How to Brush Her Teeth?

Updated on May 23, 2008
N.S. asks from San Francisco, CA
6 answers

I have a 13 month old girl, who now has 8 teeth, 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. The good thing is she loves to put a toothbrush in her mouth, even mimics putting toothpaste on and then pretends to brush her bottom teeth, scraping it a bit and then she is done after 3 seconds. Needless to say her teeth aren't clean at all. She will not under any circumstances let me brush her top teeth. I would literally have to put her in a head brace of sorts to pin her down and clean her teeth, which I of course don't do. I've tried various positions, LOTS of patience, using cloth around my finger (she always bites me really hard), I've also used that little rubber finger thing for infants and she also bites me with that. She doesn't mean to hurt me, it's just her reaction to having something in her mouth and she gets distressed when I get hurt.
Does anyone have good ideas to diminish the wrestling? And save her little baby teeth from rotting?
My older daughter was really good with brushing her teeth and we didn't have this issue.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all your responses!
Here is what happened: my little one LOVES my Sonicare toothbrush! It's the cutest thing! As it vibrates very quickly, she can't even bite on it and seems to love the feeling of it, it also seems to relieve her teething pain right now as she gets her molars. I ask her every night if she wants to brush her teeth (not that it is an option ;-) and she says "mama", meaning use mama's Sonicare. So I set her on the counter next to the sink, put a towel around her neck and we brush her teeth. She still dislikes me doing her front upper teeth, but we still get them clean. I also learned to clean her teeth using a towel without getting bitten.
Thanks again for your your advice!

More Answers

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K.C.

answers from Yuba City on

This may sounds strange ..but I brush my boys teeth when they are in the tub. For some reason they enjoy it way more then trying to do it at the sink. It was a battle to the death to do it before. I also brush my teeth in front of them and make it sound so much fun. I'm slowly trying to get them back at the sink.

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L.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi N.,
Please look at my profile to see my experience on this subject. With that said, I agree with Page. At around a year old, I too had to lay my daughter on the floor and restrain her while I brushed. You may also try putting her in your lap with her head between your knees. Right now it is about control and I'm sure this will not be the last power struggle you have. The bottom line is NO toddler does a good enough job brushing and parents need to get in there and really brush. Some kids do okay with taking turns. When I had to restrain my daughter while brushing, I would tell her "When you hold still and open for Mommy I will let you sit up. It can be easy or it can be hard, your choice, but it has to be done." We also talked alot about the tooth bugs that eat her teeth and how we need to brush them away. I also took her to meet her dentist and had him tell her the same thing. I also use Oral-B Baby toothpaste with xylitol.
Hope this helps!
L.

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R.V.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't know if she is old enough to understand this and I can't think at what age I started but we play a game that I start by saying'I wonder if there are any suger bugs on your teeth , let me try and tickle those suger bugs" and I start brushing and looking for suger bugs and say tickle, tickle, when I find one. My daughter is now 2 1/2 and this game has grown into looking for princess and I name them as I brush and other characters that she likes and we tickle them all. But it started simply as suger bugs. Don't let this become a power struggle what ever you do. It is only her baby teeth fortunatley.

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

N.,

Put her in the highchair-give her something new to play with and make it a game- open,shut,open brush,brush,brush. etc. let her have a toothbrush to hold and you have one-you can alternate between the two of you.

Good luck!

Molly

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Put her on her back on the ground and sit on her. Brush her teeth for her. Her teeth are way more important than any momentary displeasure she has to experience. Did it with my kids and they're fine.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Sacramento on

N.,

My son would constantly clamp his mouth shut when it was time to brush his teeth. So, I asked him to help me brush his teeth. I let him hold the brush and then I maneuver it around inside of his mouth to get his teeth clean. So far, it's worked out great. Good luck!

~ L.

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