Marydean, I suppose that's the catch22, we have to do what will help us now, and hope that we escape with minimal damage in the long term. Is your problem reversible though?

I forgot the toothbrushing! We don't really do it, but he loves to walk around the house with his toothbrush in his mouth so I just leave it at that for now.

I have always done the 'stand behind, hold their forehead and wipe' thing with their noses LOL - it's the only way you can do it effectively without them ending up covered in snot.