabsamfish2bcrab
    electric toothbrush was a no-go for us, too.   the look of terror!
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  • kgwenkgwen member
    we still use the finger brush.  she is pretty good now at not biting down on my finger.  otherwise she doesn't let go of the regular toothbrush, she loves chewing on it.  so the finger brush is better than nothing i guess.
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  • davis0905davis0905 member

    Could you try just using a wet washcloth for a while?  That's what I had been doing up until this week, when we started using an actual toothbrush.  I just used a wet cloth and wiped the teeth after each meal.  Maybe it wouldn't be as threatening to your LO.  Right now she is traumatized from the toothbrush so I would advise finding a different method for a while and then re-introduce the toothbrush after a  few weeks or so. 

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  • MegGaryMegGary member

    We have the same problem as  you. DD screams bloody murder & flails about when we try to brush her teeth. I've been told from my dentist, DD's pediatric dentist, the hygenists & my cousin who is a pediatric hygenist that if you have to hold them down any way shape or form do it. They will not be taumatized by it. It's a fight you have to win or they will be even more miserable with cavities or even decayed teeth.

    We put DD on the changing table and I hold her arms & legs. DH holds her head & brushes. She screams as we sing the ABC's. Once the ABC's are over we finish brushing. It's the worst part of our day.

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  • Tracey0329Tracey0329
    I sit her on my lap while I sit on the toliet and I let her hold her toothpaste while I just keep saying open and she just sucks and bites the brush while I brush.  And on days where she is screaming/kicking I still do it just a little quicker.  Then we spit (she likes) and move on with our day, she gets over it rather quickly and really tries hard to get out of it, lol.  She likes to open and close her toothpaste container which has Abbey (from Elmo's World) on it so it is a little distraction but this is one fight I won't give in on, since I am super anal about oral hygiene, GL!!!!  Be strong!!! :O)
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  • Jen&LenJen&Len

    I have the same problem.  DS loves to brush his own teeth, but won't let me do it.  I have to put him on the changing table, pin down his arms and torso under my armpit and torso...squeeze his cheeks together (to get his mouth open) with my other arm and brush with the opposite hand.  I'm usually alone for bedtime since DH is still at work.  If he cries, it makes it easier since his mouth opens up, but usually it's clamped shut with thrashing.  The electric toothbrush doesn't work for us either.

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  • esutton76esutton76

    We brush DS?s teeth in the tub during bath time.  He likes to brush his own teeth, so I let him brush (chew) on the brush, while I use a mechanical brush.  He really loves getting his teeth brushed.  He will sit with his mouth open, so I am able to brush them all really well. 

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  • anls520anls520

    I would try letting her "brush" your teeth before brushing hers, so she can see that you're not getting hurt by it and that it's safe.  Maybe doing this a few times will make her like her toothbrush again.

    My daughter thinks that brushing her teeth is the greatest thing on earth and wouldn't let go of her toothbrush and let us brush her teeth.  I would try to brush her teeth while she was in the bath, but that didn't work.  So I started to sit her on the toilet, and would tell her that mommy's turn to brush came first and then hers.  I would brush them a little, give her the toothbrush so she could brush, and she would hand it back to me, etc.  When we're done, I literally tell her "all done!" and then tell her to give Dora (she has a Dora toothbrush) a kiss and to say bye bye.  She hands it over without a peep.   

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