h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've tried 'No teeth, no book.' (For about 6 months now.) PaperBaby doesn't seem to notice that when she actually cooperates, we read all the books she wants before bedtime. Probably because it's such a rare event (And before anyone asks, no, I don't withhold daytime reading--just bedtime.) I've changed from holding Faith on my hip to sitting on the floor with my legs wrapped around her to pin her arms down and putting her in a (gentle) headlock to keep her head somewhat still. That sometimes works, and when I actually get all her teeth brushed (or at least most of them) I let her pick 1 book if she's not cooperated, but all she wants if she does. Of course, immobilizing her isn't the ideal, and even that doesn't work if she won't open her mouth (tonight, for instance). It's not that she doesn't like the toddler toothpaste--quite often she'll suck it off the toothbrush and then clamp her lips tight. I just need some workable advice...

Have you tried getting her to do it? Sit down with her and brush your teeth with her? A couple of suggestions, I have to go to work, will come back later with some more...
HF

No idea - I didn't worry too much about brushing my son's teeth when he was that age, because I used other methods to keep them rot free - he only ever drank water at that age and only had sweet things with a main meal, lots of crunchy fruit to clean his teeth (gets to more places than a brush anyway) and no snacking between meals.

And before anyone says - erugh that's disgusting - my friend regularly brushed her toddler's teeth, but letting him have a full bottle of orange squash at all times rotted his front teeth away by the time he was 5.

Now, if anyone can tell me how to get a ten year old to brush his teeth, I'd be much obliged. They're disgusting and he's too old to rely on diet to keep them clean now.

It's very difficult to make a todder do anything they don't want to do and toothbrushing can often be an issue that they'll use to wind you up when you're both tired.

At this stage, diet is more important than toothbrushing so if there are some evenings you just can't get it done.

If she tends to swallow the toothpaste, make sure you're only using the tiniest smear on the brush - one of my children has fluorosis on her adult teeth, caused by her toothpaste munching habit as a toddler.

Things you could try:

Brushing your teeth in front of her - sometimes they'll want to copy you.

Have two toddler toothbrushes - one for her to hold and one for you to use if you can get near her.

Get her into a position where you're behind her and she has her head tilted back against your stomach - this gives you a really good view of her mouth and she won't see you coming straight at her.
I used to find that sitting on the edge of the bath with child standing between my legs, leaning against my tummy, was quite good - but it depends on height of child.
Use one of your fingers to pull the cheek away from the outer surfaces of her teeth. Even if she has them tightly clenched you'll be able to brush some areas.

Try to make it fun - and not let it develop into a big issue. One of these days she'll co-operate beautifully.

>>lots of crunchy fruit to clean his teeth (gets to more places than a brush anyway)<<

Sorry Mina - the clinical evidence does not support this.

10 yr old boys? Threats and bribery

Now - can anyone tell me how to get my 18yr old boy to brush his teeth - this is where my professional experience just fizzles into nothingness.
If he was a patient, I'd tell him that getting a girl to you is not on the cards with a dirty mouth.
But I'm his mother - and I know nothing - apparently.

I got my friends 18 month old to brush his own teeth a couple of months ago, albeit accidental

Before that, he didn't like having it done. I put him on the bathroom side, next to the sink so I could wash his hands. There were a couple of toothbrushes on the side near him and he just picked one up, so I ran it under the water and flicked some of the water off the brush. He laughed and then started sucking the brush.

I got my own brush out and showed him what to do, just playing and making him laugh at the same time. He started to copy me and the toothbrush didn't leave his hand for the next two hours

So the best advice I can give is just to make it look fun, play with them while encouraging them



The downside of this was that he will only brush his teeth when he comes to mine

All good advice so far. You could try 'shall we brush your teeth before or after x'.

I agree that good diet is at least as important as brushing & better to gloss over it than make an unpleasant issue over it. Is it purely toddler stubbornness, or is there something about the process that they dislike?

Another thing to rethink is the theory of 'punishment' for not brushing teeth, try the opposite by rewarding for brushing teeth. You say "if you don't brush your teeth we won't have a book reading?"...yes? Try something more positive like, "if you brush your teeth tonight we can *insert reward here* tomorrow." (something small like get a sticker of someone they love (Hi-5, Bob the Builder etc.) sticker books are pretty inexpensive, or a trip to the park on the weekend or the like - kids tend to respond better to rewards than punishments). Other than what everyone else has suggested all I can wish you is Good Luck!!
HF

And Mina...getting a ten year old to brush his teeth? Show him pictures of rotten ones, and diseased gums. Easy to find those kind of pictures on the web if you search. Shock factor can sometimes work. If he's not bothered, just wait until he's a teen and interested in dating. Bad breath through not brushing teeth=no love action
HF

Just thought the child psychologists amongst us might rear up their invariably ugly heads about the showing of nasty pictures to a ten year old. But don't tell me ten year olds haven't seen gorier sights than a few rotting teeth and I'll eat my next door neighbours Skoda
HF

If you use a reward system, I think the prize needs to be more instant.

Her toothpaste doesn't have any fluoride in it, so fluori... however you spell it... isn't a concern

I *do* have an extra toddler brush somewhere, so I'll try keeping her hands busy with that--or maybe I can convince her to 'take turns'(not exactly a 21-month-old's strong suit!)

One of my RL friends said that she just let her kids chew on the bristles when they were little, but that sound sends chills up my spine to the point of nausea Yes, I know I'm

Since she's just about too big for the toddler tub, and will soon 'graduate' to the big tub, I'll try the tub positioning if the extra brush thing doesn't work...

And while I use an electric toothbrush, I *do* still have my regular toothbrush, since I just recently switched, so I'll show her what it is I'm trying to do to her

And maybe I should try what my husband's suggested--brushing her teeth right after dinner instead of right before bed--once her pajamas are on, she's ready for night-night (yes, I'm enjoying that now, since I doubt that'll last very long)

anyway, thanks everyone, and I'll let you know how it's coming

I recently noticed Lush (toiletries company) have started doing toothgels and one of them is black! I was a finicky kid but that would definitely have got me brushing at any age just to see how weird it looked. Plus I remember clearly being allowed to choose my own funky toothbrush as a 'present' - well maybe I was easily pleased.

Woohoo! Brushing my teeth to show her and letting her try doing her own worked! (Tonight anyway) Bit hard getting the toothbrush back so I could get her into pjs, though...

"Sorry Mina - the clinical evidence does not support this."

Oh well, at least he ate a lot of fruit!

I won't need to traumatise J by showing him pictures. He's got 2 uncles and an aunt with rotten manky teeth.

A friend of mine got her older boys to start paying more attention to their teeth by telling them they had great aunt Ada breath. Apparently this aunt used to give them a kiss on the cheek and they would complain that she had bad breath.

My daughter, when she was about eight, would not let me condition and comb her hair regularly for headlice. (it was rife in school at the time)
I found two large ones in her hair so I scanned them in to the PC and blew the pics up. No problem after that.

Another friend gives her toddler his toothbrush in the bath and he sits there quite happily scrubbing his teeth.

I think the best advice here is the reward method and making it a game.

spidey

Oh, Mina--you could try telling him how I was immobilizing Faith, and threaten to do the same to him

She's eating dinner right now, so a *bit* early to see if she'll cooperate again tonight, so I guess I'm really just bookmarking

Yep, worked again! for the suggestions folks

Mina - your son's very lucky to have a Mum who's wise about what he eats and drinks. He's had the best possible start in life.

Glad you're having some success, Amy.