Brushing a Toddlers Teeth

[transformed]

I feel like its REALLY REALLY important to be brushing my 22 moth olds teeth, but she wont let me!

She wants to ONLY do it herself. I have fought with her a few times and won, but it wasnt very pleasent. (And not teaching her much but how sucky dental care is.)

I do understand its possible she is teething and I try to be gentle, but its totally important to me that she learns good dental care.

What should I do?

[starry_mama]

My son is a little younger than that (18 months) and I just let him chew and play with the toothbrush a couple times a day. Brushing his teeth is one of his favorite things, as long as he gets to do it himself. I'm hoping that all of that playing is getting them at least a little clean.

[lindberg99]

I think you either have to decide that it is going to be one of the things you insist on (like sitting in a car seat, etc.) or else decide that it isn't worth the battle. But you're really the only one who can decide.

Has she seen a dentist yet?

[Tkald]

I have the same exact issue and she NEEDS her teeth brushed (bad teeth). However, I have taken to let her chew on her tooth brush about 6X/day with lots of Spry tooth gel on the brush. I am also waiting on a two sided brush which I think will be even better. I do apply some remineralizing paste on her teeth once she is asleep. Depending on how deep she sleeps you might try wiping them with Spiffies while she sleeps.

[Havin' Fun]

We let our son, now 21 1/2 months, "brush" his own teeth. I figured it wasn't worth the battle to do more.

He has 6 cavities and will require general anesthesia to repair them. I have since learned there is a finger brush you put over your finger and brush their teeth. He hates us to use the regular brush, but he loves us to use the finger brush. He has been exclusively breastfed, he has never had sugar, and I have no cavities. My husband only got cavities in college when he was working (and drinking) in a soda bottling company.

I read on the American pediatric dental association website that, if a mom chews xylitol gum 2 or 3 times a day from age 3 months to 2 years there is a 60% to 70% reduction in the child getting cavities.

Using training toothpaste with xylitol several times a day could help as well.

[rumi]

what do you think of chewing celery as a substitute for one of the day's brushings?