Brushing Teeth

[Ozstar]

Thanks ladies. In the morning we brush at the same time but at night I do mine in the shower. I usually brush his as much as he will let me and then give him his toothbrush to do his own. I might let him have a go brushing mine, he sucks on my toothbrush when he in the shower with DH too.

Boomba I dont use much toothpaste. I figure since we dont have fluoride in the water up here it can't hurt him to swallow a little.

[boomba]

Yeah thats my logic too! i mean they eat things off the ground, DS loves to lick the ground so a little toothpaste wont hurt! lol! x

[Saffi]

Going to try some of these suggestions. I've tried singing a brushing song, a finger brush, brushing my teeth in front of him, when he's in the bath, using a face washer etc. You'd think I was trying to pull his teeth out the way he carries on. He loves chewing on the handle but not the bristles.

I actually asked the same question of the MCHN today. She recommended putting DS on my lap in front of the mirror and brush. She also suggested lying DS down with his head in DH's lap while I brush his teeth. Haven't tried either so can't say if either are effective.

Good luck

[Ezz]

There is a playschool song about teeth brushing... I think these are the words (off the top of my head). I think it's on the playschool favourites album. DS loves it.

Brush, brush, brush,
You mustn't rush, rush, rush,
When you clean your teeth
In the morning

Paste, paste, paste,
For a peppermint taste, taste, taste,
When you clean your teeth
In the morning

You can munch, munch, munch
On your lunch, lunch, lunch
You can crunch, crunch, crunch
All day long

You can bite, bite, bite
With all your might, might, might
It's alright, right, right
Your teeth are strong

So...
Up and down with your...

Brush, brush, brush,
You mustn't rush, rush, rush,
When you clean your teeth
In the morning (and last thing at night)

[Ozstar]

Ezz thanks so much for that, its exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Will have to have a look at the playschool album.

[JordieC]

We sang a song at school all the time - don't remember exact words but you could google them. It went something like:

You wake up in the morning at a quarter to one, you feel like having a little bit of fun:

You brush your teeth: chchchch chchch chhc h (brushing noises!)

You wake up in the morning at a quarter to two:.....

Well you get the idea -anyway the teeth brushing noises part is a hit.

[Mother Goose]

Oh man, my DD is horrid at teeth cleaning. She used to be brilliant... now it is just one massive PITA. She LOVES her tooth brush and sucking the toothpaste and "cleaning" her teeth (she tries to copy me) but as soon as I try to brush them for her (because there is no way a 19 month old can do it properly) it is an all out war - screaming and all. I've tried call it tickling teeth, letting her brush my teeth, her having a turn then me having a turn... but none of it works now. She won't let DH near her either. We have, on occasion, resorted to one pinning her down and the other holding the head and brushing (it feels as brutal and mean as it sounds which breaks my heart) but we have to clean those damn toothy pegs!

Anyway, I'll be trying some of the methods mentioned... esp the 2nd brush one...

MG

P.S. We sing the "Brush you teeth, Chh chhh chh" song all the time. She laughs herself silly at me and then screams when I try to brush her teeth...then laughs again when I stop