Toothpaste and brushing question

EDWHIP

Hi

 My lo (26 months) still refuses to brush her teeth.  We have to hold her down on the changing table to brush them (after giving her the option to do it herself).  She tells us that she does not like the taste of the toothpaste.  She liked the clear kind that comes with the first toothbrush, but you can only buy that as part of a set.  I am unsure if she is supposed to be able to swallow the toothpaste we give her because she does not know how to spit properly yet.  Any toothpaste recs?  Any other brushing techniques I can use with my lo?  Our pediatrician was concerned at her 2 year appt that she was not brushing adequately. 

MrsWindyCity

Our pediatric dentist said that swallowing at that age was fine. Just use a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste. I don't know what flavor you are currently using but maybe use a fruity one? We use the strawberry Tom's.

hmontty

We also use the strawberry-flavored Tom's, and my daughter likes it (and didn't like many of the others we tried).

EDWHIP

Thanks..we are using some strawberry pink flavored stuff and she hates it.  She liked the orajel training, but I can only buy it in a pack with a brush.  I will try Toms!

cpmich

A little with fluoride and the sonicare kids toothbrush.

eb1113

DD brushes her teeth on her own first with training toothpaste.  Then I go and brush her princess teeth with fruity/bubblegum flavored floride toothpaste.  It took awhile to get to this place.  She would fight and battle getting her teeth brushed for many months.  

I am able to buy training toothpaste that isn't part of a set.  It has My Little Pony on it, maybe made by Colgate... 

KelsnEm

DD (25mo) was TERRIBLE about teeth up until this last month or so. I think it's been a combo of things:

1. She's had few different types of training toothpastes. I've started asking her "do you want to use Elmo toothpaste (kiddie paste with his pic on it) or Mommy & Daddy's toothpaste (whatever crest/Colgate that was on sale that week)?" She always picks ours since I've started asking.  Hasn't used the kiddie paste in a while. 

2. We've been talking a lot about community helpers (firefighter, police officer, doctors) and what they do/where they work/who they help. We haven't been to the dentist yet, but we talk about going and what will happen. Then i pretend to be "Dentist Mommy" and she opens wide to let me count her teeth and clean them.

 3. DD has a cousin about 8 months older.  We stayed the night a week or so ago and I brushed both their teeth. The cousin went first and DD watched. I really went on about how well the cousin did. Now, when DD gives me a hard time about it, I remind her of her cousin and then ask her to do it just like they did. 

 All and all, it's getting better.  I was really getting worried because brushing was just not happening without a major fight. Still, we have some nights that I only get 10 seconds worth of brushing in. I just keep trying new things and new ways of approaching it. Good luck!  

Love My Lil Princess 509

You can use floride toothpaste even when your LO can't rinse and spit it out ? I was always under the impression, and from what I read, that you should only use training toothpaste if they can't. I use the orajel training toothpaste with my little pony on it. They sell it everywhere, including BRU. I've never even seen the package with a toothbrush attached. Our dr. said her teeth looked great at her 2 yr appt.

orangecurls

My kiddos like the aquafresh training toothpaste. It is apple banana flavored.

MrsWindyCity

Love My Lil Princess 509:

You can use floride toothpaste even when your LO can't rinse and spit it out ? I was always under the impression, and from what I read, that you should only use training toothpaste if they can't. I use the orajel training toothpaste with my little pony on it. They sell it everywhere, including BRU. I've never even seen the package with a toothbrush attached. Our dr. said her teeth looked great at her 2 yr appt.

Yep, according to our pediatric dentist, you use a fluoridated toothpaste. If they are not spitting, then just use a small smear and up it to a pea size when they are starting to get the hang of spitting.  

EDWHIP

KelsnEm:

DD (25mo) was TERRIBLE about teeth up until this last month or so. I think it's been a combo of things:

1. She's had few different types of training toothpastes. I've started asking her "do you want to use Elmo toothpaste (kiddie paste with his pic on it) or Mommy & Daddy's toothpaste (whatever crest/Colgate that was on sale that week)?" She always picks ours since I've started asking.  Hasn't used the kiddie paste in a while. 

2. We've been talking a lot about community helpers (firefighter, police officer, doctors) and what they do/where they work/who they help. We haven't been to the dentist yet, but we talk about going and what will happen. Then i pretend to be "Dentist Mommy" and she opens wide to let me count her teeth and clean them.

 3. DD has a cousin about 8 months older.  We stayed the night a week or so ago and I brushed both their teeth. The cousin went first and DD watched. I really went on about how well the cousin did. Now, when DD gives me a hard time about it, I remind her of her cousin and then ask her to do it just like they did. 

 All and all, it's getting better.  I was really getting worried because brushing was just not happening without a major fight. Still, we have some nights that I only get 10 seconds worth of brushing in. I just keep trying new things and new ways of approaching it. Good luck!  

 

Thanks!  We will be vacationing with my nephew who is 3 and hopefully he will be a good role model!