Brushing teeth

I introduced a toothbrush a few months back...however, they are still really resistant to the idea of me brushing their teeth! Initally, I thought it was because they were teething and their mouths were sore. However, they often grab for it themselves and will put in their mouth. When I try to hold it with them so we can brush, they become completely resistant to it again!!!

Please help a frustrated momma out

(They also HATE it when I try to stick my fingers in their mouth to feel for new teeth...where oh where are those teeth that I have been blaming for SO many things???)

 

I'm afraid that's a battle that most of us mommies face each and every night. On the rare occassion that they don't run and cry while attempting to brush their teeth, they instead try to bite down, hold on tight, and suck all the tastey toothpaste off the toothbrush

I just try to make it sound [fun]. Some days it works.. others.. nope.

Also.. I like to check for new teeth while they're crying for one reason or another. I find it much easier to peek inside their mouths that way since mine don't like my fingers in there either.

 

I started using (and still am using) the finger brushes that come with the Orajel baby toothpaste. My boys :wub: having their teeth brushed, even Jack who will fight you tooth and nail if you even try to wipe his face! The first time, we made a big deal about it, smiling, singing a song, giving high fives, and now they actually open their mouths in anticipation when they see the brushes.

And yes, we still sing the stupid song every night... :blush:

 

Mine will let me brush their teeth if I also sing a toothbrush song (I make it sound like a song from Yo Gabba Gabba) and I let them brush my teeth too :unsure:
For some reason, this makes them go along with it.

 

Mine like the new bubble gum flavored toothpaste I got them much better than what we were using before so now they open wide...but they do bite down on the brush a lot, too. I just try to stay positive and make it silly, singing like pps said as I keep wiggling the brush around as fast as I can before they bite it. I was brushing their teeth when they were standing in the crib, but then they got smart and started literally DIVING down onto the mattress to get away from me so now I pick each one up and hold them while I brush their teeth. That seems to help, too. When someone else brushes their teether for one reason or another, I make them swear that they will NOT surrender the brushes because I know once they get to hold them for themselves, they'll never want me to do it for them again (like what happens with spoons, brushes, books, wash cloths, etc. :gah: )!

 

I have to fight with DS half the time, but he gets his teeth brushed! DD is easy at least!

 

Some excellent ideas were shared a while back on THIS thread. The first several posts were about WHEN to start brushing teeth... but keep reading. Hope this helps.

 

My boys have brushed their teeth from the beginning. Why-I don't know. I thought it would be cute-and handed them the toothbrush-when they were younger. Then they wouldn't let me brush their teeth. Period. At their 12/15mth appt, the pedi asked if we brushed teeth. I said THEY brush their teeth-they won't let ME do it. He said-it was better than nothing.

So now-this is recent-I've made it a game. I ask them if I can "tickle" their teeth! All I am doing is brushing them as QUICKLY as possible. It works! The giggle the whole time. I hold them on my lap almost upside down so I can get in their mouth. Or I ask if I can count their teeth as well. It may not work all the time, and they probably aren't getting a thorough cleaning, but it's something!

 

we do a combo of brushing their teeth & letting them brush - they really love passing things back & forth right now. so usually i'll start with the tooth brush, get a couple seconds worth of brushing in, then they want their turn. i say things like "good, now the other side" or "don't forget the top". sometimes it seems like they respond to that. then they'll pass the brush back, and off i go again. i try not to worry too much about it - as in all things, i'm doing the best i can & for now, that'll have to do. GL!