They hate when I brush their teeth

I actually made one of my boys gag and puke tonight while trying to brush his teeth. I feel awful. But, he was all smiles after he puked his dinner on my shirt....stinker!! Any tricks?? And when does it get better?

 

I sing Jingle Bells. I don't know why it works, but it makes them laugh, and then I can get in there and brush. I think they were watching when I did that with the oldest one, and maybe that's why. Even when they have teeth coming in, they most of the time will let me brush without too much of a fuss.

 

I say I am "tickling" their teeth. It is still a little bit of a wrestle, but they are happy.

 

FWIW, mine resisted it horribly until just recently. It is a sudden and very welcome development that they are now happily letting me brush their teeth. (Well..mostly...)

 

Are you using a toothbrush or one of those finger toothbrushes? I found it easier to use the finger one until they were a little older. I started using a regular one about a month or so ago. I felt I had more control with the finger brush, so I could at least get them used to the brushing. I turn on the water while I'm brushing their teeth and they put their feet there, so that distracts them. Good Luck!

 

Aw, that's too bad. I do worry about that sometimes with mine too. FWIW, my girls are 24 months and they have just recently gotten a lot better about letting us brush their teeth. Now they sometimes even open up and just let us do it. But this is after months and months of struggling. We would turn them upside down to make them laugh, tickle them, and if necessary just pin their arms down and pry their mouths open (not fun).

The one trick that works the best for me is to give one my toothbrush and tell her to brush my teeth while I brush hers. Of course my brush usually winds up in her mouth at some point (and vice versa), so it's not the greatest idea if someone is sick or if you are really germ-phobic. But it does get them to open up, sometimes. Hang in there, it does get easier!

 

I sing to them and try to make a game out of it. Plus I admit I do not brush them every day. Its too much trouble, because they fight me tooth (get it!) and nail.

By 2, they start to get better about it. So there is hope!

 

Thanks for all the great ideas!!!

 

My two go back and forth about letting me brush their teeth. Just making a game out of helps a lot. Another trick is fun tooth burshes, we currently have Elmo and Cookie Monster brushes. On occasion, we also give them a little bit of non-floride toothpaste (Burt's Bees has a citrus flavor) and that is always a good way to get them to open for a bit longer.