Brushing 1 Yr Old's Teeth

when I started with my son, he let me do it once and then it became a struggle where he wouldn't open his mouth, swat the brush away, etc. I did not introduce the toothbrush to him for a few weeks and then when I did, I had him hold the brush and "brush" my teeth. That allowed me to then take his hand and guide the toothbrush to his mouth. For two weeks I just let him do whatever - chew it, suck on it -- then started guiding his hand to actually brush. It has taken many little steps but he now at least doesn't mind the thing in his mouth.

Have you tried the electric toothbrushes. My kids love them, they can easily hold them themeselves because it has a thick base and they find it tickles. And you don't have to worry about them brushing around - they do a pretty good job of simulating the desired brushing rotation. Hope that helps!

Hi A. here. ihad the same problem. then one evening my husband decided to let her play with her feet in the sink while he was brushing her teeth. It did the trick!1 sometimes she still notices so we give her a cup or something else to play with in the running water and it works.Hope this helps.

I had the exact same issues with my son and they were solved by simply buying an electric toothbrush! I bought the cheap Diego toothbrush from Walmart (about $5) and even though he didn't know who Diego was, he loved the fact that his toothbrush turned on. I don't know why, but for some reason he never gave us any problem brushing his teeth with this toothbrush! I can't guarantee it will work, but I have heard other moms that had the same success with the electric toothbrushes, so it's worth a shot!

I will refrain from labeling myself as a "success" in teeth brushing. However a couple things helped me out when my son was about 1.

Try to do it at the same time of day or during the same part of your morning and bedtime routine.

Buy the 2 pack of toothbrushes, give him one and you keep one. I was really clear about saying "this is Johnny's toothbrush and this is Mommy's toothbrush" So he felt like he was getting his share.

I would ask him after I was done brushing his teeth, "Show Mommy how you brush your teeth"

Let him watch you brush your own teeth and explain what you do and why. Even if you think he doesn't understand, he probably does.

Make up a silly song (I sang 'brush brush brush your teeth, morning noon and night, better let your mom go first, cause she does it right!' to the tune of 'row row row your boat')

Recently we bought "thomas and Friends" training toothpaste and he loves to hold it while I brush his teeth. I mean there is just a picture of Thomas on there, it is not like it's a toy. But he insists on holding it.

And if you get it right 80% pf the time. Don't sweat the other 20%. Things have gotten alot easier for us since he was like 21 or 22 months old. Before that it was a fight every night.

Good Luck!

I had the same problem with my daughter. She HATED it! But you absolutely have to keep trying. The health of baby teeth plays a key role in how the adult teeth come in. What eventually worked with my daughter was to sing a song while brushing her teeth - for some reason, she loves when I sing Jingle Bells while brushing her teeth!!, letting her choose her own toothbrush, and using "tasty" toothpaste (we use the kind made by Orajel - no fluoride, so safe for toddlers. There is one that has Thomas the Train on it, and one that has Little Bear on it). My husband brushes her teeth in the bath, and she enjoys that as well. Try to incorporate something your son loves into it (my daughter loves music, so that's why we tried that). Maybe if he loves trains you can pretend his teeth are tracks or something. Good luck. Keep trying, and don't be disappointed if it takes a while. Make sure he is not tired or wants to play (or is otherwise distracted) when you do it. Maybe try right after he eats.

One Step Ahead makes a great toothbrush that helps clean your child's teeth while he may just be chewing on it (as opposed to "properly" brushing): http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

We used this from about 10 months until recently when we transitioned to a kid-size OralB toothbrush with Winnie the Pooh on handle (from Babies R Us).

I, like some other mommies, sing silly songs and let my son "help" me brush my teeth (he holds the handle of my toothbrush) while I brush his teeth. Most of the time he'll brush his own teeth now. Lots of praise goes a long way too, so whenever your little guy puts the brush in his mouth (even if just to chew on it) be sure to know how delighted that makes you. Kids love to please their parents.

Hi G.:

Have you tried soft bristle toothbrush or creating the teeth-brushing sing a long song? Or perhaps starting out with a safe, non-toxic mouth wash, then graduating to brushing? Do your best to make it safe, gentle and fun for him (and you). I think its most healthy to refrain from holding down tactic and prying.

I hope these help.

All the best,
N.
Holistic Maternity-Baby Practitioner
www.WholeCreations.com

some of these responses cracked me up. Putting your babies/toddlers in headlocks in order to get their teeth brushed??? Yeah, that sounds enjoyable.

Just try to make it fun. I let my son (2 years) play with the toothbrush each morning and night. He stands on his stool next to me while I brush my teeth and I let him rinse the brush under the water, etc. Or I give it to him while he's in the bath and he chews on it and kind of brushes. Every now and then I get away with actually brushing for him but if he fusses/gags, I don't make an issue out of it.

At one year old, your child is still too young to even understand he's got teeth so he has no idea what you're doing. It's probably kind of scary for him. You could also try the washcloth, which is what I did for my son at that age. Just wiped them down with a clean, wet cloth during baths.

Good luck and please stop making it torturous for him. It won't do any good!
Lynsey

It sounds like you are setting him up for a life time of not brushing and hating the dentist. Any daily task should be made as enjoyable as possible. He will NOT get cavities or gum disease at his age, but if he develops a dislike of brushing he will later on. Kids get cavities in baby teeth from sucking on milk and juice all day and going to sleep sucking a bottle. Also a person's teeth are formed in the womb, and the strength of the teeth are dependent on the nutrition they got from their mother. Hopefully you took your vitamins and ate well while pregnant, and he will have nice strong teeth.
So, let him watch you and dad brush and give him his little brush with a dot of kid's toothpaste and LET him brush, chew suck, whatever as long as its fun. Maybe sing a brushing song, make one up. But dont force him to do anything, just make it available for him. Soon he will enter the imitating stage and willing try to copy his parents. You MUST stop forcing him, would you hold him down and force food in his mouth? Really, think about how you are treating him to what end? Make sure he drinks water at bedtime and dont worry about his teeth.

G.,

At this age, I don't think I'd worry too much about brushing your son's teeth. Any teeth that he has now are baby teeth, and he's going to lose them anyway, eventually.

My son is grown now, at 29, but when he was your son's age, I never brushed his teeth. Back then, brushing, or even seeing a dentist wasn't recommended until a child was at least 2 years old, and he never had any cavities, until he was much older.

In my opinion, fighting with him in order to brush his teeth may be so upsetting to him that when the time comes that he does need to brush his teeth on his own, he may be so traumatized by your doing it now, when he hates is so, that he won't want to do it at all!

I would continue to let him watch you and your husband, while you brush, and encourage him to brush his own teeth, along with you, on his own. Even if he doesn't do a very good job, praise him anyway, and try to make brushing his teeth fun, and something that you can do together. By doing this, he won't be traumatized by your forcing the issue, and he will be much more likely to develop good dental habits when he gets older.

Also, you might want to try a few different types of toothpaste, until you find one that he likes. If he finds the taste of the one that you and your husband are using "yucky" (as my son used to say), that may be one reason why he's giving you such a hard time!

Hope these suggestions help!

D.

I know what you mean. But, I was told at the dentist office that you can use washcloth to clean his teeth and gums. Now, my youngest son is 18 months and he knows Mommy is going to bush his teeth and he knows he can't argue because I don't put up with it. Also, what made it even more easier going to the dentist in Clifton Park and he was willing to have his teeth clean. They were good and gentle and made brushing less struggle and he even opened his mouth to do it that night after being at the dentist. I have three other boys and they love bushing their teeth. I have them do it and then I do it afterwards.

My advice is to make it less of a chore and more fun. I do teeth brushing at bathtime. Initially he would just play with the toothbrush and essentially suck the toothpaste off, but we are slowly making progress. My son always wants to do things himself (he is 16 months) and so he has been "brushing his own teeth" for months now, and then I "check" them. Some nights the teeth get a better cleaning than others, but the point is to develop good habits not scrub every tooth perfectly at this age in my opinion.
Try a new toothbrush that is "his special" toothbrush and let his show you how he can brus them.
Good luck!!!

Hi G.,

Don't sweat it! Does your pediatrician look at his teeth at well child visits? Mine does and has said that my toddler's look fine. My dentist told me he does not like to see children before about 3 years old because he can't look at their teeth anyway, and they're not old enough to understand. My pediatrician's PA said that even letting children chew on the brush helps and avoiding drinks other than water right before bed is a good idea. I tell my toddler that I start and he finishes and most nights he lets me brush his teeth. I've even let him hold my toothbrush and try to brush my teeth (just a little). It is not worth holding him down and forcing or traumatizing him. Keep up the good work! Your situation sounds very normal!

OMG, I think the dentist that tells you (or other moms) to hold down a kicking and screaming child is crazy!!! If you are using a regular brush it may be too hard for his mouth and if you are fighting him, you may be pushing harder or gagging him causing him to fight more.

With my now 4.5 year old, when he was a baby I used one of those finger brushes and would not even do it in the bathroom most of the time, he now brushes his teeth very well on his own twice a day! He went to the dentist for the first time (late) within the past 6 months-his teeth are perfect.

My 10 month old I JUST started the finger brush thing. It is more of a play thing right now than a "you have to brush your teeth".There is a neat little tooth brush thing from one step ahead sells that i plan on getting my little one so that he just bites on it during the day once in a while and I will do the morning and night.

They get used to the routine, will start to ask for you to do it and eventually want to do it themselves.

I did this with my oldest daughter who is 5 and am currently doing the same with my 1 yr old. I use a washcloth to clean the teeth in the bathtub every night and wipe in the morning and then I will also give her a toothbrush to play with. This gets her used to the sensation of the brush without me forcing it on her. Once she is comfortable I will use the brush in the tub to make the transition easy.
Its a strange sensation and some children are just more "sensitive".
Best of luck!

Hi G.,

I would just give him the toothbrush to play with and ten use one of those toothbrushes that goes on your finger to attempt to brush his teeth alittle bit. But I don't think you need to worry about actually cleaning his teeth well at such a young age. Wait awhile. I definitely don't think it is necessary to put the whole family through what it takes to force him. That will probably produce a lot more resistance to teeth brushing in the long run.

Best of luck,

K. (mom to Charlie, 3 years old)

go to dentist as we did(my son was a bit older ) but go and let the dentist tell your son that he must brush. somehow hearing it from and authority and someone other than me was helpful...

I agree with Lisa S. I began talking to my dentist when my son was one - he refused to let me brush his teeth. The dentist said it was a must - something he did with his young children was to literally hold them down and brush. He said it would get easier as they learned it wasn't such a big deal. I followed his advice and would "sit" on my son with his arms tucked between my legs each morning & night. At first he screamed - I would sing silly songs about teeth and toothbrushes. After awhile he would relax and just lay on the floor ready to have his teeth brushed. Now he sits on the toilet and opens up for me! I'm doing the same thing now with my daughter. She's at the screaming phase. But like Lisa S. said the minute I'm done brushing the screaming stops and she runs off laughing. I personally think it's just a control thing in 1 & 2 year olds. I just keep telling myself I'm doing something good for my baby's future teeth! When I read the comments about setting your child up for a lifetime of hating brushing and the dentist I chuckled... that's what I thought initally as well. my son (now 3) just went to the dentist for the first time (great checkup!!) without a fuss - cleaning, x-rays, dental exam - because we brush & floss everyday. We also read books about teeth brushing and going to the dentist. I have even found my son in the bathroom brushing at random times during the day.. so obviously I haven't set him up for a lifetime of hating brushing and the dentist! Good luck :)

Hi G.,
I see you have gotten a lot of advice, I can give you my professional advice being a Dental Hygienist and have experience in pediatric dentistry. First it is important that you brush your babies teeth even though alot of people have told you not to make a big deal, you know you are not hurting him better to hear him cry at home for brushing then in the dental chair getting cavities filled. Alot of parents are under the impression that baby teeth do not have to be filled cavities hurt the same and it will effect the permanent teeth. Advice as a mom to two kids 16 and 7 let your son brush first am and pm at pm is when you or your husband need to help it is a matter of routine your son will give up a fight but you have to take control, like anything else with raising kids you will see they will try to push your buttons. You are the parent and more or less you know better.

Hope I was helpful
L.

I give my son his own toothbrush to hold and I use the finger-type tooth brush while he chews on his toothbrush. It works most of the time.

As a dental hygienist and a mother of a strong willed 26 month old where TB is a chore daily... He does it first while I brush my teeth.. then i do his.. he fights me and holds his mouth closed, but it is important to get the teeth cleaned especially before bed. I know we don't do fruit snacks in our house or juice, he does now have it at camp and the thought of it sitting on his teeth while he sleeps scares me , after seeing what I see at work.. so i do "fight" him to get the brushed and now at 26 months he is getting it better then before. its a struggle but one well worth it...

I give my 16 month old his own mini tooth brush with his own special tooth paste and then I brush my own teeth. He likes to watch and imitate me. I am not sure how thorough he is but I want tooth brushing to be an enjoyable experience for him and he often comes into the bathroom and demands his tooth brush. I think the other moms who said to use a wash cloth on the teeth and bathtime had a great idea too. I don't know about the holding down thing...

Hi G.. I am a pediatric dentist and i have a 15 month old. As a pediatric dentist, it is important to brush his teeth especially at night to avoid early childhood caries. Do not let your child fall asleep with milk or juice. As a mother, my son fights with me every night, but i persist and as soon as i let him go, he's fine. I would rather hold him down to brush his teeth than a dentist holding my son down to fix any cavities. Your child will eventually realize that it is all part of the routine. Do not give up... it is more traumatizing to try to fill cavities than you brushing.