I'm a single, new(ish) mom, and I'm having a devil of a time brushing DD's teef. Granted, she doesn't exactly have a mouthful of teeth, maybe 6 or 7, but I don't want them to rot. She howls like a banshee when she sees the toothbrush and then clamps her mouth shut.
She arches her back and and screams if I try to make her brush!
I even have a toddler toothbrush and baby toothpaste for her! How did you all brush your babies' teeth? She is getting white spots on her tongue (maybe thrush?).
When I first started brushing my kids' teeth I used the rubber nubbed finger cot and toddler toothpaste that you can buy in the toothpaste section of a drugstore. It looks like a miniature sex toy (what my dear hubby called it) that slips over your finger.
Stand behind your child when you brush so you can reach the teeth like you do your own. It makes it a whole lot easier than trying to do it from the front. You can also try having your child lay down with their head in your lap. After they get used to the feel of it, I moved up to a very small, soft toothbrush. WHen that was accepted, I got one of the "Tooth Machines". It is an electric toothbrush with lights and visible gears that brushes all surfaces of the teeth at once. Since the kids tend to brush fro less than a minute, it helps to get more of the teeth clean in that amount of time.
I also let them do the initial brush when they could handle the brush and then said I would "bat cleanup" and do a sweep of the areas they missed.
Most pediatric dentists recommend a visit at 12 months. They check the teeth for early signs of decay and teach you how to care for your kids teeth. It was a very positive experience fro my kids and they love seeing the dentist every 6 months. Hope this helps!
She has not been to a dentist yet. She is 16 months, I was thinking they don't see the dentist til they are three or so. I have an idea just now, I think I will call a dentist office and see if they can tell me how to brush her teeth :)
Children should see a dentist at one year, but most don't see one until 2-3 years old, however, and with your issues, I would not hesitate to make an appointment!
i tell my son to act like a Lion and show me his teeth...then I sing to distract him (he is 4). The 2 year old copies everything his brother does but he is partial the Diego Spin Pro (or something like that) toothbrush. Good luck
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I would take her to the peds dentist and make sure there isn't anything causing this to be painful for her--the spots you mentioned--they could be thrush.
If that is cleared then I would say....have you tried letting her pick a toothbrush at the store herself with her favorite characters on it? I prefer an electric one for my kids......and try different flavors of toothpaste. I just got a strawberry flavored one for my son who is 7 and he loves it! Try letting her do it herself and maybe giving her a reward each time she lets you or does it herself. And maybe try doing it in front of the TV with something on to distract her..... But I agree........you really need to put your foot down and be the mom who knows best on this one. Neglect even at this age can be detrimental.
When you take her to the dentist maybe they can help you with some pointers. After a while she will get used to it......but the fear thing makes me think she is attaching a painful memory with the action--I'd be thinking of that first.
My daughter is 17mos and she was also difficult. I started as soon as she had teeth with a soft cloth, then the finger toothbrush, and she is just a busy girl and not the easiest to work with.
The thing I have found that works the best for her is I let her brush my teeth (an extra toothbrush in her bathroom just for this purpose, I just put water on it) while I brush hers. I open my mouth wide, close it to do the front teeth, etc. and she mimics me and is much more patient with letting me brush her teeth. Toothbrush wars have dropped dramatically since we started with this.
fotografe
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When I first started brushing my kids' teeth I used the rubber nubbed finger cot and toddler toothpaste that you can buy in the toothpaste section of a drugstore. It looks like a miniature sex toy (what my dear hubby called it) that slips over your finger.
Stand behind your child when you brush so you can reach the teeth like you do your own. It makes it a whole lot easier than trying to do it from the front. You can also try having your child lay down with their head in your lap. After they get used to the feel of it, I moved up to a very small, soft toothbrush. WHen that was accepted, I got one of the "Tooth Machines". It is an electric toothbrush with lights and visible gears that brushes all surfaces of the teeth at once. Since the kids tend to brush fro less than a minute, it helps to get more of the teeth clean in that amount of time.
I also let them do the initial brush when they could handle the brush and then said I would "bat cleanup" and do a sweep of the areas they missed.
Most pediatric dentists recommend a visit at 12 months. They check the teeth for early signs of decay and teach you how to care for your kids teeth. It was a very positive experience fro my kids and they love seeing the dentist every 6 months. Hope this helps!