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Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Toddler hates brushing teeth
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Anonymous
| My 18-month old hates brushing her teeth. She tries to seal her lips, stick her tongue out or over the teeth etc. When left on her own, she does play with the toothbrush and even on occasion will stick it in her mouth, but doesn't brush. I haven't really stressed it much since she only has 4 teeth (that's a subject for another thread), but I'm thinking that if we don't get into a routine now it will be that much more difficult later. Should I maybe try a flavored toothpaste (right now I just use water, no toothpaste). Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
Anonymous
| They do have the toddler toothpaste that doesn't have fluoride. My DS seems to like this. He likes to suck it off the toothbrush though I'm not sure how much it will help with the brushing. I'm still not convinced how much the brushing we are doing is accomplishing, so I usually stick a clean wet washcloth in to get his teeth quickly (before he bites down) at the beginning of his bath. We then give him his toothbrush while he's in the bath and let him play with it but also try to do a little brushing (more to get him used to the idea as you say). DS is only 13 months though... So far, when we have trouble with something (like giving medicine), if we make a game out of it, it usually works. |
Anonymous
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The toothpaste helps.
Also, I let my daughter brush my teeth (with my toothbrush), then she's more likely to open up and let me brush her teeth. This is the same way I get her to eat veggies. One for mama, one for baby... |
Anonymous
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Here are a few suggestions:
1) Take her shopping and let her pick out her toothbrush and toothpaste 2) Have her brush her doll's or stuffed animal's teeth 3) Buy some books about brushing teeth -- My kids love the book "Brush Your Teeth Please". It is a pop-up book that lets your child practice brushing the teeth of various animals and even flossing a shark's teeth. 4) Sesame Street has a video -- Wake Up with Elmo (?) -- that has a segment on brushing teeth Hope these help. |
Anonymous
I second all of this advice. We let out guy pick out two tooth brushes. We let him brush where ever he wants to, it is not limited to the bathroom. We watch him of course. I use flavored paste at times, sometimes just give him the brush. He now LOVES brushing his teeth! |
Anonymous
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In addition to all the great advice
1. Let your child brush YOUR teeth (OK, this hurts a little, but often worth it). Either before or during you brushing their teeth. 2. Make it a game "hey, what food is in here, is it brocolli? Crackers?" and you have to get the food out. 3. Look for "monsters" or "dogs" or whatever in your child's mouth. 4. Promise him/her she gets to drink water out of the big boy/girl cup only after the teeth are brushed (or gets to play with water, or gets to spit, whatever works) 5. When whatever works wears off, try a new technique. |
Anonymous
| OP here. DD was a little under the weather and I haven't had a chance to go online for the past few days. Just wanted to thank everyone who responded. Great ideas and I am looking forward to trying them out. Thanks again. |
Anonymous
| My 19 MO wants to brush his teeth all the time because the toothpaste has Elmo on it. He calls it Elmo Paste (actually, it sounds more like El Pase but it's so darn cute when he asks for it). Definitely try the toddler toothpaste and hopefully that will help. |
Anonymous
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Hoo boy. Memories...
When my son was a toddler, with *major* dental issues to boot, I had to pretend to be his very nice pediatric dentist in outer space/underwater, complete with elaborate role playing and occasionally costumes. It was a royal PIA, but beat holding him down. At some point we graduated to him doing the brushing, and my doing a "check brush." |