Poll: What times of day do you brush toddler's teeth?

JillRock96

We've been brushing before nap (in the AM) and before bed (and inconsistently at that... ).  But I'm wondering if we should do first thing in the morning and before bed instead.  What do you do?

Also, any tips to get them to keep their mouths open?  Ava LOVES to brush (because her Abby Cadabby toothpaste tastes good), but she closes her mouth on the brush.

cmw&tdm

We do after breakfast/before school and before bed.  I don't have any tips because my kids are not the best with letting us brush their teeth.  Actually, DS has gotten a lot better but it's not easy with Natalie. 

TheSkimmy

I "try" for the mornings when I brush my teeth... we hope for before bedtime but we aren't as good with that one.

malloryo85

We do after breakfast and before bed. Our girls clamp their mouths shut on the brush too, they love their toothpaste. I just have to keep telling them to open wide.

SeaSoul

we only do once a day, after bath, before bed.

mrsolsenk12

We do it each night before bed and in the mornings (when I remember). I have to tell Hayden to "open" for me to get him to open his mouth however he usually closes it to suck off the tooth paste.

keg

I only do it at night.  Might make me a bad mom only doing it once a day, but considering I have to wrestle two to do it, I'm doing the best I can. :-)  No tips though...We generally have at least two brushes (one for them, one for me) and I try to get in when they aren't paying too much attention. 

JillRock96

Well, at least I'm not the only one dealing with a clamped mouth.    I worry all the time that Ava's teeth are going to fall out because I don't pay enough attention to them!

AvaLikeLava

SeaSoul:

we only do once a day, after bath, before bed.

This. We haven't moved up to 2 times a day yet, but I guess we need to soon.

LVBlvd

At night right before bed.  She loves it!

SeaSoul

btw, one thing we do, which i think must have some benefit, is after we're done brushing as best we can, we'll offer him the toothbrush.  he bites down on it in various areas of his mouth, so i think it's helping further clean things in there.

nicolita14w

We try to do it after dinner in the high chair. Lately it has been a massive failure. DS will refuse to open his mouth whatsoever, whether we try to brush for him or give the toothbrush to him. 

I've been trying to wash them with a wet washcloth quickly to clean them but this results in him biting me quite hard. 

Am hoping it's a phase and that we'll be able to brush better soon. 

SparklyCutie

We try for 2 times a day, after breaky and before bed. We always pretend to find the chocolate in there and some cake, I pretend to find skittle after skittle...it works she opens up wide and thinks it's fun. Sometimes we look for elephants and lions too.

JillRock96

SparklyCutie:

We try for 2 times a day, after breaky and before bed. We always pretend to find the chocolate in there and some cake, I pretend to find skittle after skittle...it works she opens up wide and thinks it's fun. Sometimes we look for elephants and lions too.

That is a great idea!  I'm so searching for elephants and owls tomorrow (Ava's new favorite animal noises to make).  Thanks!

LIAngel

SeaSoul:

we only do once a day, after bath, before bed.

This.  But we still use a finger brush.  I have to get him a toothbrush since he bites my finger!

Temp159135562506975

in the am we brush when we are getting ready --- on days i work that is early... on days i'm home with the kids it's usually at 9am when the twins go down for a nap.

then at bedtime when DH is getting him dressed for bed and having him go potty- at 8pm... we used to be really bad about the night time brushing- but now that he's potty trained we're better with brushing b/c he has to go in the bathroom every night before bed- so we don't forget

skoorbnibor

after breakfast and before bed.

No tips, Ethan does the same thing

sommerrayne

Ahhh the bane of my existance! The fight of toothbrushing. I finally gave in and got an electric. She picked it out (hello kitty) and I get it ready (kid paste) and then I let her go at it for a couple of mins but then its mama's turn.

I brush usually mid-morning and then before bed (when I remember! GAH!).

They're enamel is so thin you don't want to brush too hard or too often but I make sure I get the funk out of there.

howleyshell

After breakfast and before bed.

Keeping mouth open?

 

Ask her to make sounds with you...

 

"AAAhhhhhh" opens the mouth to reach the back ones and inside and "EEEeeeee" gives us good access to getting the front teeth.

 

Try modeling the behavior by brushing your teeth next to her and making the "Ahhh" and "Eeee" sounds when you brush and ask her to do it along side you "like Mommy does" 

JillRock96

howleyshell:

After breakfast and before bed.

Keeping mouth open?

 

Ask her to make sounds with you...

 

"AAAhhhhhh" opens the mouth to reach the back ones and inside and "EEEeeeee" gives us good access to getting the front teeth.

 

Try modeling the behavior by brushing your teeth next to her and making the "Ahhh" and "Eeee" sounds when you brush and ask her to do it along side you "like Mommy does" 

Shell, you are a genius.  You need to write a book with all of your parenting tips and tricks.  You could be seriously rich.