brushing 17 month old's teeth...tell me it will get easier

[nervousmommy]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right forum...please move to correct one if this isn't the place

My 17 month old will not let me brush his teeth and we have tried everything except holding him down which I will NOT do. He will use the brush himslef and I give him one to play with and we go into the bathroom 2x a day to "brush" our teeth where I try to use the silicone finger thing to brush his teeth...I try using his brush on him and he protests...A LOT. I let him brush my teeth, we sing, we look in the mirror.

I haven't taken him to the dentist yet, but I know he has a small "chip" off one of his lower teeth. He's teething now and has never liked me brushing his teeth. He's getting his k-9's in.

Tell me that you had a child who hated brushing their teeth at some point come around to it and let you help him brush.....please?????

I'm nervous about decay, but have no reason to think he has any.
Thanks

[JaneS]

Totally will!

Games and songs worked for us. Like "How would a bear brush his teeth?" Grrrrr... while brushing. "How would a baby..." Waaaaa....
"How would Papa..." Ha, ha, ha...

etc.

If you are nervous, pay extra attention to his nutrition: mineral and fat soluble vitamin intake.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I am right there with you!! It is like trying to brush the teeth of an angry grizzly bear.

My older DS has a power toothbrush, so last week I got one for my toddler. For the first time ever he actually wants to put a toothbrush in his mouth! He still won't let me help him use it, but baby steps right?

[jkn]

If it helps, I totally know what you mean, and it DOES get better. Now DS is 3 and it's barely even a problem, we take turns, we sing, do the mirror thing, don't worry just keep at it and it'll be fine!