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| Raising Boys |
| Public online group |
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| My son is 20 months old and we have been brushing his teeth with a real toothbrush for about 4 months. We were using the finger brush, but now he seems to cry and scream when we are brushing his teeth. We do it twice a day and he doesn't seem to be getting any better even with the flavor Gerber toothpaste. He still has some teeth coming in but I don't brush in that area. I spoke to his dentist and she says it is not painful, it just has to get use to it. Any advice??? |
| Posted by Makina on 05/08/2008 08:33 AM
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| I bet it's the new teeth - we went throughb this with our son who's 22 months now, and sometimes we still have issues. We give him a toothbrush to hold, then I brush, then ask him to brush, and hopefully somewhere in there, we get all the "toofies" brushed. :) |
| posted by on 06/25/2008 02:33 PM
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| I just read this post, I have problems, still, with both my boys. My older one will be 3 in 2weeks, and it's hit or miss when he will let me brush his teeth without the fuss. My baby is 21 months, and he has also started refusing to let me brush his teeth. They want to do it themselves. Which is fine, yet I still need to "help" them get all the teeth. But some days, that is nearly impossible! |
| posted by Steph on 06/27/2008 06:46 AM
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Hi Makina
I just also responded to this question in the First Time Mom's group:
My son is 22 months old and I bought him one of the battery operated toothbrushes with his favorite animated character (Spiderman) on it. Then I let him stand at the sink and brush by imself why I also brush mine with an adult battery operated toothbrush. I make funny faces and elaborate gestures of rinsing and spitting out the water. He finds it funny and likes to imitate me. I then just make sure I control his toothbrush a little bit to ensure he cleaned all over.
This has become highly effective for me becuase even when I am brushing mine without him, if he hears my toothbrush buzzing, he runs coming to ask me for his "Spiderman toothbrush" as well. |
| posted by Afihtan on 07/27/2008 08:03 PM
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| I've had this problem with noth of my boys (ages 5 and 21 months) at some point. With my older child it was actually a symptom of something bigger. It could be a sensory issue, meaning he doesn't like the feel of the toothbrush in his mouth, on his teeth, or gums or cheeks. Or maybe the sound it makes in his head. However if he doesnt react negatively to other sensory stimuli then thats probably not your problem (ie sounds, textures, smells. and it doesnt have to be loud noises or rugh textures...my son CANT STAND white noises and HATES to have his shoes and socks off...even to take a bath!!) The other thing you could consider is that brushing teeth is now a CONTROL issue... try giving him his own "big boy" toothbrush as suggested all ready. You could use that mouth wash that turns their teeth blue to tell when all the plaque is gone also if you dont give them alot, just enough to make him think his a big shot grown up then i wouldnt worry if he doesnt spit it all out. Also you could try to "clean up" after he brushes but dont push it...the more you make a big deal out of it the more he will!! At this age they dont really have that much plaque that going one time without perfectly brushing their teeth is going to kill them ( almost the exact words my pediatrican told me when i was going through that with my oldest!!! |
| posted by Ashley on 08/10/2008 12:27 AM
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| Make it a funny game. All three of mine have enjoyed me brushing their teeth if we are finding all of the food to clean off. "There's the cheerios!" "I think I see goldfish!" "Wait, there's mac&cheese way back here." They all seem to buy into it. |
| posted by Tanya on 10/18/2008 10:32 PM
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| My son is 2 1/2 and he is just now accepting that his teeth have to be brushed, I have tried to make it fun and anything I could think of to make it less undesirable to him, He just never liked it. Now he knows it is going to get done whether he likes it or not, and will open his mouth wide and is very good about it. I always thank him for being such a good boy while I brushed his teeth. I think it just takes time for them to understand that these are every day things they will have to do. I have noticed a lot of things have gotten easier as he gets older. |
| posted by amy on 10/25/2008 06:47 PM
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| try buying a softer toothbrush meant for children (the softest you can find) and using training toothpaste (it's safe if kids swallow it and it's flavored). at this age toothpaste isn't even necessary. my son freaked out the 2 times we tried brushing his teeth, now he opens his mouth for it. my husband is a dental assistant and offered this advice. |
| posted by cass on 11/03/2008 02:22 PM
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| My son is 15 mo and we use the little tooth brush meant for toddlers. We use the Baby Einstein tooth paste. We let him do it him self while we (my husband and I) brush our teeth. Joshua (our son) stands up on a stool and is able to see over the sink and reach the water and see in the mirror. He thinks it's great to be like mommy and daddy! Then when my husband is done brushing his teeth he helps Joshua get them brushed well. We clap and tell him his such a good boy and that he is so big, big like daddy! On days that he is teething we skip brushing unless the "asks" to brush. On teething days I give him frozen waffles and that seems to help. |
| posted by D on 11/10/2008 09:26 AM
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| We've had the same problem with our son he used to scream. It would take both me and my husband to brush his teeth b/c he would put up such a fuss. Now he is 29mo old and loves when we brush his teeth. At night he says teeth meaning he wants to brush his teeth. Now we are going through the same thing with our 17mo old. I don't think it hurts, it must feel strange and they don't understand but as they get older they understand it more. |
| posted by Ann on 11/10/2008 08:40 PM
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