Won't let me brush her teeth?!

[Windmills]

Daisy just simply refuses to get her teeth brushed. She screams, clamps her mouth shut, hits/scratches me and kicks me I don't know why she hates it so much. I was hoping this would pass but it's been months now. In the morning I let her do it 'herself' but obviously at night there's no other option but to brush them properly. It's really horrible and upsetting for both of us and im so worried her teeth are going to decay she eats a lot of fruit but only drinks water and milk.
I've tried making it a game, I've tried doing it in the mirror, I've tried letting her play with the brush, I've tried brushing mine in front of her, I've tried distracting her.. I don't know what else to do, I'm starting to dread bedtime because I just don't want to brush her bloody teeth

 

[xolily]

is there anyone around to help? Laila went through a phase of this and we literally had to restrain her and force her mouth open =/ not nice but i definitely don't want her getting bad teeth! xx

 

[Baby France]

To get mine to allow me to brush their teeth I would show them what they need to do. I.e. up and down, side to side, on your tongue etc....

I would then tell them that its mummys turn to check and I would have a look. I would then say Uh oh....you missed a bit, mummy get it.

In the morning I do it, check it and say "oh perfect" but at night, they always miss a little spot. If they don't let me do it, I make sure that I do. It might mean fighting them, but well TBH though the 'checking' seems to be working...touch wood!

 

[spacebaby]

Thanks for that tip. Our's has never let us brush either, one of us holds her and tries to get her mouth open and the other brushes. It can be frustrating especially if you're tired.

 

[AlwaysPraying]

My guy is doing the same thing. He used to be so great. He'd see the toothbrush and open his mouth. I think his molars are coming in now, so his gums are sore and it hurts. It's been almost a month of this, I'm with you, worrying it's going on too long and it will cause bad teeth at some point.

He likes to suck on the wash cloth in the tub, so I'll use that as a brush on the days I've failed with the toothbrush. I figure that's better than nothing. He'll let me rub all his teeth with the wash cloth, sort of, better than the toothbrush. Not sure it's good advice, but it's what we've done.

 

[RachA]

We tried to make sure it wasn't a big deal. Always thought that if he kick up a big fuss and got distressed about it then it'd make it harder in the long run. Because of this we never pushed the issue. We just let him do them and that was it. Now he is older, brushing his teeth is one of the things on his sticker reward chart so he wants to do them to get his 'prize'

 

[~RedLily~]

My LO has recently stopped letting me brush her teeth. I bought the MAM massaging brush, it has two end and I let her 'brush' her teeth and then once she's used to it she let me brush them properly. She wont with her normal toothbrush though. I think it's because her back teeth are coming through.

 

[Windmills]

I don't want to make an issue of it but I'm really paranoid about decay. My mum is a nursery teacher and she sees so many kids with awful teeth

 

[Windmills]

My LO has recently stopped letting me brush her teeth. I bought the MAM massaging brush, it has two end and I let her 'brush' her teeth and then once she's used to it she let me brush them properly. She wont with her normal toothbrush though. I think it's because her back teeth are coming through.

Ive seen that actually, I might buy that and see if shes any better! Thanks

 

[RachA]

Don't worry about decay too much at this age. You could always take her to the dentist when you go and get them to check them for you.
DS hasn't yet seen the dentist and he's nearly 4. Every time we go we take him but he's a bit scared of the dentist at the moment but the dentist said not to worry about it and not to worry that the teeth aren't being brushed every day.

 

[purpledahlia]

I have to pin her down

 

[Windmills]

I don't have a dentist, I really need to get one but I was under an orthodontist until I was about 6 months pregnant and I haven't had a chance since I doubt she'll let a dentist look in her mouth either.
It feel like torture pinning them down doesn't it!

 

[lalitas charm]

DD wont let me brush her teeth, with most things these days all you hear is "Mine I'll do it!" and then howling if she isn't allowed. She loves to chew her toothbrush so I let her do that as many times a day as she likes which I hope will keep her teeth in as good condition as possible. She isn't afraid of her teeth being brushed, its just that she's so feisty and independent.

I think that there are differing views about it. 1 dentist I spoke to said that the important thing was that she is getting the habit of her teeth being brushed into her life so when she gets a bit older there wont be an issue. and another was a bit concerned but our diet is pretty sugar free so wasn't overly concerned at this point.

Personally I don't want to restrain DD or force her to have her teeth brushed, I think that is only going to create negative associations for the future and long term that could just damage her oral health.

 

[lili24]

We have the same problem L has had a check up at the dentist though and he said not too worry too much at this age if there are days when she won't let me thoroughly clean them. xxx

 

[slf2010]

I have the same problem teeth cleaning time turns into a battle i dread it but am so worried about tooth decay would rather have that battle than them not get their teeth cleaned- difficult to clean them properly sometimes though as they will clamp their mouth shut and turn their heads xxx