[spaypets]

Any ideas for getting my 22-month-old daughter's teeth brushed?

She's been home since May and has a mouth full of lovely teeth...I have been brushing them for her every night but it involves her crying and fighting me almost every time.

I've tried toddler toothpaste to try to get her to brush herself but she only gets the front teeth not the back. Mostly she just sucks off the paste. I've tried brushing my teeth with her but that isn't getting the job done.

I can't get her to take her flouride vitamins so brushing is the the only thing I can do to keep her teeth healthy.

Help! I'm so tired of feeling like I'm torturing her every night!

[mckenna]

my son is 2 1/2 and i still have to brush his teeth, he just is not capable of getting them all well. we sing a song about brushing teeth (i make up a new one all the time) while i am brushing his teeth and then i rinse the tooth brush and he brushes with water while i brush my teeth. it is kind of a game now. he also likes to watch himself, so making sure your daughter is standing on a stool so she can see herself in the mirror might also help.

[kimmy30]

My sons was offred more minutes to stay up for teeth brushing. I have also used teasing him. I bet you cant open your mouth. Or telling, him, no don't let me bruch them.

[AMom2Two]

I have the same problem! Each night it is a battle. She normally just sucks the toothpaste off the brush. I tried the finger wrapped in guaze. Oouch! I won't do that again I hope someone gives you some good idea's.

[spaypets]

Oh I like the mirror idea--she's just vain enough that it might work! I'll try it tonight!

[Donna Marr]

We bought a battery operated spin brush
He loves it -plus likes to try and clean with it -
He is 3 now but I help yet but in the past he would fight it
NOw we use paper cups too and he will brush 2 x's a day wiht no tears

[ketingle]

Or, try letting them brush their teeth first, and then say, "it's mommy's turn!" Some kids get a kick out of doing it themselves first.

[jodyk]

Some days, my 2yo fs wants nothing to do with teeth brushing, and other days, he asks me if he can. I asked my dentist about it, and he said as long as we try and can do it sometimes, not to worry too much.

That said, I do try several times before I give up. He, too, will suck off the toothpaste. I use mostly toddler toothpaste, but he also likes a tiny bit of mommy's toothpaste. I sing to him (usually the Raffi song about tooth brushing), play games (last night, the toothbrush was a choo-choo train), and act silly (like using 2 toothbrushes, 1 for the uppers, 1 for the lowers & then switching.) I also let him brush my teeth sometimes, which also often works.

I try not to make a big ordeal out of it if he won't brush; I don't want him to think it's something to be dreaded. If we're able to do it once a day, I'm happy.

[spaypets]

Ok, it's two months later and here's what's helped.

1. I bought toddler toothpaste and let her brush first (ok, it's really just sucking the toothpaste off). When she asks for more toothpaste, I put more on, signal her to come over, lay her in my lap (I'm on the floor) and start brushing.

2. For some reason (maybe my technique is better), she giggles more than cries now. I tickle her lips with the brush.

Anyway, like all routines with her, she's gotten used to it and I no longer feel like the evil Mama inflicting torture.

Thanks for everyone's ideas!

[jodyk]

spaypets,

I'm glad she came around. I'm finding that sometimes, things like this are just phases where they used to enjoy something, then they're adamant about NOT wanting it, then they like it again. Your daughter's about 2, so it's par for the course. We went through a similar thing with taking baths. He always loved them, then all of a sudden, he was terrified for a couple months. Then, out of the blue, he liked them again. No accounting for the whims of a 2 year old!

[Shai's Mom]

The trick with my son was a battery-operated tooth-brush. He loves it. He categorically refused to open his mouth for the "traditional" one.

I used a big rubber crocodile (with LOTS of teeth) as a visual aid to get him to understand about brushing the back teeth.

He also went through a phase about wanting to brush his teeth alone and totally refusing any help. I let him get away with it for about a week, then compromised by having him hold the tooth brush with me guiding it.

When he was cutting the last 4 molars he gave me a hard time about brushing, because he was sore.. He didn't start getting them until after his 2nd birthday. Your daughter has a complete "dining-room set"? (all 20 baby teeth...)

[spaypets]

Yup. She's got all the ones she's going to get until she's three, I think. She came home with most of them at 18 months -- I think she got three new ones on the bottom in the summer.

Now that she's a little older than when I first posted this, I might try one of those electric toothbrushes. I like the alligator idea, because one of the reasons I still need to brush her teeth is that she won't do her back ones.

[Shai's Mom]

Take a good look... Maybe the 3-year old teeth are the problem.. Shai started to get those after his second birthday and would not let me brush his teeth while the "eruption sites" were sore.

BTW My husband and I use an electric tooth brush, so Shai got curious and wanted to use it as well.