[Snuggles]

Hi everyone,<br><br>
I am out of ideas for encouraging my almost 2yo to allow me to brush her teeth.<br><br>
She is fiercly independant and always has been. She never spoon-fed... she has always fed herself. She dresses herself. 'I do it, I do it.'... is something she says umpteen times a day. Which is wonderful, but I am worried about her dental health.<br><br>
She will brush her own teeth, but not thoroughly and never brushes the face of her teeth which I can see are in need of it.<br><br>
Things I have tried:<br><br>
Taking it in turns.<br>
Singing songs.<br>
A special toothbrush that sits on my finger.<br>
An electric toothbrush.<br>
Letting her brush my teeth so that I can brush hers.<br>
Getting her sister in on the act.. brushing DD#1s teeth in the hope that DD#2 will then allow me to brush her teeth.<br><br>
I will not force myself into her mouth, but what else can I do?

 

[benharperfan]

My dd sounds as independent as yours. She also LOVES brushing her teeth, and I just tell her that if she wants a turn, she HAS to let mommy or daddy take a turn first. Then I ask her to imitate my silly faces and say "can you do this?" while I open my mouth really wide or put on a big grin, and she imitates me, lets me brush, knowing that she will get a turn. If she won't let me have a turn, then she does not take one either (since we try to brush twice a day she still gets her teeth brushed at least one of thoise tries per day).<br><br>
Good luck! I know how draining "independent" can be....but think of all the things she probably does on her own that you get a break from!

 

[Snuggles]

Thanks Jen,<br><br>
Oh, you wouldn't believe the will-power of my munchkin. Our evenings for the past week have consisted of a stand-off which saddens both of us. We go through our night-time routine of getting ready for bed and when I tell her it is teeth time she immediately starts crying and says "I do it, I do it". I tell her that first I want a turn and then she can have a turn... but, she's not that attached to brushing her teeth and so she walks away from it. I usually nurse her to sleep. Nursing is most certainly her favourite thing on the planet. When she gets tired she asks to snuggle (nurse). I tell her that first I want to brush her teeth and then she can snuggle. For the past 6 nights in a row she has fallen asleep on the couch sad and without nursing. I do not want this issue to ruin our nursing relationship, or for her to feel sad every time she goes to sleep.<br><br>
On the very rare occassion when she will say "ah" to allow me to brush, seconds later she tells me that it hurts. I will brush very lightly (barely at all) just to try and help her trust me and will stay away from her gums... I don't tend to think that it really hurts because she can brush her own teeth with vigour.<br><br>
ACK!<br><br>
Any other thoughts?

 

[hipumpkins]

I once saw an ad for a chewing toothbrush. It supposedly cleans the kid's teeth while they chew on it. I wish I could remember what it was called or anything to help you but maybe somebody here has heard of it. If I see it in a magazine I will let you know.

 

[lbchacon]

One thing that helped my older son with brushing was me pretending to see ridiculous things stuck in his teeth. I'd say something like "whoa, is that a purple dinosaur way back there?! I gotta brush him away!" He would laugh and let me brush for a few seconds.<br><br>
If she likes to do it herself, have you tried using two toothbrushes so that you could both brush her teeth at the same time? You probably wouldn't have a lot of wiggle room with two brushes in there, but you might be able to get a few teeth clean. And she might find it funny.<br><br>
If she's on the upper end of 2, you might even be able to sit in front of a mirror with her and show her what teeth need to be brushed. ("Your smile teeth are saying 'brush me too!'")

 

[lbchacon]

Oh, and my 15-month-old will sleep through a gentle brushing of his front teeth. Kind of sneaky of me, but we do what we have to!

 

[MommyToElla]

Ahhh, sounds like a night at our house. We've gone through so many teeth brushing phases. We hated it, we liked it, we loved, and now we are in a I HATE IT phase. I won't let my daughter get away with not getting her teeth brushed though (maybe every once in awhile). I'm so scared of cavities, etc. Lately we have to hold her down and it's like we're torturing her..<br><br>
Hopefully this phase will soon pass!

 

[Authentic_Mother]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Snuggles</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7892457"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Hi everyone,<br><br>
I am out of ideas for encouraging my almost 2yo to allow me to brush her teeth.<br><br>
She is fiercly independant and always has been. She never spoon-fed... she has always fed herself. She dresses herself. 'I do it, I do it.'... is something she says umpteen times a day. Which is wonderful, but I am worried about her dental health.<br><br>
She will brush her own teeth, but not thoroughly and never brushes the face of her teeth which I can see are in need of it.<br><br><br>
I will not force myself into her mouth, but what else can I do?</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
My DD is 3 now and what we have always done is brush our teeth together. I brush in the mirror with her and I change directions etc to see how quick she can chase me! LOL! She thinks it is so neat to do something just like a grown up and if she doesnt spend enough time in one area, I will brush that area in my mouth and she will to.<br>
Our problem right now is teaching her to spit the toothpaste back out. We are still using the flouride free stuff, but we need to switch and yet Im afraid to due to her refusal to spit.<br>
Oh and its funny, cause hubby brushes his teeth with her sometimes and he is the type that gags like every time he brushes and therefore she will make gagging noises when she brushes with him.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[Snuggles]

Thanks-so-much everyone! I have new ideas... and new hope! I will trial out your suggestions and report back.... starting with an invasion of purple dinosaurs! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Thanks ibchacon!

 

[pigpokey]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Snuggles</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7892457"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Hi everyone,<br>
I will not force myself into her mouth, but what else can I do?</div>
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You could switch to all raw unprocessed foods.<br><br>
Seriously, one of my dear friends did not want to force her way into her toddler's mouth and now he may lose several of his front teeth. I have not had to force mine, but perhaps they see the glint in my eye that says I would not hesitate <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
We use toddler training toothpaste, which tastes good, and I have them recline across my lap as I sit on the floor of the bathroom. I can see better this way and the better I can see, the less I am brushing sensitive soft tissue.

 

[Snuggles]

Two nights in a row and purple dinosaurs, orange ogres and turquoise trolls have been successfully brushed out from all corners of DDs mouth. Thank-you-so-much! I hope that the habit becomes entrenched before the novelty wears off! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[kokonutmama]

lol, with my ds it's octopusses and trees he always seems to get stuck in there. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> Seriously, we struggled before the octopusses, now when I'm done, he tells me there're more in there! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[hubris]

A friend of mine chases "sugarbugs" inside the mouth.<br><br>
When DS2 was younger we sometimes made silly voices like that old toothpaste commercial with the "cavity creeps"..."we make holes in teeth! we make holes in teeth!" and then make little "ooohhh noooooo! pleeeeeease don't brush us!!!" and made dramatic noises of the cavity creeps being eliminated.<br><br>
Favorite songs:<br>
Brush Brush Bree (Bear in the Big Blue House)<br>
Brush Your Teeth, Little Lion (Jojo's Circus)<br>
Brush Your Teeth (Raffi)<br>
Brusha Brusha Brusha (that commercial from the movie Grease)<br><br>
DS1 got a cool toothbrush at the dentist's office that has a suction cup on the bottom, so we can suction it to the mirror or counter or whatever. That makes brushing a little more fun.<br><br>
Switching up the toothpaste flavor can work, too.

 

[PrennaMama]

Coming in late, but had to post as we really struggled with this too. From all angles dentists and dental assistant in-law and multiple mommies told me, if worse came to worse, to hold her down and just do it. We did out of desperation for a couple times, and then finally got creative again...<br><br>
She's 2.5 now, and I have spent the last 6 mo brushing with her, side by side, with her sitting on a towel on the counter so she ca see in the mirror. I say "Get your E teeth," the teeth that show when we say eeeee, "now open up and get the AAH teeth, and then turn your tooth brush over to get your up-top AAH teeth." I tell her to "Ooo, get those sugar bugs... I see 'em!" And afterward, I tell her I've gotta check for sugar bugs, and do a few swipes over her whole mouth.<br><br>
Sugar bugs works great, and last resort is always "You brush 'em or mom will have to."

 

[Pam_and_Abigail]

We have a game called "playing dentist" that sometimes works, involved setting up cushions in the living room and the kids lay down in our laps for brushing. We'll bring a cup for rinsing and one for spitting, sometimes (or they just run to the bathroom to spit). The kids like to arrange the pillows.

 

[annsheppard]

i sat down and told my two year old that teeth are the one part of our bodies that we have to keep really clean, or they will get sick. i showed him my cavities. i didn't do it in a scary way, but just gently and kind of upbeat. i said, we need to brush our teeth every day, to keep them healthy and feeling good. it did seem to help.

 

[mamak05]

We found and went to a GREAT pediatric dentist when dd was 15 months. She really enjoyed the visit, got a cool toothbrush and a little necklace. I got some good tips on how to brush her teeth as well as other dental care things (nutrition etc). They just "counted" her teeth - no cleaning. Now, at 19 months she remembers the visit, wants to go back and is pretty good about letting her crocodile toothbrush come inside and eat all the food that she ate that day. She only lets me brush her teeth, not DH, and if crocodile gets rough I have to ask him to please be gentle!

 

[Hoopin' Mama]

I've resorted to bribery. He gets a sticker from a special animal sticker collection I bought after he brushes his teeth. (he gets the sticker regardless of how "well" he brushes, but he seems generally more excited about the process).<br>
Putting him on a stool to face the mirror helped too.

 

[Stargirl]

Hi!<br><br>
We have the bite-on toothbrush that a pp mentionned. It is AWESOME!!! Very clever and you can be confident that your little one will do a thorough brushing "by herself."<br><br><a href="http://www.babyplanetboutique.com/angel-brush-babys-1st-toothbrush-p-802.html" target="_blank">http://www.babyplanetboutique.com/an...ush-p-802.html</a><br><br>
HTH

 

[huggingmama]

OHMIGOSH! We haven't been brushing DS's teeth at all!!! When were we supposed to start? I mean, he loves using a toddler toothbrush from time to time, but that's it.<br><br>
Please advise... thanks!