My two year old refuses to let me brush her teeth well. I know this is common, but wondered if anyone has tricks to doing it! I bought the "special" brush and paste, tried stickers, and let her brush her own, but she still seems to has food and plaque on them. I scrub them with a washrag sometimes and have even turned her upside down on the couch! Nothing works. Does she need to see a dentist?

Dentists won't typically see kids before age 3 because they don't like to cooperate. Both of my kids argued about brushing. My position with them is that brushing isn't optional. They can do it the easy way or the hard way. At 2, they both had to do it the hard way 90% of the time. What is the hard way?

I sit on the floor with him laying on the floor in front of me. His head is furthest away from me. Bottom line is I pin him so he can't get away or squirm. It doesn't require a lot of pressure and doesn't hurt them. You can talk soothing to them while you do it. I pin his head between my calves and his arms under my calves. His bottom is between my legs with his legs in the air. Neither one of them really kicked me very much. He can't move. If he gets mad and cries, all the better because his mouth is open.

I talk gently and kindly to him through the process. "Oh, Spency wants to brush his teeth the hard way today. Ok. Open. Can Spency open?" I may need to gently pull down on his chin to open his mouth. It doesn't take tons of pressure to open his mouth.

Actually non of this requires tons of pressure. They are after all only 2 yo and aren't very strong. I have a 2 yo now that this is how I brush his teeth most of the time. I got the idea from a neighbor friend that works for a dentist.

I know many Moms of 2 yos that have to pin their kids to brush their teeth. When my hubby is available, he holds his arms while I brush. But I always have his head between my calves to keep his head from moving.

For other suggestions, you may want to call the Dentist to see what he suggests.

Oh, I also brush my teeth in front of him so he can see that I do it to myself. I have my 6 yo brush his teeth in front of my 2 yo, too. Spenc needs to know that this is what everybody in the family does twice a day. After a while, they stop arguing and just stand there and open their mouths. But, I have never heard of any 2 yo that doesn't start out arguing about it.

Every once in a while, my 6 yo still wants to argue. I still give him the option of easy or hard. He never takes the hard way any more.

Good luck,

Bec

Please do not let your child get away with not brushing her teeth!! I had the same issue with my son and it was way easier to forget it than to fight it. I totally regret it because he is only 4 years old and has 3 cavities. I feel like the worst mother in the whole world. When he was 3 I finally decided to try an electric toothbrush with the whole intention of being able to easier scrub the back teeth in his tiny mouth. To my surprise, he LOVED this new toy. That was the key to getting him to brush. I made him let me brush first, and then he could do it himself all he wanted.
As for the dentist thing... I called when he was 2 years old to a pediatric dentist to set up an appointment. They told me they would not see him until he was 4 years old. When he turned 4, I took him to my family dentist. By then, he had 3 cavities and was scared to death to even sit in the chair. They referred me to a pediatric dentist in a neighboring city (a different one I had called before). I took him and his little brother (15 months old) there and was VERY impressed. Not only did they see my 4 year old, but they also examined my baby. They told me that the start seeing kids as soon as they get their teeth. That way, they are not scared and you get a head start on caring for their teeth. Made total sense to me!! You take a baby to the doctor as soon as they are born! Why not to the dentist as soon as they have teeth? Anyway, it is totally worth it to find a dentist that will see your child right away. I think it would have helped me in caring for my son's teeth and hopefully would have prevented him from getting cavities with regular cleanings. After having his teeth cleaned at the dentist, he still has plaque build up on his back molars. I am very dicouraged, but I am so glad that I learned this lesson before my other son got much older. Good luck to you, and try the electric toothbrush. It really worked for us! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

Electric toothbrush is a great idea.

I recently bought one for my little guy. My 6 yo likes the electric. The 2 yo sometimes likes it sometimes, not. He likes it better than the regular but still wants to fight and push it away.

The greatest deal is that the electric cleans the teeth better and faster. Since he doesn't like it, this gets it over with faster.

Your little guy may like the vibration. Mine has sensory issues that there are many things he doesn't always like the feel in his mouth.

Bec

Thanks so much for all your help! She doesnt like the electric toothbrush! But you are right, if I have to hold her down anyway, then I may as well use an electric one to do it better! I also got the dental floss that comes on the little plastic sticks to floss her quick! This works too. Thanks to all Laurie

My son had build up that looked a little orangey yellow on his k-9's. I tried everything but it is hard to get a good brushing when they are fighting you the whole time. I feel for you.

He goes to the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning he started before he was 3 and he still doesn't like getting his teeth brushed but the dentist told me it was the worse thing you can do is let them get away with it. He even said spank them if they don't let you brush their teeth. I said I don't think the state would appreciate me whipping my kid to get him to brush and he said he actually turned people in that there kids teeth were in bad shape. So he said if you have to hold them down to get them to brush then do it. He said do whatever it takes to get them to brush. Also, no sippy cups at night or bottles. Period. That is the main reason for teeth having decay. He said if he wants a drink of water fine, but no milk or juice and no more than two juices a day anyway.

It is hard luckily the electric toothbrush and him picking out his own toothpaste has helped.

Good luck.

I can see us all now at 8 o'clock fighting our kids to get them to brush. lol

Thanks to all! I found a solution to the problem!!! Maybe this can help others. I have her sit on the counter and get the brushes ready. Then when she opens to use her brush, I get my arm around her in a soft "headlock" and then brush real fast with the electric toothbrush! If she clenches up then I have a hand right there to help her open. I sooth her with words and she is almost opening on her own for the whole time!!! Hope this helps!

make it a fun thing ...... i am 14 and babysit quite often if i have this problem i just make it a fun thing i find sumthing in the kitchen that makes the childs teeth a bright color like red koolaid or a popcicle then i let them have that ......then i say want to see a magic trick and they of course say yes and i brush their teeth (making their teeth change colors)

Glad you found a solution to the teeth brushing! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif