How do you brush your toddler's teeth?

my son is 16 months old and brushing his teeth is a struggle. he screams, kicks and pushes my hand away. on one hand, i'm worried that this might traumatize him, but on the other, i know that i need to do this or he'll end up with a mouth-full of rotten teeth.





i've tried using those rubber gum brushes, soft washcloths, gauze, even cotton swabs, but he really just hates having someone clean his teeth.





answers and suggestions please!

How do you brush your toddler's teeth?
A LOT of babies and toddlers hate having someone put their fingers in their mouths. Honestly, how much do you enjoy that experience? Basically what you're doing is shoving your fingers and whatever you're trying to use to clean the teeth in his mouth, and it's probably freaking him out, or at least is DEFINATELY not a pleasant experience.





Get him a special toothbrush for early brushers, with a favorite character on it (I think there are Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh ones). Use the Training Toothpaste (safe to swallow).





I sat my kids up on the bathroom counter with me (didn't leave them there, my hand was on them the whole time) and put a dab of the toothpaste on the brush then let them go to work. Typically, they would chomp on the toothbrush, but they liked the toothpaste so they kept it in their mouth. Then I would tell them to move the brush around.





No, early on, it wasn't a proper brushing technique, but it got the toothbrush (and toothpaste) IN their mouth, brushing up against the teeth. Around the second birthday, I'd do that but then take the brush from them and quickly do a proper job, showing them how to brush in circles and get all their teeth. I still have to help my four-year-old, but my five-year-old brushes his own teeth now, and they're both on regular kids toothpaste.
Reply:I use a regular toddler toothbrush with that fluoride-free toothpaste. I start singing a song while I brushed my daughter's teeth [for the bottom row I would say "down, down, down" and the top "up, up, up" and for the fronts I would say "cheese, cheese, cheese" because I made it like she was smiling for a camera.] She started singing the song herself and now loves to brush her teeth. Hope this helps!
Reply:Hi,


I let my 18 month old girl brush MY teeth


I have turned it into a game and she loves having her teeth brushed and she likes the taste of the toothpaste. Just do it lightly and a little bit, you don't have to do it as good as you would your own. You definately should brush this first set of teeth as they can become rotten long before they fall out which happened to my friends child.
Reply:Set up a reword system were he can get a star or something every time he allows you to brush his teeth and if he gets so many stars he gets a prize. Also, make him feel like he's part of it, take him to the store and let him pick out his own toothbrush and let him try brushing himself.
Reply:My daughter was the same.





I always gave her toothbrush, sat her down with me and let her watch me.





For a couple of days she wouldn't do anything, then she started copying me. After she used her toothbrush, I got another one which I pretended I had used on me, and that worked too so I could brush after her.





I just had to break the screaming, it took a couple of days but atleast I know her teeth are now cleaned properly.





She liked thinking she was using my toothbrush.
Reply:My toddler LOVES the toothbrushes that "do" something. It's shaped like a fire engine and you push a button to make the bristles rotate and a light on the engine comes on. I let him play with it, walk around the house with it. Then I tell him it's mommy's time to help and take over for a bit. Another thing to try is distracting him, maybe put him in front of the tv for that little bit of time. Luckily right now they don't have to spit out the toothpaste and you aren't confined to the bathroom. Eventually though of course, you'll need to get there, but just start with getting the teeth brushed wherever and however you can. Good luck!!
Reply:One thing that worked with my daughter is that I told her "Oh no I see Swiper (character from Dora the Explorer) in your mouth", then I had to brush him out. She actually seemed to really like that because now she comes up with her own characters for me to find and brush out.
Reply:I had the same problem when I MYSELF tried to brush my youngest daughter's teeth at that age, and the thing that I didn't realize is that is that she wanted to do it on her own!! So, I put some of my crest (a tiny bit) on her little toothbrush and let her mimmick me while I was in the bathroom! I also made sure I asked her her favorite cartoon character that she would like to have on her toothbrush. They sell cool toothbrushes with all kinds of characters and since kids are visually stimulated, this tactic might help.. Now she is 5 and she loves to brush her teeth. He will eventually come around!! When he starts doing this on his own, just keep praising him, by saying "that is such a big boy!!!" Giving him "HI-5" will help too, if he knows that gesture! Reward him with something that he loves to eat or drink!! Hope this helps
Reply:A couple different things you can try:





1) Always brush with him. He will learn by example.





2) Try to make it a fun experience. We have a toothbrush song, so there is usually dancing and singing involved in the toothbrushing process.





3) Enlist the help of a teddy bear or stuffed animal. Dry brush teddy's teeth before your sons, so he knows that it is ok to do.





4) Let him pick out the toothpaste and the toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes tend to be more fun, and they clean more faster, which is great with a squirmy kid.





5) Take turns. Let him try to brush his teeth for a while, and then ask if you can try for a bit. If you succeed in getting half of them clean each time that way, it's better than nothing.





Good luck!
Reply:We lead by example,give him his own brush and tell him to show you how it is done.They are rebellious at time,just stick to him brushing his own teeth.
Reply:I let my son pick out his own tooth brush and paste. Then at brushing time I ask him to look up and brush him teeth, I also let him try doing it him self. When its time to rinse I take a sip and spit it out making a funny noise then ask him to do the same. Just let him be more involved in the whole process, hope this helps!
Reply:No but i was thinking the same the other day. maybe you dont have to because he first set of teeth fall out



bsd apache