[niggles]

We went through a stage where every night was a nightmare trying to get DDs teeth brushed at that age but we cracked it with some consistent rules and a sticker on her hand for the first few weeks if she brushed without a fuss.

It goes like this now:
Your turn, then my turn (We count to 10 or 20 while she is brushing and then she hands the toothbrush over).
You can brush your own teeth 'when the sun's awake'.

Every now and then we play dentist and tell her what a great job she must be doing because she hasn't got any stains or holes in her teeth. Sometimes she requests 'you be the dentist'. Might be worth introducing the dentist game some other low pressure time of the day.

[Sweet like a lem...]

The only thing I can suggest is doing it with him and turn it into a competition. Let's see whose teeth are shinier, and of course he always wins.
DH has for the most part always brushed his teeth while DD does hers. She's a real daddy's girl so this technique has worked well for us.

[boopyscreet]

we had huge issues with DD (2). Now we all brush our teeth together and when she got a bit resistant to that I went on youtube and found videos of other toddlers brushing their teeth. She was fascinated and now we say 'show me how well you can brush your teeth' and she does a pretty good job. Either me or DH then give them a proper brush at the end. It's getting much easier.

Good luck OP.

[Guest_Cathode_*]

When mine were smaller I just used to use one of those silicone finer brush things (slides over your finger, and has 'brush' at end).

Now they all do it themselves (youngest is 2). I give them the brush with paste and they start off. If they aren't doing a good enough job, I do a quick finish for them.

Maybe also try different toothpaste. Some kids don't like the mint (though I swear mine would eat it if they could). You can get non-mint toothpastes.

Or, let them watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4S3EXa3e8Q...feature=related

Made me want to brush my teeth back in the day (^cartoon).

[Lokum]

Electric tooth brush helped us HEAPS. Still sometimes resists, but having another toothbrush to hold in his hands helps.

[mccarro]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I already let him do his teeth in the morning, and i've tried the taking turns thing too. I haven't tried the electric toothbrush, so I think I'll give that a go next. I'm also about to change up his bedtime routine too, so that he brushes his teeth as part of his bath routine, so we'll see if that helps too.

Now the next problem is getting him into bed - DH has gone away for work for awhile, and since then his bedtime routine has literally disintegrated.

[Riotproof]

My latest success is lettig him hold my iPhone while he watches the giggle and hoot 5 steps to bed song.

[JackiOT]

Second the electric toothbrush - can be quite soothing for them, both of my boys got better with brushing teeth with the "buzzy brush"

[moo~tickle]

DD4 and DS2 are both shocking! I have just started brushing in the bath and they get a special cup of water to drink - quite the novelty and they fight over being first to get teeth brushed.

[Guest_tigerdog_*]

Electric tooth brush helped us HEAPS. Still sometimes resists, but having another toothbrush to hold in his hands helps.

Us too, although it may scare some kids and put them off even more!