Brushing teeth advice...

[Adnil]

I feel really slack about the way we go with brushing Em's teeth, but I'm not really sure how to get it done to be honest...

She won't let you do it for her. You'd have to physically hold her down to do it, and of course I don't want to do that. She'll come & brush her teeth with me most mornings, but it's fairly touch & go. If she wants to she will, but if I try to push the issue she'll resist. Night times she very rarely will do it. Also, of course, all she really does is suck the toothpaste off, not muct tooth brushing actually happens.

Any advice????

[visitor2]

I have the same problem with Alexander. I have to hold him down also which i don't like doing and if i let him do it he'll just suck the toothpaste off or rub it over the couch. I go through so many toothbrushes and they just mess around with them so much.

Hope someone is able to help.

[Adnil]

I'm glad I'm not the only one Michelle It's so hard at this age isn't it - they are so determined!!!

[visitor2]

It is a hard age and we have just worked out what a tantrum is and loves to throw himself on the floor.

[Adnil]

Ooh yeah! Em's favourite phrase atm is "go away"

[visitor2]

I'm half glad that Alex can't talk but he knows what he wants. He'll shake his head if he's not happy and stamp his feet.

[Lucy]

Ok, in the mornings I literally will not let them get dressed and I won't let them out of the house until they have let me brush them properly. Awful, boring, tedious, but effective. I often pretend to phone somepne to say "Sorry, no, we can't meet you at the park today as Olivia and Charlie will not brush their teeth properly"
( I have carried out the threat only twice.......)

Night time is heaps easier.......in the bath.......DH makes them brush their teeth first and coaches them through it. Only when he considers that they have done a "proper job" of it are they allowed any bath toys......he is strict on this, and it only took one night for Olivia to "get it" and she now brushes properly every night........Charlie tries his best too.......

Not sure if that helps any?

[Adnil]

That's great Lucy - especially the bath toys one. Em is just 'getting' it when I say she can only do ..... if **** happens. (or maybe I'm just realising that she gets it )

Will give that a go!

[Ambah]

What about a song for when you brush her teeth to make it more fun? Theres a couple such as 'This is the way you brush your teeth' (to the tune of here we go round the mulberry bush), and also another one from playschool which is more interesting... I will even post the lyrics if you want?
Goodluck.. they can be so determined at this age can't they!!

[Claire]

I let Emily brush her own teeth first with a little dab of toothpaste and then I go in and brush them a second time. She seems happy with this arrangement (so far!) I have just recently taught her to spit the toothpaste out after I have brushed and rinse her mouth out with water.

She really enjoys brushing her teeth so when we started this up I would talk to her first about the fact that I would brush her teeth second and when at times she would say no, I would tell her that she then wasn't able to brush her teeth at all. Sounds harsh but it worked.

[mrsr]

We made it a game with James and would brush our teeth at the same time when he was younger. Now, at 6, he brushes his teeth so well it would put some adults to shame. He pulls us up on our techniques on the odd occasion. We're lucky too that DH's father is a dentist so James is familiar with checkups and has watched us get work done and doesn't have any fear of dentist visits which is good.

[Deltadawn]

Apparantly I was like this as a child until one day my Mum showed me a picture of a smokers mouth with rotten teeth etc (like the ones you see on cigarette packets these dasy) and told me this is what happens when you dont brush your teeth! To this day, I'm a regular twice a day without fail kinda girl!

[Ambah]

We made it a game with James and would brush our teeth at the same time when he was younger.

This reminds me... Aidyn went through a stage where he would only let me brush his teeth if DP was doing it at the same time.

[mbear]

I let my girls brush their teeth in the bath. Whilst my 17 month old doesnt effectively 'brush' , sucking on the brush and moving it around her mouth has given her an idea of what to do. I have noticed in the mornings when all 3 of us brush our teeth, she watches me do it and then brushes correctly - imitation is the key i suppose.

We also make it a fun thing...and those dreaded mornings where my morning coffee has not set in yet, my 3 year old will remind me ; "mumma, we havent brushed our teeth !!!".

[Adnil]

Thanks so much for all they tips! These are great. I will try to take more time to do these things. I think I'm often in too much of a hurry to make such a game of it, but I really should try more.

Ambah - thanks for the song - I think I know it So no need to type it all out - might let DH do the singing LOL.

[Adnil]

Well....already we have had some great success!! Last night we all went off to the bathroom together & cleaned our teeth. She was doing her ususal, but then I gave her my toothbrush & let her brush my teeth. She thought that was great, so then I brushed her teeth with her toothbrush at the same time. And she didn't resist at all! And then when she did it herself again, I noticed she started to do it properly. So I am very happy!!! I think I just needed to put a little more effort in

[MantaRay]

Wow Linda, great result! I'm storing all the tips up for when Jack (or Tom) decide they don't like teeth cleaning. So far, luckily, Jack loves it.

[AnyDream]

Lucy, that's a fantastic tip about no bath toys until the teeth are done properly! I fought with DD for years and even now (she's 9) she's slack as slack about doing them properly. Nowadays, I spot-inspect them several times through the week, the threat is if she doesn't clean them properly then all she will get in her lunch box is a sandwich and a piece of fruit (no other recess treats whatsoever). Seems to have been working, but I can't ever stop being vigilant!!