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Toddler son hates having his teeth brushed...update
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sulkisu
Posts: 1,285 Forumite
Help.
I suppose this should have been posted on either the Mums or Dads board
, but anyway.
DS1 is 23 months and we have just finished our twice daily battle to get his teeth brushed. I started cleaning them as soon as they appeard, first with gauze and then a very soct brush. TBH he has never really liked the experience, but as he gets older, he sems to hate it more and more. I have tried the gentle approach. I have to be honest and say that most of the time being gentle doesn't work. I have tried distracting him, letting him brush them first, letting him brush mine, using different toothbrushes, different positions and nothing really works. He just fights, anyone would think that I was torturing him. It doesn't help that one of my major hang-ups is poor dental hygiene (rotten teeth and bad breath), especially in children. I persevere, but I am usually lucky if they get brushed for a whole minute (more like 30 seconds).
I assume (or at least I hope) that this is a common problem, and just wondered if anyone has found a solution that works.
I suppose this should have been posted on either the Mums or Dads board

DS1 is 23 months and we have just finished our twice daily battle to get his teeth brushed. I started cleaning them as soon as they appeard, first with gauze and then a very soct brush. TBH he has never really liked the experience, but as he gets older, he sems to hate it more and more. I have tried the gentle approach. I have to be honest and say that most of the time being gentle doesn't work. I have tried distracting him, letting him brush them first, letting him brush mine, using different toothbrushes, different positions and nothing really works. He just fights, anyone would think that I was torturing him. It doesn't help that one of my major hang-ups is poor dental hygiene (rotten teeth and bad breath), especially in children. I persevere, but I am usually lucky if they get brushed for a whole minute (more like 30 seconds).
I assume (or at least I hope) that this is a common problem, and just wondered if anyone has found a solution that works.
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Comments
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first off - why make a battle out of it? it does sound as if you are 'forcing' him to have his teeth brushed. sorry if this is not the case, but, if it is, you are on a hiding to nothing luv!
I would say relax and let him have a quick brush (some brushing is better than none) and perhaps concentrate on swilling and spitting for a while? toddlers usually enjoy that bit. when he is a bit older he is going to want to copy daddy and shave too - this is where you can really get them into the bathroom routine, and teethbrushing for two mins! as long as he can 'shave' afterwards! I used to take the blades out of the razors and let my boys have the shave foam (also useful for cleaning grubby faces) and go for it. sometimes I had to remind them to stop - they thought it was so much fun!0 -
Brute force won't work, from experience. My daughter was the same and I used to hold onto her, clamping her arms down with my arm and just go for it for it. Srubba dubba - with a soft toothbrush of course. She still hates brushing her teeth to this day (she's 15). I'm afraid I can't advise you on how to do, just how NOT to do it.0
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My son is 14 months and right from the word go he has always brushed his own teeth. I say brushed, he more 'chews' the brush but it does atleast ensure the toothpaste and bristles are getting around all his teeth.
When I try to take the brush off him, that's when the tantrums start! I've probably been very lucky with him, but so many people warned me not to 'force' him to brush his teeth or else I would be creating a rod for my own back.
Is he too young for a reward, or sticker chart for toothbrushig? Perhaps when he gets a certain number he can pick his next toothbrush?14th October 201020th October 20113rd December 20130 -
Hi OP
You could try while he's in the bath brush your teeth at the sink and don't make a big deal out of it. If he shows an interest ask if be wants to do his? Then bend down at the bath and brush them together?
Worth a shot, my DD is just about to turn 3 and everything that used to be so easy is now the hardest tasks in the world0 -
My daughter is 9 months and initially hated having her teeth brushed, we tried a soft brush and then a child/baby toothbrush but she hated it. Then I decided to try her with different toothpaste ... result!!
She now has Tesco Strawberry Icecream (??!!) flavour toothpaste and she happily opens her mouth every night for me to brush her two little teeth
I think she didn't like the strong minty taste of the original one, I associate toothpaste with minty taste but babies might find it overwhelming.
Good luckWhether you think you can or you can’t, you’re probably right ~ Henry Ford0 -
Agree with Icy. One of mine hated any kind of mint, no matter how mild it was and had to go for the baby flavours, like strawberry etc. Moved them on to the big stuff when they were ready.4 Stones and 0 pounds or 25.4kg lighter :j0
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we have a nearly 2 1/2 yr old boy, who is a little bit reluctant in the morning! he's great at nightime teeth time and he even lets me in to do them properly then, but in the morning he makes a fuss so i am bit easy on him - he's often the one in the pushchair on the school run with a slice of toast in one hand and toothbrush in the other.
I'm not going to fight with him - he normally manages to get them cleaned properly before morning snacktime! Sometimes I find that you have to choose your battles with a toddler wisely, we can work on changing timings gradually - Mind you Boo is alot stronger willed than his older sister so it wont be as easy!
just a bit of advice someone recently told me about toddler tantrums, its best to let them get the screaming fit out of the way in the offset, rather than distracting them out of whatever is bothering them or it'l just arise again under a different disguise within the hour - with the case of the toothbrushing scenario for us if we fight and end up having a tantrum and i stop him, chances are its going to erupt again in the schoolyard!!:eek:0 -
Thank you OP, l was going to start a thread like this about my son, and he's 6!
At the moment we're persevering with a really soft toothbrush and strawberry flavour toothpaste.
Try using a mouthwash too, they do them for children.
Happy moneysaving all.0 -
Thank you OP, l was going to start a thread like this about my son, and he's 6!
At the moment we're persevering with a really soft toothbrush and strawberry flavour toothpaste.
Try using a mouthwash too, they do them for children.
Mouthwash, swilling and spitting aren't recommended anymore by dentists for children or adults. They wash away the fluoride which otherwise protect the teeth.Trying to be a man is a waste of a woman0 -
My daughter at that age hated having her teeth brushed and doing them was always an ordeal. I worried that this would put her off having her teeth done when she was older but at nearly 4 she never forgets to do her teeth and never complains. Think it is just an age thing that will pass. Try giving them some control by offering a choice of toothpaste or brush as they will then feel more involved0
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