How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

My DS used to love when we brushed his teeth. He would break into a huge grin and get all giddy when he saw us getting the toothbrush ready. But for the past month or so, he will NOT let us do it anymore! He still smiles and gets excited when he sees the brush, but as soon as our hands come toward him, he turns away and starts whining. He will NOT let the brush touch his mouth unless he is holding it. Sometimes we just give it to him and let him "brush" to avoid the all-out crying, screaming battle, but I know his teeth are not really getting clean. He just likes to chew on it, really. Other times, we'll play his favorite TV show on our phones to distract him and that works occasionally but I don't want to get into that habit.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to get him to let us brush again? Around what age do they understand how to brush and start doing it themselves?

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

we sang a song to row row row your boat:

Brush, brush, brush your teeth.
Brush your little teeth
Up and down and all 'round
You've got to get them clean.

(We even did the dance - went in a circle and then got on our tippy toes)


Maybe you can take turns - if he lets you brush his teeth, he can brush your teeth.

Or you can go mean mommy and say, "Let me brush your teeth or you can't have toys".

Sometimes its funny if you look for food - brush his teeth and "find some hot dog"....

I was told they should not brush their teeh alone (without us doing it too) until they can tie their shoes.

Message edited 6/18/2012 3:23:51 PM.

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

I let DS do it first and then I follow up afterwards. I usually tickle him and make a game out of it.

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

when DD was younger i had the same issue..she wanted to do i herself so i let her for a min then i said its mommys turn and started naming all the foods she ate that day and say "i see chicken in your teeth lets get it...i see carrots lets brush them out...i see goldfish...etc" and it worked...she liked me naming all the different foods, it was a distraction of me brushing and not her. good luck!!!

DD started brushing on her own at around 5 but i always check to make sure she does a good job (she is now almost 7)

DS is 4 and he also brushes himself for a min then lets me "find the food" game he loves it!

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

My DS hated it for awhile too....
I would let him watch me brush my teeth then I gave him my toothbrush and let him brush my teeth while I brushed his....

sometimes I would say silly things like I think I see Buzz Lightyear
or I gave him a flashlight to look inside

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

I tell DS it's mommy's turn first, then it's his turn. I do allow him to "help" me, he just keeps his hand on the brush. I also let him rinse the toothbrush when we're done, he freaks if he can't do it. What worked the best though was singing the ABC song, or The Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

We had "brush your teeth please" pop up book, it was the best thing ever! It's like $5 on Amazon.
Also we used to give DD her own brush and let *her* brush first , then say oh lets see if there are any sugar bugs left and pretend we saw sugar bugs and say oh, I see one, let me get it ! and just brush away, lol, it worked every time!

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

We struggle with this and our dentist, who is a pediatric dentist, was a big help. He taught us some tricks and they were all along the lines of the," I see Buzz Lightyear" type of thing mentioned above. We noticed that my son is better with it with DH than with me so we just went with it for a while.

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

Have 2 tooth brushes. one for him and one for you.

DD went through this stage where she wouldn't let me do it, so what I did was sit on the toilet and lay her on my legs facing up at me and brush. Sometimes its a struggle but I count, make silly noises, make faces, to get her to laugh. they tend to open their mouths when laying on their backs.

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

We sing. I made up a tooth brush song & have a GRANDIOSE finish, which he thinks is funny. He waits for it.

He's given me some trouble... but I let him brush his teeth when I'm finished if he wants to & I let him "end" the toothbrushing if I'm close to done.

We'll see how long it all lasts Every day is a new struggle.

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

Just getting back to these replies now, thank you! I will give the songs a try and the "find the food" trick a try, for sure. Thanks so much ladies!!

Re: How can I get my 21-month-old to let me brush his teeth?

eh - in my house teeth brushing is a battle I choose - so there is no 'letting' me do it -

I do it - even if I had to hold him down.

Now he does it himself (3 years old) and then I go in and 'help' him too .....but at 2, I still had to hold him down most of the time b/c he couldn't be bothered - too bad. The teeth brushing thing is important, especially in my house where my kids are sweets eaters ......