Tooth brushing for 2 year olds and younger, does your toddler cooperate and open their mouth calmly for brushing?

Question

I don’t like to have to make her cry every time we brush her teeth it makes me want to avoid upsetting her which isn’t teaching good oral habits and I have to make her lay down on her change table just to get in her mouth, she won’t cooperatively sit and open it and remain calm while I brush her teeth at the age of 23 months and earlier she has never liked it and she doesn’t do it herself properly yet she mostly chews the brush and sucks it only so how do your toddlers react to this? should I just start demonstrating how I do it on myself for her everyday so she learns as she gets older and continue to brush her teeth as i do until she is capable herself

more in the next few months I hope she will start to understand more

Answer

My daughter is 3 and doesn’t cooperate. But I literally have to put her in a headlock and shove the toothbrush in her mouth.  It’s not pretty but it’s better than fillings!!!

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We got her a baby electric toothbrush that plays a tune, and we let her do it herself. It’s made all the difference

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I thank the gods my daughter loves brushing her teeth and mine.

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Try saying “ok mommy’s going to brush your teeth first and then you can brush next” get her a toothbrush with her favourite character, or one that sings, or some flavoured toothpaste!! 
Hope it helps 😁

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It should get easier. Keep up with it daily & she'll be brushing her teeth in no time or even become a little more cooperative when you assist her. We started introducing the toothbrush at 12 months. (My son had 18 teeth by then😣). He did the same as your daughter had with biting on the bristles, wouldn't open his mouth, Etc. We let him explore on his own to get more comfortable.
I don't recommend letting a toddler walk around with the toothbrush out the bathroom.  One for safety reasons, but two so they know it's part of a routine that usually occurs at the bathroom sink. We would also let him see us brushing our teeth while making sounds like "eeee" & "ahhh"  showing him different ways to brush. He is 19 months now & with help, he brushes his teeth. 
Good luck!

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My daughter is about to be 1 and she has 8 teeth. The dentist said as long as she chews on the brush for a bit, it’s good enough for now. It’s about teaching the habit and helping them keep clean.

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I let my son play with weird stuff in the bathroom while I brush his teeth. His favorite is the thermometer because it beeps and lights up. My SO brushes the kid’s teeth while the kid brushes my SO’s teeth, seems to work well.

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My sons dentist said kids can’t brush their own teeth fully until they can tie their shoes. I still brush my 5 year olds teeth after he does it. My 4 year old “brushes” with water and I brush with toothpaste, and my 19 month old asks to brush his teeth twice a day. We’ve never made it a fight, it’s just an understood that this is something we do every single day and that it’s going to happen whether they like it or not, and if they cooperate, it’s more pleasant.

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I still do a once over myself for my 4 year old. Hes never had any trouble accepting teeth brushing.
That said, i think you should do it yourself to make sure they are brushed properly. What we do is “take turns”, because he wants to be a big boy and do it himself. He does his brushing first (i put JUST enough tooth paste to make him happy, then when i do it i put the usual amount) and then do it myself to ensure all his teeth have been brushed properly.

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It’s a battle for me and my 17 month old daughter. She stands on her stool in front of the sink. We have two toothbrushes so she can hold one and I can hold one. But then she wants them both. And she will open her mouth for about 3 seconds and I can touch the bottom teeth OR the top teeth for a second before she tightens her lips around the brush and wants to suck on it. She likes to take the toothbrush and stick it under the water then suck on it, and repeat. She doesn’t do any type of productive brushing action. I’m worried about her teeth because she’s starting to get a couple of her back teeth in and I can’t get to them. If she gets mad I won’t be able to get in her mouth with a toothbrush at all so I try and come across like it’s all good fun. But it makes me a little crazy haha! 🤪

Tooth brushing for 2 year olds and younger, does your toddler cooperate and open their mouth calmly for brushing?

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