Each time he brushes your teeth, you get a shot at brushing his. If the ploy doesn't work, though, don't push it. As you've already discovered, you can't force the toothbrush into your child's mouth without hurting or at least scaring him. As he stares at the reflection of the two of you, point to and count his teeth and yours. This will appeal to his sense of justice and help keep his mouth open when boredom looms.
Few toddlers are consistently cooperative about getting their teeth brushed.
What's more, even if your child becomes positively enthusiastic about dental care and brushes his teeth with gusto, he lacks the manual dexterity to do a thorough job. Until he's at least 7, follow up his teeth-cleaning attempts with a quick sweep of the brush yourself. See other parents' comments on this topic. Click to get free Charmin materials today. All rights reserved.