Toothbrushing tips for toddlers.?

Question

my 17 month old daughter loves her toothbrush! the problem is... she holds it herself, but only chews on it. she watches my husband and i brush our teeth and tries to mimick us, but she mostly chews. when we try to hold it for her, she gets frustrated and loses interest. does anyone have any tips on how to help brush a toddler's teeth? friends of ours say that it isn't a big deal if they don't get all of their teeth properly, but i'm paranoid that she may get a cavity!!

Answer 1

this is a common question i am asked.  in my experience with my kids and my patients, there are two techniques you can use but one must be used.  you are correct in assuming that all teeth must be brushed.  1) tell her that you WILL brush first and if she gives you a hard time, she will not get a turn.  and stick to that.  after a few fits in a few days, she will learn that if she wants to try, she will have to let you do it without a fuss.  2) if all else fails, place two chairs facing eachother.  you sit in one.  have your husband hold her with her facing him strattling him in another chair.  have him hold her hands down to her chest while she is laying in your lap.  you will be looking at her upside down.  brush her teeth that way.  i know that she may cry but having her cry for a minute while you brush her teeth is better than her crying for the dentist for 30 minutes while he does fillings.  also, make sure that you are using a no floride toothpaste until she learns to spit in the sink and start flossing the moment she lets you.  the american academy of pediatric dentistry recommends the first dental visit at a year old.  make an appointment if you haven't already.  they can give you a few pointers.

Answer 2

I make it fun for my 2 year old by telling her to go AHHH and EEE to get the front and molars. She gets a kick out of doing this, and I continue to make the sounds with her while I brush. Sometimes you have to force it a bit. She'll get used to it eventually.

Answer 3

hold her hand and move her hand in right motion thats all you can do.

Answer 4

my daughter used to  chew on her toothbrush too. i asked my doctor and he said try and electric toothbrush. it don't have to be a expensive one just any electric toothbrush will work. she still chews the toothbrush just not a s much because it keeps moving around in her mouth.

Answer 5

I sing a song to my son while I brush his teeth:

"In and out

And up and down.

Back and forth and

All around.

Brush them 'til they're pearly white.

Once in the morning and once at night."

If he closes his mouth, I stop singing immediately. It drives him crazy not to finish the song, so he keeps his mouth open.  We also have the rule that mom or dad have to help him brush first, then he can "brush" on his own all he wants. Good luck!

Answer 6

i don't know if this will work but why not try asking her to brush your teeth with your brush and you brush her teeth with her brush together? she might thinks its fun :D

Answer 7

I am a tooth fanatic with my 2 (ages 17 mo. and 3 and 1/2).  My son has always done fine with letting me brush his teeth, and has now learned how to correctly brush them himself (with my guidance still of course :) ).  Hailyn, however, is the same way...wants to chew on it.  So when I brush her teeth, I have to hold her down.  She throws a fit, but afterwards, I give it to her to chew on while I finish getting her ready.

Answer 8

I always start brushinh my sons teeth first and i sing songs (the things we have to do! lol) like This is the way we brush our teeth brush our teeth brush our teeth this is the way we brush our teeth early in the morning! Or i just talk rubbish saying things like Post man Pat brushe his teeth, Barney brushes his teeth, mommy brushes her teeth etc just using people or characters of his interest to keep him listening and still! lol and i usally get smiles which is even better to get a good scrub! Then afterwards i let him do it himself, good luck, its worth a try! lol :)

Answer 9

My 13 mth old does the same thing...he loves his toothbrush..what I have started to do is sitting on the floor with him facing me...I give him my toothbruth and let him "brush" my teeth...as he is doing that he doesnt even notice that I am scrubbing his. By the time he loses interest I have done a pretty good job of getting all of his before he grabs his toothbrush away from me.