Doesn’t like his teeth being brushed!!!

HELP!!!!!!

My boy clamps his mouth shut at the sight of his toothbrush ...he has his two bottom teeth and has had them for a month or so and I have been trying to brush them for a while now but he puts up a huge fight and it always ends in tears ...so haven't been very succesful in doing so. Im wondering if its the toothpaste he doesn't like? Either way has anyone else had this problem and if so, how do you get past it?



Edited by Mum2Lucas

Well I wasn't too sure either, but I saw a thread on OB about brushing teeth and our Plunket Nurse had given us a brush and toothpaste at our last visit....so I just assumed - As ya do

You don't have to use a toothbrush. It may be easier to use a piece of muslin or face cloth etc.

Maybe if he just had it after a meal to play with and with a little bit of that junior toothpaste then he might just chew on it, and maybe this might clean them abit. Not much help sorry my boy is 12 and I can't remember what I did, goodluck

I'd let him play with it. And not bother about every day yet if it's just going to create bad feelings on his behalf. Also, skip the toothpaste. He won't need it yet and he might not dislike just water as badly.

Yup once they have teeth you should be starting to introduce the toothbrush.

We just let Maddie play with hers to start with but I think we got pretty lucky...she loves having her teeth done! Gets upset if we don't do them (long may it last!!!)

Failing that....as Nikki said...tickling, holding upside down or trying for a quick brush when they yell!

Edited by Paws

when they only have two teeth its safe (and probably best to ) just use a cloth and dab them

when hes a bit bigger and gets more, my pointers would be

1-make sure its a baby toothpaste (milk teeth one)
2-get TWO brushes, one for him, one for you
3- to brush the front of his teeth , get him to give you a big smile with his teeth clenched (i used to tell caitlyn to "smile like a monkey")
4-to get the ones at the back ask him to open big like a crocodile
5-also, let him watch you brush yours, so he knows its part of everyday life

Cool.  letting them think that the toothbrush is a fun toy really helps!  Ella thought tooth-brushing was great for the first month or so.  But since then she's hated having her teeth cleaned, especially the top ones - we'd sing her a silly song for it, but only when her mouth was open, and as soon as she clamped shut the song was over, then started up again once she opened - that worked for a month-ish, then we just had to do the brush'n'sob for lack of a better alternative, and now if her dad sits down and tips her back along his lap and pretends to laugh hysterically, she'll laugh back for long enough to get the job done.  It's a bit of a performance here, sorry.  That mightn't be reassuring for you!