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Brushing Teeth

Posted March 1, 2009

Dear Kitty,

My son just turned one on Saturday, he has sixteen teeth already. We have a routine for brushing his teeth but he doesn't like it when I brush his teeth. He likes brushing his own teeth but as you can imagine, at one he doesn't do a proper job. I've tried several ways to make it a fun time, I've modeled brushing, given him a toothbrush to use, used children's toothpaste and tried singing songs but he still doesn't like it. When I try to put the toothbrush in his mouth he closes it tightly, cries and pushes my hand away. Should I get my husband to help restrain him while I get the toothbrush in his mouth or not worry about it since these are only his baby teeth? Since he got his teeth so early he doesn't understand reasoning (ie. If you don't brush your teeth, they will fall out and you won't be able to eat any food) but really should be getting his teeth clean. What do you suggest?

My feeling is that it's not worth it at this age to work too hard for the tooth brushing. Some magazine articles and some dental professionals may be quite concerned about early brushing, but in my opinion that approach is too obsessive. He is not yet old enough for us to be concerned with setting up good habits for the future.

I suggest that if he wants to brush his own teeth, let him do that and smile and respond positively and when he hands the brush back to you-- "done," you put it away. We need to allow him to playfully copy you when you brush, but then leave it at that.

Pieces of cheese to chew will clear the teeth nearly as well as brushing, so that's a good hint for when he has had anything sticky to eat like raisons.

Without any more power struggles now, you can plan to include brushing your teeth (modeling) as part of his bedtime routine. Make it look like fun and let him watch and eventually, with no pressure from you, he’ll probably want to pretend to be doing it too! Then you are on the way.

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