How do I make brushing fun?

DS has 7 teeth with 3 more on the way and we have twice daily meltdowns when it comes to brushing his teeth. He detests having the brush in his mouth, on his teeth etc. He doesn't mind the taste of the toothpaste but refuses to entertain the idea of cleaning his teeth. We normally end up having to pin his arms down to avoid the slap sways and to get the brush in his mouth.

I am desperate for some ideas to make this process more fun and enjoyable for everyone.

DS used to fight it a bit too. We sing the play school 'you brush your teeth' song and sometimes have to brush 4 or 5 other toy's teeth before it's DS's turn!

We also used to let him play with a toothbrush in the bath and giving him his own time and space with it seemed to be desensitising.

I think our biggest facilitator is DD though. He'll do pretty much anything she does. Have you got a cousin, neighbour or older friend who can play the cool big kid who just happens to need to brush their teeth?!

We had the same issue with DD2! We downloaded the Macleans Nurdle Time app for smartphones and it has been our saviour! - She love brushing now

DS is sensitive to brushing...distraction and desensitisation worked really well when he was younger. So, he could play/hold the brush, we'd brush teddy's teeth, brush our teeth in front of him, and there was ALWAYS a tooth brushing song! I just made something up. We'd work hard to get a laugh, then, whoosh, in it would go! As long as the toothbrush made it into the mouth, we'd leave it at that. At one point we had two brushes - one for him to hold, one for us. When he was old enough, letting him 'brush' our teeth worked a treat. If he got really upset, we left it. I think in the long term, we didn't want to create a negative association.

There are finger brushes that you put over your finger...would they be worth a try?

Thankyou all so much, some great ideas to try. Will bring some toys with teeth in to try that out, I have downloaded the macleans app, and will search for a finger brush.

May need to look up some tooth brushing songs too.....

Nurdle Durdle Fans here too, DS was a bit older but loved loved loved the thing (we were sick to death of it)

DD is your DS's age, she has 8 teeth + a molar, we just had our first dental appt as the poor love had a ulcer thanks to molars coming through. The dentist said that 'proper' brushing really isn't a big issue, just getting them used to the toothbrush prior to age two - eg give it to them in the bath etc, and use a flannel to gently wash when washing face etc is fine at this age. Toothpaste is unneccessary prior to age two also, as they pretty much just suck it off the toothbrush and swallow it rather than it actually cleaning their teeth

Tooth brushing song - 'This is the way we brush our teeth' to the tune of 'Here we go round the mulberry bush'.

I just make stuff up! Eg Mary had a little tooth; old macdonald had a mouth...and in that mouth he had a tooth...brush, brush here. Ok, I'll stop now!

There was a Wiggles brushing song DS liked when he was little too...You Tube might have it.

That's really interesting thanks Naomi! We tried the macleans song this morning and it kinda worked in that the toothbrush went in the mouth.....

But making up songs sound like fun too