11 1/2 Month Old Who Refuses to Have His Teeth Brushed

You just get what you can. I still have to hold my 22 month old daughter down sometimes to get her teeth brushed.

Just let them do a little chewing on the toothbrush and then try to get a few brushes in especially at night.

Good luck

(Oh and my 3 year old still remembers when Santa told her last Christmas that she needs to brush her teeth every day morning and night. I could have kissed Santa for that because when she fights me on it I say what did Santa tell you and she brushes her teeth)

there's already been a lot of great responses. But, I am going to approach it from another angle: This is a tiny battle, but they only get bigger...try a positive reward after brushing. Set a new ritual/pattern, & then your child hopefully will be more willing to cooperate!
&, no, your child is not too young to understand this process....it's amazing how much babies comprehend. Good luck!

My husband, the dentist, says be the boss and brush the teeth. You will not hurt him, and if he opens his mouth to scream you have a wide open space to brush. Be sure you are using a toothbrush and gel made for infants rather than toddlers or adults (no flouride at this age so when they swallow it won't hurt them). If you just let him have the meltdown, it will only happen a couple of times before he realizes that you will brush his teeth regardless and the meltdowns will stop. If you stop at the sign of a metldown, he will be in control, now and always because you will be reinforcing his behavior. Most manufacturers of electric toothbrushes list an age range which they feel is safe for use. I have not seen any for this age.

Don't force the issue. Try to make it fun. I few ladies suggested the electric toothbrush. They make some that play tunes now and that may help. If you make it where he hates it and you are forcing him, then when the time comes for him to go to the dentist, he will fight the dentist. The little girl I baby sit is five and has only gone one time to the dentist because she screams at the top of her lungs like he's killing her. She was not one that liked brushing her teeth. Have fun and let him see you brush every now and then also. Good luck and God bless.

Get an electric toothbrush! I had the same problem and it worked for me!!

I am a dentist with a 21 month old who has never liked to brush his teeth, or rather have me brush them. (He loves to suck the water out of the bristles on his own.) For a year now I have had to sit on him and insert one finger in between his pursed lips and behind the last tooth to pry his mouth open. He does scream but not because this hurts. At times i do feel bad because of the intensity of the screaming but everyday I see 2 to 6 year olds with brown nubs for teeth that i have to take out. Now those kids scream from pain and I know I would feel worse if that were to happen to him. I give the same advice to my patients parents. Hopefully they will get past this stage.

I understand your frustration. Ive talked with my daughter's doctor about this and he has said that it is not totally necessary that you brush teeth all the time, if at all at this point. I would suggest still attempting it so he gets used to it and starts to learn good dental hygiene. But dont stress if they dont get brushed for the "adult suggested time" of 2 minutes!
As far as biting goes, I try to put some pressure on the chin and keep the bottom part of the mouth open. Watch those fingers mommy! Hes getting old enough to where you can use an actual children's toothbrush and brush with that. It may be easier for you and for him. After you brush his teeth, let him try. He will probably love it! If not, give it time and dont give up! His brushing doesnt have to be perfect just yet =)
--S.

My 5 year old doesn't like her teeth brushed either. I do have to hold her to get it done. She is special needs so I think with her it's a sensory issue. I keep working on it and hopefully one day she won't mind.

Try an electric toothbrush. Even if he tries to chew on it, the bristles are still turning and scrubbing his teeth. This worked great for my kids!

my 19 month old used to LOVE to brush his teeth but as he gets closer to the "twos" he's discovering his opinion, and well, it's getting more difficult. all the other advice is right as far as i can tell...keep at it, keep trying new things...and i let him gnaw on it a bit after we're done. but i have to brush them first! good luck!

I have always just tossed my daughters toothbrush in the bath tub with her and she is 19 mos. now and is a really good brusher! When she gets distracted playing in the bath, then I try and brush them. I also used to sing the Brusha, Brusha, Brusha, song from the movie Grease, with brushing action and she thought that was funny so that helped as well. Goofy I know, but whatever works right!

Maybe try to get in the habit of "your turn, my turn' to brush. After he has had some time to do it, then it's your turn to brush them. Like some others said, let him hold the toothpaste tube, or a handheld mirror so he can see what you are doing. Even when it's not tooth brushing time, look at your teeth together in the mirror. Help him get interested in them. You could also give him your toothbrush and let him brush your teeth for fun. Then maybe he'll let you have a turn to brush his. Make it fun and laugh while he is doing it so he knows it won't hurt.

try making funny faces in the mirror with him, getting him to open, say aahhh, etc. we use toothpaste that has Elmo on it - instant excitement. and i sing while i'm brushing his teeth - "this is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth, this is the way we brush our teeth, before we go to bed (when we wake up in the morning, after we eat our lunch, whatever time it is). can't think of what tune that is. if i haven't gotten to every tooth before the song's over, i add "up and down and all around, each and every tooth gets clean, brush brush brush brush brush". little ones can have a relex to clamp down on the brush - try the "say ahhhh" and get in there quick before the teeth close. good luck!!!

What I did with my son, I let him see himself in the mirror and I would give him the tube of toothpaste to play with or you can give him anything to keep his hand occupied. I bought him a Toothbrush with a character on it that he likes and bought him the toddler toothpaste (orajel). He loved the tube cuz it had Thomas the Train on it. Now he loves to brush his teeth, but I still brush them after. You can also let him play in the water, washing his hands or even while giving him a bath you can brush his teeth.

Good Luck

Just keep at it. My son is 16 mos and he hasn't always let me wipe out his mouth or brush his teeth. I think if you miss a little bit here and there his teeth won't just rot and fall out of his head. Just wait until he wants to do it himself and you have to clean toddler toothpaste off the ceiling! Fun! LOL! Good luck.