Teeth brushing? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

sum1sgirl155 · 04-16-2008, 08:42 PM

My son has eight teeth, and he hates when I brush them or wipe them...anything to do with cleaning his teeth he screams and fights. Should I be holding him down and forcing this? He's 13 months odl by the way

luckydarlin · 04-17-2008, 07:12 AM

What are you using to brush them with? I bought the Oragel flavored gum and teeth cleaner with the little finger brush and once my daughter tastes the flavors, she's more likely to let me do it. Although, when she has a tooth coming in, she doesn't let me do it, so I just don't. ...and I get bit a lot!

Others may disagree with me, but I think although it's important to keep their teeth clean, at this age you don't want to freak them out about cleaning their teeth, so I'd say if you have to hold him down, then let it go until he's ready.

Good luck...and watch out for those finger bites!

heathergirl · 04-17-2008, 08:12 AM

I know if you make it fun the better for them. They have different flavors of tooth paste...let you child pick it out. also they have tooth brushes that plays music....I would force them to do it every day. I know others say they would let it go...i have seen what happens when parents dont force it even upon little kids. And it is not pretty and if the dentist thinks it bad they can call social services on you and most will. So i would force it but make it fun!

sum1sgirl155 · 04-17-2008, 08:30 AM

I've tried finger brushes, music toothbrushes, flavoured toothpaste, cloths, everything...he just hates it.

Tiff24 · 04-17-2008, 04:10 PM

You might try letting him brush his own teeth. Obviously, a 13 month old won't do a good job but it might get him used to having the toothbrush in his mouth. I wouldn't let him run around with it or anything though.

I always brush my sons teeth then give him the toothbrush and then brush mine while he watches and he tries to do what I do. Maybe after a few days of brushing his own teeth you can explain that you have to brush them first then he can brush them. I've also read that for some kids, if you let them brush YOUR teeth they are more likely to let you brush theirs. Worth a try. Colgate has some super cute stage 1 brushes, you could take him to pick one out and exlpain what it's for while he's choosing one. We also use toddler toothpaste and my son loves the flavor! I think it's bubblegum flavor by orajel. He loves to suck it off the brush after I've brushed his teeth.