[Yulia_R]

Hi mamas,
I'm totally upset today

. We were slowly gently teaching our son (he just turned 2) to brush his teeth. Well, so far (and it's been going on for months) we didn't have much luck with it. He always looses interest in his tooth-brushes very quickly, whines for ours (we wash them and give it to him; he has probably 10 toothbrushes by now), doesn't allow us to brush his teeth, doesn't like any toothpaste on his toothbrush. Basically, he is just chewing and sucking it. I wasn't worried too much about it though, I thought he'd do it right when he's ready.

But yesterday we went for a well-being check up. I knew that this was waste of time (which it absolutely was, indeed

: ) and we don't vaccinate our kids, but I thought it wouldn't hurt if the doctor takes a look at my son's eczema. My husband went with us.

Well, the subject of tooth brushing came up. The doctor said that if he doesn't allow us to brush his teeth we need to force him

: . She said that he will get to love it and soon will be asking to brush his teeth five times a day.
Force him…love it…hm…I highly doubt that someone who is being forced to do something will end up loving it

: . But the problem is that she bought dh on this. He said he'll try unless I figure our a way to do it without a straggle.
What do you mamas think? Can it be a good idea to force a 2y.o. to brush his teeth? Is it really that necessary at this age? And how else can I get him to do that?
Thanks in advance!
Yulia.

 

[snoopy5386]

yes, I do think it is a good idea. I force my 1 yo to brush her teeth. We try different fun things, but in the end 9 times out of 10 it is a struggle and she is screaming and crying. But you know what? It is over in 30 seconds, she is fine, and I am not as worried about her getting cavities. Go over to the dental board and read about all the kids there with horrible cavities. Which would you rather do, hold your son down every day for 1 or 2 mins to brush his teeth or have him sedated in a year or two to fill cavities? Teeth brushing is a non negotiable for me, like riding in the carseat. Like it or not, it is happening.

 

[rzberrymom]

Gosh, this is going to sound funny, but it worked for us. We had a book with hippos, all with their mouths wide open. And then we took our DD to the zoo and she saw the hippos opening their huge mouths. So, whenever we brush her teeth, we both keep reminding her to open her mouth like the hippos, and she usually gets such a kick out of being a hippo that she'll let us brush. If she resists, we have her brush daddy's teeth while he pretends to be a hippo, and after that she's usually ready for us to brush hers. Good luck!

 

[ani'smommy]

We struggle with this too. And like you, for a long time, we just let it go. But now we really feel that she needs to brush regularly. (Especially because it's summer and people keep giving her ice cream.

)

Here are our tricks:

First Anneke brushes her own teeth for as long as she wants. 5 minutes or so usually. Then it's mama or dada's turn. She can choose. Usually she loves brushing by herself and doesn't like anyone else to.

So. here's what we try.

1. Airplane toothbrush into the mouth.
2. Talking about sugar/food on her teeth and how it will make her teeth sick.
3. Telling her that there are animals or other funny things in her mouth that have to be brushed out.

:
4. Mama brushing until I'm done singing a song.
5. Mama brushes while Dada counts to 10 or 15 or whatever.

We often have to go through all of these things. If none work, we do force her. It's not fun, but it is over fast and she recovers immediately. The next night she runs and grabs her toothbrush and starts brushing her teeth, so it doesn't seem like she's too traumatized by it. Less traumatizing than cavities and sedation.

 

[AmyLouise]

Have you tried using two toothbrushes? One for your DD to use when it's her turn and you to use in her mouth. Maybe if you say "okay, Mommy's turn to brush your teeth now! Mommy's done! Your turn!"

It's worth a try! GL!

Amy

 

[alegna]

Yep. We use two toothbrushes. But it's never optional. We've been brushing her teeth since she's had them. Now she takes a turn then it's daddy's turn (sometimes mama, but usually daddy) and we do it.

There have been some stages where it was a fight, but it's a health and safety issue so there's no option IMO.

We do everything in our power to make it fun and easy. But it gets done no matter what.

-Angela

 

[Surfer Rosa]

It's a non-negotiable in our house. Initially, she'd fight it, but now she knows the routine, and complies (and she's stubborn, so it's not like she's a generally compliant kid, lol). And it's true-she LOVES brushing her teeth, for the most part, and does ask to brush a few times a day.
We do a quick brush in the morning (mostly her, and I do a quick all over job). In the evening, we let her have a turn, then it's my turn, and we do a very thorough cleaning. DH will do an action song if she's not in the mood to co-operate (ie "wheels on the bus", etc) and it distracts her enough that I can get her teeth cleaned properly.
Work it into your routine, and even if it feels wrong to "force" your kid to do something they don't want to do, it's better than some of the other potential outcomes. One of our friend's sons has 22 cavities when he went to the dentist at 3, and had to put under to have serious work done. Yikes!
GL!

 

[texasmamaof4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna Yep. We use two toothbrushes. But it's never optional. We've been brushing her teeth since she's had them. Now she takes a turn then it's daddy's turn (sometimes mama, but usually daddy) and we do it. There have been some stages where it was a fight, but it's a health and safety issue so there's no option IMO. We do everything in our power to make it fun and easy. But it gets done no matter what. -Angela

This, exactly.

 

[Yulia_R]

Ok, I guess this is right thing to do then. Thank you guys so much for your help!
yulia.

 

[sweetpea333]

i have this problem.. I use baby teeth and gum cleanser, she loves the taste and I help them squirt some on and I say "let me see those beautiful teeth are", I oooh and aaah over them and tell them how nice there teeth are because I brush them, I just started this and it seems to work... so far.

 

[CaraNicole]

could you make a game out of it? like maybe let him "brush" your teeth while you are doing his?

 

[chelsmm]

I let dd help brush my teeth first, then we do hers. Lately we have also been pretending to be puppy dogs...she looks in the mirror and I ask to see her puppy teeth. Then I say silly things like "oh, I see lots of (whatever she ate that day) in your puppy teeth" and I brush. The puppy thing works because our dog always has her mouth open and tongue out, so dd does this too. Most days this works. Otherwise, I do tell her that we must brush her teeth and I just go ahead and do it. It's not something that I let go because I feel it's important. Being silly helps though.

 

[AEZMama]

DS had some serious oral issues when he was younger. I couldn't figure out how to get him to enjoy brushing. If I forced, it just made it worse. I tried everything.

What eventually worked was when I figured out he LOVED to get his face washed (I rub my wet hand around his face while he makes noises) and loved to wash his hands. I did one, then made a fun song about brushing and only did as much as I could at the time, then did the other loved wash. Little by little, he not only loved having his teeth brushed, but he now does it himself! He enthusiastically points to the medicine cabinet where his brush & paste are. Now that is our bedtime routine-he RUNS to the bathroom.

 

[mbhf]

my 2yo is more than happy to open his mouth and let me brush his teeth if i lift my shirt and expose the milkies.

otherwise he tries to clamp his jaw shut and/or ask to spit every time i stick the toothbrush in his mouth.

 

[smudge]

DD is 20mos old. I work M-Th evenings and don't get home until she is in bed. DH DOES NOT brush her teeth at night. It makes me mad.

DD does not like to brush teeth but I feel that this is not open for dicussion. Tonight her teeth were brushed for the first time since SUnday. When I brushed her teeth tonight her toothbrush was a bit bloody, telling me that gingivitis isn't far off.

I have to force her. I try singing and silly games, etc. BUt when it comes down to it I get the brush in there and get it done. She cries but then her mouth is open and its over. Afterward she gets a dixie cup of water and is all smiley again.

I am going to have to just do it every am. I was hoping DH could help me out on this...