https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:05:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015834 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:02:53 +0000 lovehoneybee 2015834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have, at various times, tried one or more of the following:<br /> -An elmo tooth-brushing music video<br /> -standing on a stool so he can see himself in the mirror<br /> -letting him brush my teeth<br /> -singing a silly song I made up about brushing teeth<br /> making up a silly song about brushing<br /> -brushing my teeth and not making him<br /> -making a big deal when I brush his teeth (cheering and such)<br /> -lately, Thomas the train toothpaste, and telling him that Thomas really wants him to brush his teeth</p> <p>Basically my method has been to throw shit against a wall and see what sticks, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015551 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:01:53 +0000 .twist. 2015551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: :( my brother is? lol ew? hahahaha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015515 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:48:56 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2015515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Forcing him hasn't gotten us anywhere either! Except for maybe cleaner teeth! LOL...just keep at it. My mantra is that he can't be a 40 year old who refuses to brush his teeth, can he?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015507 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:46:14 +0000 .twist. 2015507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: You speak wise words! </p> <p>@illumina: It is nice to hear these things. I need to hear this kind of stuff. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015491 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:41:56 +0000 illumina 2015491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW we had to "force" it in the early days of brushing and there was always whining...but these days we just have to say "open" and she'll happily let us brush. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015451 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:33:54 +0000 blackbird 2015451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: forced tooth brushing is better than an extraction! You're doing it for the better good....right? right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015436 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:27:52 +0000 .twist. 2015436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: exactly. haha from reading the responses it doesn't sound like I would cause major trauma from a little forced tooth brushing. My mommy brain may explode. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015414 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:15:04 +0000 blackbird 2015414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Ehhhh i mean he hates it anyways, right?!?! hahaha. Maybe you can't win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015407 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:11:21 +0000 .twist. 2015407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: @blackbird: @Espion: The reason I've avoided this technique so far is because I don't want to create a negative association with it! BUT, it sounds like I may be over thinking that?</p> <p>@BunnyDragon: He doesn't have any characters that he really likes! He's only 18 months so, he might be just a tad young for that. Maybe in a month or two?</p> <p>Truthfully, I'm not a fan of electric toothbrushes. haha</p> <p>@hilsy85: I haven't tried a video yet! I might if the mirror doesn't work. :D</p> <p>@2PeasinaPod: ugh, sorry you're dealing with this too! It's not fun at all. I started when he was young too and the more he disliked it the more I kinda just gave up on it! I realize that is NOT the answer though and I need to try a few more things or just force it. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015354 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:52:54 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2015354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO also hates it. He didn't want to do it himself, so I would brush for him. I've tried every single trick above...letting him pick out the toothbrush, showing him that we brush our teeth, starting young (like when he got his first tooth)...nothing works. It's a fight every. single. night. I haven't skipped a night since he was 10 months when he got his first tooth and he's 27 months now, yet he still absolutely loathes brushing his teeth. </p> <p>I'm sorry that I don't have any advice or answers...just wanted to commiserate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015333 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:46:40 +0000 cvbee 2015333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Generally my 2.5 year old requires the same treatment that @Espion said. We force it twice a day but it's terrible every time. Even the electric Thomas the Train toothbrush only worked for about 3 days and then it was back to the fight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015316 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:31:52 +0000 hilsy85 2015316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He hates it. But I put on a 1-2 minute video on my phone (usually a trucks video, or there's an Elmo tooth brushing song that's great) and he'll stand there and watch and hold his mouth open for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015311 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:29:22 +0000 edelweiss 2015311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO isn't the best about brushing his teeth, but here are a few things that have helped:</p> <p>watching us brush his teeth (he really likes the electric toothbrush)<br /> getting him an electric toothbrush (oddly it took him a little while to warm up, but now he likes it) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015306 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:27:09 +0000 Espion 2015306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly? We flip him backwards and when he opens his mouth to cry, we get in there. He loves gnawing on the toothbrush. The brushing teeth part? Not so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015299 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:21:47 +0000 blackbird 2015299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We force E to brush hers and i think she likes it now. Then she likes to put it in her mouth and suck the water off and put it under the faucet a few times. She literally runs to the bathroom when we tell her it's time. She likes to sit on the counter, too, which is a "new" place for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015298 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:20:37 +0000 KT326 2015298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got an electric one and that helped a lot. This may sound mean but when he would really fight it I would just hold him down and brush. For me, brushing is non-negotiable. I had (still do) so many issues with my teeth because my parents never enforced brushing. Now he is almost 3 and loves it when I brush his teeth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015278 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:05:49 +0000 autumnlove 2015278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO 1 doesn't mind but brushing LO 2's teeth is a nightmare! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015273 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:02:09 +0000 BunnyDragon 2015273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Electric character toothbrushes did the trick for my 2yrs old and 3yrs old boys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015262 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:47:43 +0000 avivoca 2015262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We brush our teeth together. I tell her to go to her toilet (the toilet in our bathroom, she uses it like a table) and then I get both of our toothbrushes ready. I hand her hers and she pretty much just chews on it or sucks off the toothpaste while I brush, and once I'm done I rewet her brush and quickly brush her teeth.</p> <p>It works well for us. We used to have to hold her down and she would thrash like we were trying to skin her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015260 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:46:17 +0000 catlady 2015260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a huge struggle for us. We have tried so many tricks but she will only brush her own teeth (which is obviously not effective). She doesn't let us do it. Luckily at 15 months, she still doesn't have many teeth! We have resorted to doing the "baby way" of just wiping her teeth down with a wet cloth for now. She'll tolerate that better than brushing, for some reason. I think we are going to try an electric toothbrush next. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015244 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:33:29 +0000 regberadaisy 2015244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some early tricks:<br /> Daniel Tiger episode<br /> Letting her watch herself teeth brushing in the mirror<br /> Brushing together<br /> Brush my teeth but not telling her to brush hers. She instantly wants to brush just like us.<br /> We started fairly young and would give it into her at all times<br /> I've heard an electric toothbrush sometimes works<br /> How about letting him go to the store and pick a brush out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015240 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:30:05 +0000 Smurfette 2015240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: oh I am still scared to take her to the dentist. I know that it isn't going to go well. I am going to ask her pedi at her 2 yr visit when we need to take her.<br /> We let her brush first and then it is Mommy/Daddy's turn. She lets DH do it easier then me. I also find making her say ahhhhh so she opens her mouth up really big, helps so I can get some brushing in before she closes it and we have to repeat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015239 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:27:35 +0000 .twist. 2015239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: I will try that. The last 2 (3?) days I've been sitting him on the bathroom counter and trying up there and it's been a little more successful if I let him turn the light on and off. haha but maybe if he can see his own teeth it will be better! </p> <p>@Smurfette: Yea, L loved that too until I started helping... haha and he's so timid that I'm scared to take him to the dentist because of the ultimate meltdown that will ensue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015231 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:23:35 +0000 Smurfette 2015231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>R likes to just suck the toothpaste/water off. But at 22 months she is finally getting better about letting us do it. And that is just in the last month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015229 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:22:09 +0000 lawbee11 2015229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you do it in front of a mirror? M likes to watch me brush her teeth, so she'll open her mouth in front of the mirror and laugh. It also helps if I place my hand under her jaw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015227 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:20:39 +0000 .twist. 2015227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: L used to just love chewing on it too, until I kept trying to help and now if I take the tooth brush out of the drawer he shakes his head no and runs away. lol.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015226 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:19:18 +0000 Foodnerd81 2015226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do we have the same kid? C actually does like "brushing" her teeth- as in I hold the brush for about three seconds and brush either top or bottom front teeth, then she grabs it and chews on it and refuses to let me help guide it around. I have a toothbrush there and will brush my teeth while she watches, and she enjoys sucking on hers, but I know her teeth aren't getting clean and I'm worried they will stain. Hopefully someone has a good idea? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tooth-brushing-struggles#post-2015216 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:16:38 +0000 .twist. 2015216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does your kid like brushing their teeth? How did you get them to enjoy this process? </p> <p>I have to admit that I haven't been the greatest about making tooth brushing a habit. I'm sure that is my initial downfall. We try to do it every morning and occasionally before bed. It's usually a pretty good day if I can even get the tooth brush in his mouth. </p> <p>I was letting him do it himself and then I would tell him it was my turn to brush his teeth and he would freak out. He only wanted to do it, no help. Now he doesn't even want to do it at all. I'm stressing! He's got 12 teeth. How do I fix this!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-does-my-toddler-hate-everything-related-to-personal-hygiene#post-951729 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:45:26 +0000 winniebee 951729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only recently got t to like brushing teeth. Gets brush in bathtub and gets yummy fluoride free toothpaste on it. He has always liked baths fortunately. Hair brushing face wiping and nail clipping and diaper changes? Forget it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-does-my-toddler-hate-everything-related-to-personal-hygiene#post-951704 Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:37:43 +0000 mediagirl 951704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update! </p> <p>I don't know what changed but ever since I wrote this, she has enjoyed playing in the bath. We put VERY little water in it and she plays with the toys. She also doesn't act like we're chopping her head off when we rinse her hair. We make "shwoosh" noises and talk to her while we're doing it to let her know what we're doing. :)</p> <p>Also, I have started trying different things with tooth brushing. I open MY mouth super wide and go "aaaaahhh!" She gets a kick out of it and even let me brush her molars last night! Personal victory!! :)</p> <p>@babyjmama: hahaha. Ok. My baby. :) </p>