How do you get them to brush teeth or allow You to brush teeth?

I have soft rubbery bristles and also soft small regular toothbrushes for babies. Ashley is fine. Chloe clamps her mouth, moves her head away, starts a crying tantrum.... I'm so frustrated. I found brown marks on her teeth last week cause Im not brushing correctly... Any advice would help. Thank you!

 

We've always made it a game. We sing the ABC's and they have to brush their teeth the whole song (if they'd clamp their mouth, we'd stop the song and start it back up again when they'd open). Our boys would never let us brush until we started this, plus they learn the song really well and know when they're finished

 

I'm very lucky my twins like getting their teeth brushed and no fuss when I put them down facing upward and holding their lip (lift) so I can brush the upper part of their gum area too. I give them a little break and then brush again. When Mommy is done, I let them brush their own teeth helping them a little bit but of course they like to "chew". They do get a meltdown when I take it away from them.

I like the idea of a game. I hope that work or do they have video for "brushing your tooth"?
D, w/Rianna and Justin

 

I'm in the same boat. Mine are 17 months as well. I really just put it off too long. but DD has 10 teeth so it really has to be done (DS has only 2!!) she absolutely refused the toothbrush. and same thing, clamp her mouth shut, scream, etc. I finally went and got one of those infant gum cleaner things, the one that goes on your finger. Well, she opens wide and LOVES the taste of the gel. the only problem i have now is that she thinks its funny to clamp down ON my finger! So, yeah, i get bit and it still hurts through that thing! BUT she does let me get some brushing going on, so i'll deal with it for as long as i can!

Good luck!

-Candi

 

You might want to try a battery operated toothbrush. The excitement of something new and different may interest them and they may be more cooperative. Plus they now have lots of different kinds of toothbrushes to choose from. They even have ones with different characters. Another advantage of using a battery operated toothbrush is that it is quite effective...especially if you're not able to do a thorough cleaning due to lack of cooperation. You can find them at the drugstores in the toothbrush aisle, but here is a link so that you can see what they look like. Also, toothpaste is another new and exciting thing...just be sure it does NOT contain fluoride (unless they have mastered the "spitting" skill and do not swallow the toothpaste). Good luck!

 

Both mine have always hated brushing their teeth with a passion! Their 1st dentist checkup was a scream-fest. Sitting them in front of the mirror & pretending to brush the mirror's teeth was the only thing that helped......and even that didn't always work. I put off getting a battery operated one, since I think the dentist told me they weren't old enough yet. I finally got some last week & they love them! Now they'll come to me & ask to brush their teeth. They still somewhat resist when I help them, but it's much better.

 

I found these light up toothbrushes. You put the end of the brush and they're supposed to brush until the light goes out, I think they're called firefly or something like that.

Brody's school talked about toothbrushing one week and he came home with this huge tooth that he got to paint (he was soooo proud!!) and on the bottom was a little song:

brush brush brush your teeth,
brush them every day
up and down and round and round
brush those germs away

(sing to row row row your boat)

They LOVE hearing the song while brushing.

 

We used to do the ABC's as well but recently my children learned a song, also to the tune of Row Row,

Brush brush brush your teeth
Brush them everyday
Eat healthy snacks
and drink your milk
to help fight tooth decay

They love it, we do it 5 times while I brush and then they brush a little themselves also.

 

What works for mine is if I use their toothbrush to brush my teeth and then brush theirs. I do one section at a time - brush my top front teeth, and then I try to brush theirs. I over-emphasize when I'm brushing mine, and they usually try and imitate what I'm doing, so it works pretty well.

 

I was wondering about those electric toothbrushes, they say for children over 3 but I guess we're going to try anything aren't we?

I like the brush brush songs too.

I'll see if I can find the electric toothbrushes today. Thanks so much!

 

We use an Elmo toothbrush and Oral B gel. Both of those have caused more excitement, but still not a joy for DS.

He helps me now. I let him 'brush' his teeth, which is really chewing on the brush, but some back and forth motion. Then we play like we are brushing mine. This takes about 2-3 minutes and then I have to use chinese torture to finish up. While he chews on the brush, he creates a ton of saliva, which is the mouth's natural cleaner. We also follow up with a big drink of water.

 

We have two tooth brushes for each twin. One is theirs to brush with, and one is mine. They will let me brush their teeth as long as they get to brush, too. And they get to pick out their toothbrush (Elmo at this point).

 

First our girls brush their own teeth or chew on the brush and then Mommy or Daddy get a turn. We started out by saying: "What does the clown say? Heeheehe and Haahaaha". That has worked for us most of the time.
Julia

 

we were having the same trouble..we started showing them their binky and saying first toothbrush then binky.
it also helped that we let them hold the toothbrush for part of it and we did the rest and we also would make funny sounds like ooohhh.....aaaahhh.....ohhhhhhhh afte multiple days of doing this now they know the deal

 

My kids love to brush, but I think it is the Oral B toddler toothpaste they really like. They get a "turn" first and mostly just chew on the brush. Then it is "Mommy's turn" and I brush their teeth. When I'm done they get another turn. As long as they know they are getting the brushes back, they are fine. Mine actually ask to brush their teeth!

 

I introduced toothbrushes really young to my kids. When they were really little, they would just chew on it. Now they see me, dh and ds (four) do it. My girls are two now and are finally get the brushing down. They let us do a quick brush after they have done it so we can get the molars. How about having them pick out their own brush. Also include a cup of water and let them play with it or the running water to make it fun.

 

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I am slowly trying everything suggested here! I'll let you all know what works!!