Oh Karen I actually groaned aloud when I saw your post! I can totally identify with you. My 2 y o sometimes lets me clean his teeth properly, and sometimes it's a battleground. I've tried everything... getting DH to do it with him, pretending he's a big crocodile, making funny faces, toy confiscation.... and nothing works every time. So I try all of the above on a rotational basis and most days I get in two really good teeth brushing episodes. Every now and then he'll clamp his teeth together like he has lock jaw and I only get to brush round the outside, IYKWIM.

My 4 y o daughter is much better, although she doesn't like the outside of her top teeth brushed, for some strange reason. So I have to do it really gently and slowly. I'm going to take her to the dentist soon to have a checkup and make sure there's no sinister reason 8-[

Good luck.... you're definately not alone in this one.