Brushing teeth!
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28284
Printed Date: 31 July 2025 at 12:18am
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Topic: Brushing teeth!
Posted By: Caro07
Subject: Brushing teeth!
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 9:23am
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Hi there
I am on the scrounge for some good ideas of how to brush my son's teeth. Lets just say he is far more interested in sucking the toothpaste off the brush and as soon as I try to actually do some brushing he usually throws the toohbrush in a fit of rage and clamps his mouth closed 
He is 18 months and up until now has let me have a quick brush but for the last month or so he is really combative. I don't really want to make a battlefield of it because I don't want to make a big issue of it because I think that will just make the problem worse. I am consoling myself that at least he is getting the benefit of the fluoride in the toothpaste he sucks off! Any suggestions? TIA ------------- Caroline, SAHM to 2 boys, S (4 years old) and J (2 years old) 
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Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 9:26am
| We give him the toothbrush and do our teeth at the same time and try and be silly and he copies what we do. There is also a song that shows up on playhouse disney for teeth brushing and we sing that to him sometimes to if hes fart assing around |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 9:58am
| at that age i dont think the toothpaste is really necessary... esp if all he is doing is eating it! (they arent supposed to swallow it, but what kid doesnt). we just give the 17mth old her toothbrush and she sticks it in her mouth and is now trying to copy the older boys. but yeah stacey is right, they will copy you. |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 10:00am
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Bella has always been diabolical with teeth brushing. At the moment, what seems to be working is if I distract her with asking her what animals make what sound e.g. "what does a tiger do?" "what does a cow do?" etc. As she makes the noises her mouth opens nice and wide and I can brush away!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: first
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 10:29am
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I brush my sons teeth after breakfast and dinner while he is still in his highchair.
I always brush a little first then he gets to brush second. SOmetimes he will clamp down on the brush so I juggle it in his mouth gently wobbling his head and laugh along with him. He soon stops and we go back to the brushing. He does suck on the brush but I only use a very tiny amount of toothpaste so I don't worry about it. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/"> 
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 4:54pm
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Jack won't let us have a go at brushing his teeth anymore. Like Stacey, we brush our teeth at the same time as Jack and he has started brushing his a bit but still does alot of chewing on the brush ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 7:47pm
| I try and remember what part of his teeth I have brushed the last time and what needs doing at the next clean and start there first. Every now and again (like tonight) I have to lie him down and do the head lock brush.....stubborn child! |
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 23 August 2009 at 10:36pm
| We had the same problem with the baby toothbrush - so we tried an electric toothbrush and it's much better as it's quicker and she can hold it in her mouth without having to move it too much. |
Posted By: maysie
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 5:37pm
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we do it together and sing the 'brush brush brush' song from playhouse disney. Lily also has a pidgeon training brush which she plays with, usually in her highchair but I don't put toothpaste on that one, ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Caro07
Date Posted: 24 August 2009 at 6:30pm
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Thanks for the advice guys Will try a few different approaches and see how we go I think! It isn't like he eats sweets and drinks juice all day, although I really wish he was a bit more co-operative Think that might be wishful thinking though - a co-operative toddler! I could make millions if I knew how to make one of those.
Thanks again ------------- Caroline, SAHM to 2 boys, S (4 years old) and J (2 years old)
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 9:14am
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E is the same age and when Dh bathes him he sometimes lets me go in to brush them...no idea why(as we brush at night in the bath) ... otherwise the morning brush(just started) is while he is watching tv...lol .. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 2:12pm
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DD just chews and sucks her brush mostly too. If she needs a really good clean I put on the TV and lie her on the couch and do "special cleaning" with toothpaste on a cotton bud - for some reason she allows me to get in there better with the cotton bud... Other than that I let her clean my teeth (with my brush) and then do hers (with her brush), and get her to copy me. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 2:26pm
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Chloe has started refusing to let me brush her teeth too.
She loves toothbrushing tho. We have a special step-ladder thing which we unfold by the sink and she climbs up, runs her brush under the tap, I put on the tiniest smidge of toothpaste, then she wriggles the brush around in her mouth, copying me as I brush my teeth, and we sometimes sing "this is the way we brush our teeth". She has recently started to copy me spitting in the sink. Our dental hygienist said that at this age it is really about getting them into the habit, and trying to teach them, than actually "cleaning" teeth, if they have a reasonable diet (not heaps of sweets etc). And said that we should just use a smudge of toothpaste on a guaze cloth every once in a while to clean her teeth. So I do this a couple of times a week on the couch or something, but Chloe brushes her teeth twice a day (after breakfast and dinner) ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 2:27pm
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At that age, you just want to get them comfortable with a toothbrush & you definately don't want to make it a battle. A plunket nurse told us to not bother trying to brush our daughters teeth for her if it upsets her & having her suck on the toothbrush was just fine. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Thirdtime
Date Posted: 25 August 2009 at 8:05pm
| Our son started being difficult with brushing his about a month or so ago. So we started singing a song with him. We made up our own song that goes to the tune of 'this is the way we wash our face'. The song is long enough to do the bottom and top twice and then rinse. He is so good now when it comes time to clean them. |