Its been a long time since we updated our blog! What is our latest preoccupation? TEETH! Yes, Marc has hit one of his 2 year old phases - refusing to brush his teeth. When he was younger, he knew he didn't have a choice, every night before bedtime we'd brush his teeth and he would open his mouth to let us brush the pearly whites whilst playing with a book or a toy. Then around one month ago, he just decided enough was enough - no more teeth brushing. He would clamp his mouth shut and turn his head left and right to stop us from inserting the brush in his mouth. Even when he cries, he does it with his mouth clamped shut. I have no idea how he manages that. So we've tried everything, from buying DVDs with Elmo and Barney brushing teeth, to letting him brush ours, to letting him brush his own, to brushing the toys, and even brushing whilst he is sleeping. But he still refuses to open his mouth. And its a bit hard to brush your teeth with your mouth closed.
So we are rather resigned that he's going to have some form of tooth decay. And we all know that this may be baby teeth, but the decay affects the permanent teeth. Our parents assure us that they never brushed ours till we were 4 years old. That explains all the fillings!!! But cold comfort knowing that one day our son will have to see the dentist cos of bad teeth and its going to hurt and he will hate the dentist even more. I did manage to teach him to rinse his mouth - so he "mock" brushes twice a day (mock brushing = sticking toothbrush on your lips) and rinses after that. Better than nothing I say!
The best suggestion I've heard so far - buy him a dog bone - the kind that dogs chew on to clean their teeth. (this came from a friend who has no kids by the way, and naturally, he owns a dog). Anyone else with better ideas?