Re: Re: Brushing Teeth!

October 13, 2005

Now I remember - I used a rubber finger brush the OT gave me.

Inga

At 07:38 PM 10/13/2005 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi Brigitte,

>Only suggestion I have is to keep trying. wouldn't let me do

>his teeth either for the longest time, but I just kept trying every

>day and then he finally just let me in! LOL. ) It would always

>make him gag. He has such a sensitive gag reflex, and still does.

>He still gags when I do it a good bit, but he doesn't fight me

>anymore. Just keep doing it. And, don't make a big deal about it

>and one day she will just let you. For now maybe you could use a

>washcloth with just water and rub the teeth you can reach easily.

>That is better than nothing. Eventually maybe you could add a little

>tooth paste to the cloth and gradually work to the brush??? I used

>one of the rubber finger brushes for for a long time.

>

>Take care,

>Jodi R.

>

>>

>> Hi Everyone

>> I was just wondering if anyone else is having the same trouble as

>we

>> are, Bobbi is 19 months and I have tried for ages but to no avail

>to

>> brush her teeth. I have tried normal baby toothbrush/toothpaste, a

>> finger toothbrush and spiffies dental wipes, but she won't let me

>> anywhere near her teeth, and she has nearly a full set, she also

>grinds

>> her teeth, I am so worried and don't know what else to try, has

>anyone

>> got any suggestions or advice please!

>>

>> Brigitte

>>

>

October 13, 2005

Hi Jodi

Thank you for the advice, I have one of those rubber finger brushes so maybe

I'll start off with that or a cloth as you suggested.

Thank you to everyone else who replied also, I guess as with everything else

it's just a matter of keep trying.

Brigitte x

Re: Brushing Teeth!

Hi Brigitte,

Only suggestion I have is to keep trying. wouldn't let me do

his teeth either for the longest time, but I just kept trying every

day and then he finally just let me in! LOL. ) It would always

make him gag. He has such a sensitive gag reflex, and still does.

He still gags when I do it a good bit, but he doesn't fight me

anymore. Just keep doing it. And, don't make a big deal about it

and one day she will just let you. For now maybe you could use a

washcloth with just water and rub the teeth you can reach easily.

That is better than nothing. Eventually maybe you could add a little

tooth paste to the cloth and gradually work to the brush??? I used

one of the rubber finger brushes for for a long time.

Take care,

Jodi R.

>

> Hi Everyone

> I was just wondering if anyone else is having the same trouble as

we

> are, Bobbi is 19 months and I have tried for ages but to no avail

to

> brush her teeth. I have tried normal baby toothbrush/toothpaste, a

> finger toothbrush and spiffies dental wipes, but she won't let me

> anywhere near her teeth, and she has nearly a full set, she also

grinds

> her teeth, I am so worried and don't know what else to try, has

anyone

> got any suggestions or advice please!

>

> Brigitte

>

October 15, 2005

Dear Brigitte,

we had this problem with too and it took until he was 3 to really even let

us get close to his mouth. Our endo told us not to worry too much - he wasn't

eating anything by mouth so that is a difference I guess - since it is his baby

teeth and you should be able to clean well by the time they look like falling

out and permanent ones coming in.

In the end, I think it's just a question of timing - and waiting - and trying

not to worry about it. We finally had some success with the following:

- using a really thin cotton gauze on finger - even just on the top teeth - as

far as you can get to them between semi-pursed lips! We started with just

putting on his lips and miming and then getting him to do the same thing as a

game.

- we were also told to count when we did it - since if the child is nervous, it

will help if they have a routine. We started with just a quick count of 10 each

night even if the 10 was spent mimicking or brushing on his lips. That was about

6 months ago, and we are now in the mouth (hurray!) and on a count of 5 for

front top teeth, 5 for front bottom, 5 for top left, 5 for bottom left, etc.

still is a bit unkeen but he knows how long the process will go on for and

it is the same each time so he is much happier with it. Toothpaste is

supposedly a no-no until they are really happy with the routine.Make sure to wet

the toothbrush however before using otherwise it can be a bit hard.

- some cold water on a really small sponge on a stick can help. You can get

these here in chemists or at dental outlets. They are generally used for the

elderly who no longer have all of their teeth.

- Is there any video of a favorite character doing the cleaning teeth routine?

Here there is. The character does it first, and then the song goes on to say

that mummy or daddy finishes off to get the final bacteria ( " baikin " as they are

known by kids here) off the teeth. That helped too.

I was also a bit manic about this since post war in the UK my mother was always

sent to bed with a sweet in her mouth. obviously she had next to no teeth left

by the time she was an adult. Subsequently, she was always really careful with

ours so of course I had planned to be too.........I really understand your

anxiety and felt exactly the same way.

Hope this helps and that you have a breakthrough soon.

debi

mum to in Japan 3 years 11 months, 1.5 kilos, 88 cms.