Brushing Teeth - How Successful Are You?

[alaskagrown]

So Lilly just got her first two bottom teeth (more like nubs still) and so we need to start getting into a good dental hygiene routine. We try to brush her teeth two times a day...but it's a total disaster. I feel like I deserve a gold star if I get at least two consecutive seconds of bristle-to-teeth contact. Other than that, the whole experience is a arching, kicking, screaming, tearful disaster. I've tried letting her use a regular stick tooth brush, a baby bendable soft brush, my electric toothbrush....no avail! It's not the flavor of the toothpaste, it's the actual act of doing it, I'm 100% positive. Despite being a total food junkie she has a STRONG oral aversion - wash cloths coming at her, tissues going for her nose, or any other thing aside from food near her face. I mean, imagine a serrated rusty dental drill or something coming at your mouth...that's the reaction she gives me! She has no interest in doing it herself and letting her watch me do it/turn taking does not work either. Tips?!

Am I the only one who is not successful at brushing LO's teeth? I remember a thread back a while ago about teeth and someone made the comment that they can't believe some people don't hold the same standards for their LO's hygiene as their own. That comment has really got to me and makes me feel pretty low HELP!

 

[Bevziibubble]

Ive only managed to brush Holly's teeth a few times in the four months that she's had teeth. She will scream, tantrum and close her mouth tight shut. I've had loads of advice on how to make it into a fun game and brush teeth at the same time, but it just hasn't worked for me. Holly is so strong-minded, stubborn and determined and I can very rarely get the toothbrush in.

Don't feel bad about it. I know a lot of people struggle to brush their LO teeth. Babies don't understand why we are doing it, and it's not like we can explain or reason with them until they're a little older and might be more open to a game of teeth brushing fun!

In the meantime just keep trying like I'm doing, and hopefully one day we will get there!

 

[Incubus]

I just give him the brush with some tooth paste on when he's in the bath and let him do his own thing. No chance would he let me do it, he's have right meltdown! Luckily he seems to really like the minty taste and spends a good 20 mins chewing the brush and cries when he has to give it back. He doesn't brush then just chomps on it.

 

[Noelle610]

I have such little success that I'm worried her teeth are going to rot.

 

[alaskagrown]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one! My friend took her baby in for her 18 month check-up and the doctor was "shocked" my friend wasn't brushing her LO's teeth 2x a day for 2 minutes each time....

 

[Noelle610]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one! My friend took her baby in for her 18 month check-up and the doctor was "shocked" my friend wasn't brushing her LO's teeth 2x a day for 2 minutes each time....

Oh dear God! I can't even imagine. You're not alone... It's the most annoying thing ever. Why can't their teeth be self-cleaning?

 

[MrsPear]

If the bristles even make contact with each tooth I consider it a success. x

 

[jessicatunnel]

Lilly actually really loves brushing her teeth. When I say, "lets brush your teeth!" She smiles really big and opens her mouth up really wide, haha. We brush them twice a day but nowhere near two minutes! She would not sit still for two whole minutes no matter how much she likes having her teeth brushed.

I wouldn't worry too much. Your Lilly only has two nubs so I wouldnt worry about them rotting too much. Rotting would only happen over a long long period of time without having brushed them and them drinking excessive amounts of milk or caffeine.

Just keep trying. Maybe get a spoon and act like your about to feed her and switch it with the toothbrush at the last minute? Hah

 

[bananaz]

Another one here with a baby who won't let me brush her teeth. She just clamps her mouth down on the toothbrush so I can't move it around.

Have you seen these before? https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-Babys-1st-Toothbrush/dp/B000GKU7C0/

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/14103317143158p.jpg
​

It has lots of tiny bristles on the sides so that it basically brushes the teeth while baby chews on it. Elsie LOVES hers, I guess it feels good on her gums. I've seen them a few places including big box stores.

 

[veganmama]

my LO brushes his teeth all the time by himself with the angelcare baby tooth brush

 

[rainbowskin]

I use a baby toothbrush that looks like a mini banana so slightly disguised as food lol. You can find it on Amazon.

 

[Aoifesmum12]

Worst. Thing. Ever. Aoifes screams like she's being hurt when I try. She clamps her mouth shut as much as she can. I've resorted to using a flannel with toothpaste on it just to rub them. I was ending up hurting her with the brush in the struggle x

 

[Randianne]

I brush her teeth myself in the mornings and consider it a success if the bristles actually touch her teeth. At night, I give her a brush to chew on while she's in the bath.

To answer that 'why don't you hold your LO to your own hygiene standards' comment: I do not scream, cry, hit, bite, or lose my freaking mind during the process. It could take me hours to get the toothbrush to connect with LO's teeth for two minutes.

 

[Noelle610]

To answer that 'why don't you hold your LO to your own hygiene standards' comment: I do not scream, cry, hit, bite, or lose my freaking mind during the process. It could take me hours to get the toothbrush to connect with LO's teeth for two minutes.

LOL! So true!

 

[kissesandhugs]

I brush LO's teeth at bath time I sing a song and he loves it but lately has been giving me a hard time so I'm sure he'll start refusing soon. When that's the case I just hand him the tooth brush and let him chew on it. Good enough

 

[MrsButterfly]

Another one here with a baby who won't let me brush her teeth. She just clamps her mouth down on the toothbrush so I can't move it around.

Have you seen these before? https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-Babys-1st-Toothbrush/dp/B000GKU7C0/

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/14103317143158p.jpg
​

It has lots of tiny bristles on the sides so that it basically brushes the teeth while baby chews on it. Elsie LOVES hers, I guess it feels good on her gums. I've seen them a few places including big box stores.

We have one of these too so they're available both sides of the pond! My lo seriously adores it.

 

[Nat0619]

Another one here with a baby who won't let me brush her teeth. She just clamps her mouth down on the toothbrush so I can't move it around.

Have you seen these before? https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-Babys-1st-Toothbrush/dp/B000GKU7C0/

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/14103317143158p.jpg
​

It has lots of tiny bristles on the sides so that it basically brushes the teeth while baby chews on it. Elsie LOVES hers, I guess it feels good on her gums. I've seen them a few places including big box stores.

We have one of these too so they're available both sides of the pond! My lo seriously adores it.

We have this too. We were doing OK with it but she's just started to play up with it the past week or so I used to just put a smear of paste on and give it her and let her chew on it (and she would for a few minutes on and off). But lately she has developed a liking for the tube of toothpaste and just wants to play with and bite that She just throws the toothbrush and clamps her mouth shut if we try and get it in! I did buy a proper little baby toothbrush recently that I haven't tried yet so may introduce that to see if she'll use that better. Also wondering whether to start letting her see me clean my teeth at the same time as maybe she'll start to copy

 

[alaskagrown]

Another one here with a baby who won't let me brush her teeth. She just clamps her mouth down on the toothbrush so I can't move it around.

Have you seen these before? https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-Babys-1st-Toothbrush/dp/B000GKU7C0/

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/14103317143158p.jpg
​

It has lots of tiny bristles on the sides so that it basically brushes the teeth while baby chews on it. Elsie LOVES hers, I guess it feels good on her gums. I've seen them a few places including big box stores.

This is one of the three that I have tried with her, no luck

 

[Noelle610]

Another one here with a baby who won't let me brush her teeth. She just clamps her mouth down on the toothbrush so I can't move it around.

Have you seen these before? https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-Babys-1st-Toothbrush/dp/B000GKU7C0/

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/14103317143158p.jpg


​

It has lots of tiny bristles on the sides so that it basically brushes the teeth while baby chews on it. Elsie LOVES hers, I guess it feels good on her gums. I've seen them a few places including big box stores.

This is one of the three that I have tried with her, no luck

Too smart to be fooled

 

[SaraEmily]

It was a nightmare for the first month but lately she's starting to enjoy it. We had to try out a bunch of different brushes, and finally found a finger brush that she likes (Nuk).

Now whenever I get the brush out she opens her mouth really wide and laughs while I brush. I try to sing to her and make it enjoyable, but that really only works if your LO is willing in the first place. Nothing worked until she decided on her own that she didn't hate it anymore.