As our Ped. Dentist suggested with my firstborn... try cleaning his teeth with a dampened washcloth... rub a dub dub it...and it cleans just as well.
My son, also, prefers this.
*perhaps, is he having any mouth pain due to teeth coming out or anything? Maybe a cold sore or any other type of mouth issues?
Both my kids didn't like toothbrushes from about 1-2 years old.
Well, my son is still 1 yrs. old...so that's what I do. You can clean their teeth several times a day with the washcloth. My son will open his mouth for this, but not so much with a toothbrush. He runs away at just me "thinking" about brushing his teeth. He can read my mind!
Good luck, these phases huh? Well, it will pass sooner or later. My boy, also does NOT like to take a bath (he used to)... oh but he loves water and playing with water....just not being IN the tub. He screams like he's being tortured the whole time. Go figure. LOL.
Some kids just don't like the texture of toothbrushes.
Well I feel for you... I have the same scenario. LOL.
All the best,
~Susan