Tooth Brush training tips??? Post Reply

[loopylou]

Does any one have any tips for training a two year old to use a tooth brush? My son refuses to let the tooth brush any where near his mouth, or even hold it in his hand. Or am I starting too early, should I wait a while longer? Many thanks

[clare74]

My toddler doesn't always do a brilliant job and quite often objects or just want to eat the toothpaste. When I talked to my dentist he wasn't overly concerned about this.

Tips my dentist gave are:
- focus most on the back teeth, the ones with cusps, as they're the ones most in need of a clean rather than those with flat surfaces
-try to start at a different point each day (ie. top left, bottom right etc) so that if you don't get all the way round you're at least covering them all over time!

I would recommend brushing your teeth (or pretending to) at the same time as they do like to copy. I also then sometimes let him brush my teeth so that I can also have a go at his.

[JThomas]

My two (now 3) have never been very keen on tooth brushing. I was worried that pinning them down in a headlock would give them a phobia, but my dentist said that if they hated having their nappy changed you'd still force them to do that.

Things that sometimes work when I'm feeling more patient:
- letting them brush my teeth
- brushing cuddly toy's teeth
- a star chart for good brushing behaviour

And recently (for their birthday) I gave them kids electric toothbrushes. Then we made a big fuss about their new toothbrushes an how grown up they were. Two advantages: they seem happier about toothbrushing and their contribution is probably a bit more effective.

If you haven't yet started taking your child to the dentist you should also do that (its free for kids).

[Mum2Monkey]

Hi, we still have problems brushing my two year olds teeth. We do sometimes resort to my husband pinning him down while I force the tooth brush in - however, I have found that letting him brush first helps. Also, we've been obsessively reading Peppa goes to the dentist and I now ask him to "brush like george" and we have a peppa toothbrush and toothpaste. That seems to have helped.

I took him to the dentist a few months ago - the dentist had a peppa logo and new the story. He thought the dentist was fantastic and now I tell him he gets to go again if he brushes his teeth.

Still have fights sometimes, but Peppa is definitely helping!

[supergirl]

I agree you left it a little too late so now he is a bit scared. A few things you can do though:
1. Buy a flashing toothbrush (waitrose, boots): they come in colours (let him choose) and flash for 60secs (length of brushing);
2. Let him brush his teeth in the morning but do brush yourself in the even

[supergirl]

I agree you left it a little too late so now he is a bit scared. A few things you can do though:
1. Buy a flashing toothbrush (waitrose, boots): they come in colours (let him choose) and flash for 60secs (length of brushing);
2. Let him brush his teeth in the morning but do brush yourself in the evening;
3. While he brushes make him sing smthg like arpeggios. It sounds ridiculous but it does work. It distracts their mind, it makes it fun and then you can call it the brushing song.
4. Brush your teeth at the same time and sing the song too.

If all fails you can call a dentist and make him complicit with so you all have a friendly fun chat, there is a peppa pig one at the dentist and finally get his nursery involved. In my youngest one (on the request of one parent), one day all the kids were to bring their toothbrush abd toothpaste. They were shown how to brush, why brushing, etc. I ve been told i was doing it the "wrong way" when she came back!

Good luck.

[zaza107]

I agree with the suggestions above. Sometimes we have no trouble at all, and sometimes we just hold our two year old tightly and get it done with. We started when she was 4mo, so though you're starting pretty late that may not be all of the problem...teeth brushing is pretty invasive, so I can see why they don't like it much

Our daughter does like those Boots toothbrushes that have a suction cup on the end, and they can pop on the sink which is vaguely amusing.

In the end, it's one of the few non-negotiable things we have to do, so (almost) whatever it takes...

[glow dental]

Our children's dedicated dentist will be definitely able to help you and give you few tips on that.
In the meantime try to show him that brushing teeth can be fun and brush together with him.
Good Luck !

[loopylou]

Many thanks to everyone for your help and advice

[TXmum]

Our two year old hates it too. We didn't leave it late, but it has always been a wrestling match and contortionist positions to get the toothbrush in his mouth. He LOVES sucking the toothpaste, and only recently we've been able to convince him to move it around on his teeth. Sometimes he does it sometimes he doesn't.
Agree with one of the above posters who said they let him do it in the morning and then we do a bit of a wrestle in the evening. And I feel like if I get the back teeth, we're at least getting something!
We bought an electric toothbrush because I thought the buzzing (tickling) might be fun. Nope. He was terrified of it! So I've gone with the flashing toothbrush, and it helps a little.

[LKNorthcote]

Sounds a bit barking, but when my 2 year old son brushes his teeth, I tell him to look for the bubbles in his mouth, which only come from brushing. That at least helps him open him mouth which allows me to have a quick brush.

He mostly eats the toothpaste.

His teeth are beginning to go a bit yellow at the top near the gums. He hasn't seen the dentist yet so I'm looking for a good dentist.

Any recommendations for a good child's dentist near Northcote road?

Thanks

xx