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Brushing my toddlers teeth (Also in BIF 2010)
Hi. I am hoping someone can help. My daughter is 18 months old and we have been trying to brush her teeth since they first started to come through. We are trying not to make it a battle, but it can be very frustrating when she refuses to open her mouth. We have also tried 'setting a good example' by doing our teeth at the same time but this doesn't seem to help either. Does anyone have any suggestions for us please?
Thanks in advance X
Thanks in advance X
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Replies
I have to say my solution has been to let her do it herself? Generally she will have a good old chew on the brush but more recently has been watching my husband and I and gives them a bit of a scrub?
They are just trying to assert their independence so maybe let her do it herself? Let's face it i'm sure none of us are feeding our children anything that's going to rot their teeth to the extent that we need to panic? They are still so small and I find that sometimes it's ok to just let them have a go themselves, the more you push the less likely they are to let you do it? My daughters teeth are absolutely fine
1. We had to hold dd down - dh did this, and I kinda forced my way in. I know it is cruel, but a dentist assistant told me that it was more kinder than seeing your child crying in pain getting their teeth out. We seldom do this now if she isn't going to let us in. But she did open her mouth.
2. We also took her to see the dentist and told her that she needed to practice opening her mouth for the dentist by saying aah. She did do this too.
3. the dentist told her that she needed to have her teeth brushed every day.
other things is sing a song whilst brushing, holding her own tooth brush and letting her play about then telling her mummy needs to clean each corner. Choosing her own tooth brush and tooth paste. you can also buy flavoured toothpaste too.
good luck.
Xx
Just to let you know I have replied in Feb10 x