Brushing toddler teeth... help!!

[Campari]

Hey everyone.
My 16 month old DD puts up such a huge fight everytime I try to brush her teeth. I have introduced toothbrushing to her at 6 months when her first teeth came through, and she has just hated it this whole time.

I've tried different toothbrushes, different kiddie toothpaste, No toothpaste, brushing hers at the same time as I brush mine, letting her play with my toothbrush, singing songs, turning it in to a game, everything. She just hates it. I am paranoid that I am going to have a 2yo with huge cavities.

Does anyone have any tips? Does anyone have a toddler that enjoys their teeth being brushed??

TIA!

[CrystalBoo]

DD is pretty good was fairly good with brushing her teeth anyway, but I did notice an increase in enthusiasm when we got the "Go Wild" Hi-5 DVD that has a song with different animals brushing teeth - short and catchy. I know you said you tried songs, but maybe something visual to relate to helps
The only other things I can say is that we definitely don't use toothpaste yet and that after I brush (or hold her hand to do it herself) I let her have the brush in the bath for a little while to brush her dolly's teeth.
I have not tried one myself, but there are brush heads you can fit over your finger that may or may not make a difference. Someone else may know? Good luck.

[Curly]

My DS hates it too. We just persevere. I do give his front teeth a wipe with the face washer but apart from that I allow him to chew on his toothbrush whenever he likes. The dentist said that was okay because the friction will be sort of cleaning his teeth. We go through a lot of toothbrushes. Every few days we will tackle him and hold him down for a good go.

Actually he did improve after going to the dentist for the first time and they gave him his own free toothbrush and toothpaste. He carried the toothbrush with him everywhere for a couple of days and chewed it up and after that there was an improvement. I too worry about the cavities...but we just do the best we can. He loooves the toothpaste (the Colgate one) which also helps. Wasn't too struck on Macleans.

[Mum0809]

DS has a colgate first toothbrush and he don't use toothpaste yet. He loves his teeth being brushed. With him we brushed our teeth in front of him or while holding him, and we get him to "help" brush our teeth. Doing it in front of the mirror, or with a tap or shower running may help.

[kawazuki]

tay loves brushing her teeth and actually asks to do it she points at the brush and wont let up till she does it.
i give her her tooth brush in teh bath as teh bath is the cleaning area. and that has helped i feel

[Carmen2]

DD hates it when I brush her teeth. However, I find that if she was holding her own toothbrush, she would actually try to brush it herself. That way is better than the fight which will create a stronger resentment later. I worry too that DD is not brushing her teeth properly. I asked my dentist and they said that it would be okay for her to brush them since she does put the toothbrush in her mouth trying to brush them herself. Of course, the brushing may not be the way we brush our teeth, but the friction will still help the teeth to get the cleaning.

[Ezz]

I sing a toothbrushing song (from Playschool - there's a line that goes "You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch...) & I brush his teeth on the ch-ch part - which sometimes helps.

We have had a recent breakthrough though when I realised how much DS loved shoving his brush in MY mouth. So, I let him shove it in my mouth, then say "Mummy's turn" & brush his, then "Calvin's turn" & he shoves it in my mouth, then "Mummy's turn" & I brush his. If you can get over the gross factor, this has really helped.

[aussienic]

I just give the kids thier tooth brushes and get them to do it.. Olivia included.. then before they are finished I look at thier teeth and we say.. ooo I see a bit of food back there.. just let mummy clean it off..

We also say AHH ahh ahh.. and make silly noises while getting the back teeth,, and then with the front teeth we sing eeeeeeeeeeeeeee and get them to pull silly faces,. My youngest is startin to really catch on and gets so excited now.. She brushes her own teeth then walks over and gets us to finish it off

[Campari]

Thanks for all your replies
My DD does like to brush my teeth (with her toothbrush, or mine... no gross-out factor there anymore!) and I also sing that PlaySchool song and I am trying to make it heaps of fun, but she is a stubborn little 'un, she still clamps her mouth shut as soon as I try to turn the game around! I had some minor success this morning when I let her watch the neighbours "woof" (dog) that she loves, and I brushed her teeth outside, albeit very very briefly.

I will keep persevering and try my hardest not to let her grow too much to hate it

Thanks again for all the ideas... xxx

[LimeSlice]

we dont try to brush Charlotte's teeth. We just let her watch us doing it. We found that after a week or so she was so facinated by it she started playing with toothbrushes. Then my mum started giving her the brush to play with while changing her nappy. Now whenever she sees anyone brushing their teeth she has to have her own brush and she brushes her own teeth. Obviously she doesnt do the most complete thorough job, but it is a start and I feel like because we arent forcing her yet and it is fun and something she can do by herself that when the time comes to be more concerned about her clean teeth she will be more inclined to brush them properly, iykwim.
And there is a reason why you dont use toothpaste - I cant remember exactly, but I think it has something to do with the abrasive factor of the paste and their teeth are too young and fragile to handle the strength of toothpaste yet.
So hang in there and good luck! I am sure she will get the hang of it soon.

[Ezz]

Thanks for all your replies
My DD does like to brush my teeth (with her toothbrush, or mine... no gross-out factor there anymore!) and I also sing that PlaySchool song and I am trying to make it heaps of fun, but she is a stubborn little 'un, she still clamps her mouth shut as soon as I try to turn the game around! I had some minor success this morning when I let her watch the neighbours "woof" (dog) that she loves, and I brushed her teeth outside, albeit very very briefly.

Glad you are having some success

Tonight I let DS "brush" my teeth at the same time as I was brushing his (normally we take turns). That seemed to work better.