22 Month Old Tooth Brushing

My 21 month old daughter started doing this a couple weeks ago...what I found works best for me is first of all, pretending to brush my teeth with her toothbrush (or you could even show her how you brush your teeth with your own toothbrush so she sees that mommy brushes too), making fun noises to go along with it. If that doesn't work, I will start singing a song, like "this is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth, this is the way we brush our teeth, so early in the morning (evening, afternoon, whenever it is)" and keep repeating it and then she'll usually open her mouth for me because I make it fun. Hope that helps!

It's ironic that we are dealing with the same situation the past 2 days with our son. He's been drooling a bit and has been biting so we are figuring he's getting his 2nd molars. His mouth is probably sore and he doesn't want to brush. It will be good to hear other's suggestions!

I have had similar experiences with my 22 month old as well. I just had a dentist appointment (for myself) and asked the dentist about this. She said sometimes what worked for her when her kids were younger was to pin them down in a way so they are on their back and they cannot escape. She also said, to be truthful, it was easier when they cried so she could actually get the toothbrush inside their mouths to brush. She said to try "fun" toothbrushes too like an automatic one or one that blinks. Good luck - be persistant!

Hi C.

Maybe she has a new tooth coming in (molar) and it hurts her to open her mouth all the way. She might need a dental check-up. I take my children to a Pediatric Dentist. They get a toy and a balloon when they're finished with the check-up. Or you could try letting her pick out a new toothbrush at the store to use when brushing her teeth.
Brushing teeth has always been difficult for us when my kids were smaller. I did have to pin my kids down at times with Dad standing over them to thoroughly clean the teeth. It's so important!

Good Luck!

~K.

My daughter did the same thing and I hated forcing her to brush her teeth. I brush my teeth with her and she seems to enjoy that. I also keep her toothbrush in a seperate holder on our sink along with her tooth paste and then she can get it all by her self. This seems to have worked very well with us.