Any tips for brushing toddler's teeth?

[looniepincher]

Calling out to all you experienced parents out there,

I'm having trouble lately getting my 14-month old to let me brush her teeth. She used to be ok with me wiping down her gums and teeth with a damp washcloth, then when that didn't work anymore we transitioned to a mini toothbrush with a bit of baby toothpaste (no fluoride). We also have one of those thimble-looking things with the bristles and that worked for a bit too before she started rejecting that.

I'm just kinda worried about this especially given that she still gets a bottle before bed-time (bad I know but it's her routine currently).

Anyone have any tricks to getting their little one to brush?

Thanks in advance.

[AnnaBanana]

so much of it is habit. stick with it. find a song that you can sing while doing it. have her pick out a new toothbrush at the store... have her do the brushing (even if she does a horrible job), then after a few days you take your turn after she's done. make it fun... and good luck!

[Monette]

This is normal. They usually start resisting when they get more independent and want to do everything themselves. Try letting her do it first and then you sneak in there with another brush after she's done her attempt. She'll probably just suck on the toothpaste so you have to do the real cleaning. We've tried lots of other methods, like distracting her with songs, etc. Tickling is a good one. My husband tickles her and I get in there when her mouth is open from laughing so hard. Good luck.

[DonnyFenn]

so much of it is habit. stick with it. find a song that you can sing while doing it. have her pick out a new toothbrush at the store... have her do the brushing (even if she does a horrible job), then after a few days you take your turn after she's done. make it fun... and good luck!
Youtube: Brush Your Teeth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hip7BNqhyeU)
The Raffi song "Brush Your Teeth" worked out awesome for us.

If you get up in the morning at a quarter to one
and you want to have a little fun,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....

If you get up in the morning at a quarter to two
and you want to find something to do,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....

If you get up in the morning at a quarter to three
and you want to hum a tweedle dee dee,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....

If you get up in the morning at a quarter to four
and you think you hear a knock at the door,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....

If you get up in the morning at a quarter to five
and you just can't wait to come alive,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....

[kate23]

We picked out a fun toothbrush - Dora, Winnie the Pooh - whatever she's interested in and always "took turns" brushing. She could do it for a bit, then I would do it properly. And I wouldn't worry about the bottle - my daughter is much older than yours and she still has a bottle before bed. Just don't let her fall asleep with it in her mouth where the milk would sit.

[looniepincher]

thanks for the responses!

I am trying to make it a habit by attempting the brush twice a day but she seems to be getting increasingly frustrated by my attempts...I'll definitely try to make it more fun and the tickling I give a shot tonight. :D

Her toothbrush is already one of those ducky ones with feet so I thought that was cute!

She's definitely more independent these days...I'll give her the brush to let her do it herself but she just throws it on the ground! I've learned to not put toothpaste on till I know what kind of mood she's in that night!

[volan]

As someone else said, it's all about routine. I'm sure you have a well established bedtime routine that includes brushing. If not then try to develop one.

As for the brushing perhaps you could show her you brushing your teeth (and having fun) and then you can brush her teeth, even if you just get in for a couple of seconds, then over time you can increase the time as the routine becomes more established.

Eventually she'll learn that brushing is just part of the bedtime routine and it can even be fun.

For my 2 year old, he doesn't always want to go upstairs to the washroom to brush his teeth so on those days I'll bring the brush down to the living room and brush his teeth while he's playing or watching TV. But because he knows the routine, as soon as we're done brushing he starts making his way upstairs to read a book and do the rest of the bedtime stuff.

[jumbojones]

Our son is 20 months and hates having his teeth brushed, my wife and I tag team him, I blow on his belly and tickle him to get him to laugh and open his mouth and my wife brushes.

[eejikes]

Not a product endorsement but the Crest Spin Brush for kids really helped when our first was starting out. THe spinning brushes cut the time it took to brush his teeth and the buzzing sound also made for a great disstraction in the early days. He has now graduated to the adult size brush and his pearly whites are just that :cheesygri

[JuliaP]

We sing the Raffi song while we brush my son's teeth. And he always gets a turn to brush - he gets a turn first, then I do it for him and then he can have another turn.
Also, I let him watch me brush my teeth and I give him his toothbrush while I'm brushing mine. He thinks it is so funny to brush his own teeth while I do mine.

[trippin_tre]

My 15 month old uses an Angel Brush Tooth"brush" and he loves using it. It is sillicone and he bites it to "brush" his teeth. Only thing I have tried but he asks to brush his teeth several times a day. Highly recommended.

http://www.firstbrush.com/

[so e]

I have the same problem with my 21 months old daughter. However, once I told her that a worm will come out from her mouth and bite her lip if she doesn't brush her teeth, then she opens her mouth wide. Of course, I've to remind her everytime I want to brush her teeth.

[creamsoda]

At what age did you start brushing your kids teeth?

[DonnyFenn]

At what age did you start brushing your kids teeth?

Feel a tooth? Start brushing! We started with one of those little silicone thimble-type brushes, and switched to a toddler brush at around her first birthday IIRC, maybe a little earlier.

[looniepincher]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I tried the tickling and laughing thing but she just giggles and turns away. Maybe I do need to "tagteam"!


My 15 month old uses an Angel Brush Tooth"brush" and he loves using it. It is sillicone and he bites it to "brush" his teeth. Only thing I have tried but he asks to brush his teeth several times a day. Highly recommended.

http://www.firstbrush.com/

This worked for a while then she started rejecting that too.

I'm going to try to show her how I brush tonight to see if that works but somehow I doubt it.

[night_day]

What's been working for us lately is letting her "play" with the water. So we'll plug the sink, fill up about 1/2 way and let her play with the water. She likes to pour water from one glass to another. So we just do that and she's distracted and we just brush. (in the morning) At night, we just brush her while she showers -> again, she's distracted with bath toys at the time. Give that a try. (my daughter is now 28 months, but we've been doing this since she turned 2)

[Fx45]

I've been brushing my son's teeth for 2 weeks consistently now. Only way to do it - got him a stool, and started to brush my own teeth. He would replicate the whole procedure: when i put on toothpaste, he will ask for some (I give him the learning toothpaste). I brush, and he tries to do the same. I spit, he spits.

Then I take over and do my best to brush him using his toothbrush, then finish off with the finger brush for good measure.

Been working like a charm for the last 2 weeks. Only problem is that when he gets in the bed he immediately asks for milk and it's a bit of fight every night to tell him that he's older now and no more milk in bed.

[looniepincher]

I've been brushing my son's teeth for 2 weeks consistently now. Only way to do it - got him a stool, and started to brush my own teeth. He would replicate the whole procedure: when i put on toothpaste, he will ask for some (I give him the learning toothpaste). I brush, and he tries to do the same. I spit, he spits.

Then I take over and do my best to brush him using his toothbrush, then finish off with the finger brush for good measure.

Been working like a charm for the last 2 weeks. Only problem is that when he gets in the bed he immediately asks for milk and it's a bit of fight every night to tell him that he's older now and no more milk in bed.

thanks again everyone for the ongoing replies. I appreciate it since this is an ongoing battle for us.

Last night I tried brushing infront of her and that seemed to help a bit--it got her in a better mood (instead of trying to force a toothbrush into a cranky, sleepy mouth just before bed). We just went to the bathroom and she watched as I brushed my teeth. Sure enough, she tried putting her finger in her mouth to copy me. I got a couple brushes in before she refused again but at least it's progress!

[DaveTheBrave]

The key to getting little kids to do what you need them to is distraction :lol:

Fortunately for us my son was >fairly< cooperative when we started brushing. We had one of those gum massagers with the tiny toothbruch in a set, and we used the starter toothpaste on the gums then. What did help was having him stand on a step and lean back with his head back over my arm, so I could keep his head still between upper and forearm.

It hasn't gotten easier, that's for sure. He's 4 now and still gives us hassles because he has to keep his hands busy with something, or look around at stuff. Grrr!

[LiL L]

My son used to let me brush his teeth up until about two weeks ago (i would let him brush first and take over when he was done). I guess he knows he has to be terrible now since he's entering the "terrible two's"! I am hoping it's just a phase...We also still give him milk before bedtime (after brushing his teeth) but don't let him fall asleep with the bottle. I want to switch the routine, but milk and books and then sleep go so well together, don't want to then have to leave the bedroom, brush teeth and go back to bed.

[looniepincher]

thanks again for the replies. The tooth-brushing seems to have gotten much better lately and she's even gone back to using the rubber brush (Angel brush I think it's called as previously mentioned) for the last few days....for now I think it's safe to say she's finally over it!

I think what was most helpful was just being persistent, but not necessarily doing the same thing every night. I think being persistent, but changing up the brushing technique was really what she needed. Trying the same technique over and over just led to more and more frustration for both her and us. I'm kinda taking this as a parenting lesson too!