Teeth brushing

Anna07 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 14:38

I have posted about this in the past but that was when she was v little, anyway looking for some honest feedback from you all.

So I know you have to brush their teeth preferably twice a day - but how well? When I asked my dentist about 6 months ago he said yes you need to but a lot of it is about it becoming a routine. Anyway Izzy will not let me do it, she will only do it herself and it basically amounts to sucking the paste of the toothbrush and then asking for more "moh moh moh"

Anyway I was talking to my friend the other day as she thought her little boy had a hole in his tooth and was mortified as she brushes his teeth every night brushing each tooth in turn. I was like - OMG - there is no way that could possibly happen in our house.

I have tried making it a game, you brush mummy's teeth I'll brush yours, worked a couple of times but she got wise to it. Now the best I can do is ram the brush in and get a few scrubs before she starts screaming. Have mimicked to her how to brush and she manages to brush a little bit at the front but that is it then goes back to sucking the brush.

Anyway I'm rambling - so can you tell me honestly how well you brush your LO's teeth is what we are doing enough or do I need to get stricter with this.

Nickit · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 14:49

Thanks for posting this Anna. What you describe is exactly what we manage with Isabelle. On some occasions she will let us give her teeth a good scrub but usually it's very quick and she then sucks the toothbrush, occasionally brushing herself for a short while.

I'll be very interested to see what responses this thread gets; sorry I'm not any help really.

isabellasmum · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 14:55

Isabella used to hate me brushing hers and I used to have to get her in a headlock and just get it over with. Seriously. I got fed up of all the drama so just pinned her down and did it.

Strangely enough she likes having her teeth brushed now and lets me go at them for ages.

I don't think them doing it themselves is adequate as the back ones would never get done.

Anna07 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 15:01

Sh!t that is what I am worried about but bathtime is such a drama anyway in our house and worse on hairwash night I can't bear the thought of more dramas and tantrums to that time of the evening. I have kind of been hoping (probably naively) that she will just come round to me doing it eventually but maybe I need to go the headlock route too. Not looking forward to that tonight.

SephiesMum · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickit

Thanks for posting this Anna. What you describe is exactly what we manage with Isabelle. On some occasions she will let us give her teeth a good scrub but usually it's very quick and she then sucks the toothbrush, occasionally brushing herself for a short while.

I'll be very interested to see what responses this thread gets; sorry I'm not any help really.

We are exactly the same here, Joseph loves to get his toothbrush and do it himself but all hell breaks lose when I try and do it, I have tried everything, bribes, letting him do mine, etc, it tends to work for about 2 days and then he clamps up again. It's so frustrating.

iwantone · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 15:28

Oliver is a monkey for letting me brush his teeth too! I let him get the toothbrush and toothpaste and he seems a bit more willing then but still pushes me away when I am trying to brush. I do what isabella's mum does and get him in a headlock and brush away - kind of tough though when he purses his mouth shut on me!! I tend to get a better result though with a washcloth with a bit of toothpaste on and wrap it round my finger iyswim. HTH

Anna07 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 15:29

Just been googling and the washcloth route does seem a recommendation where you have v difficult toddler so may give that a go.

Otherwise it is going to be headlock city for us....

CarlaK · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 15:35

Our is routine- I am 'allowed' (!!) to do three brushes- one top, bottom and front and then she does three brushes herself. The three I do are really thorough and as you can imagine, the three she does are not....

But I also count aloud, so she know that they don't take too long- as in 'oneeeeeeeeeeeeee' (scrub furiously while drawing out the word) twoooooooooooooo (repeat furious scrub!!!!!) etc. So then she thinks she only has to stand quiet for the count of three. Good luck!

rachaelmae · #9 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 16:09

Jessimae brushes hers in the morning whilst i brush mine.... then im allowed to brush hers in the bath at night..... sometimes its a headlock but she can normally be persuaded...

Debbiemeep · #10 (**permalink**) 07-11-08, 16:44

Matthew brushes his himself in the morning when I do mine, mainly he just chews at the brush or makes a few attempts to brush properly, and then spends the rest of the time pretending to spit into the sink or gargle

Night-time, he lets me brush them if I sing postman pat in a funny voice and stop at points for him to say the next word. I've also managed to get him to let me brush them by telling him that there are bugs that come out of his teeth when he eats sweets and that I have to use the toothbrush to get rid of them

He thinks this is quite funny and has to have a good look at the brush to see if I managed to "catch" any bugs!

I have had to resort to the headlock quite often in the past and he won't let hubby brush his teeth for him so he usually has to pin him down and brush like mad.

Debs xx