Tips of brushing 2 year old's teeth

gwennec · June 2012

I need some help. It is an ongoing battle to brush my daughter's teeth everyday. She fights it and I fear of her getting stronger. Right now she is good for about 5 seconds and then she tries to grab the brush out of my hands, sits or lays on the floor and sobs. It actually works when she gets really upset since she tends to open her mouth more. But obviously I want her to start enjoying this a little more.

We brush our teeth in front of her, show her how to do it. Tell her what a great job she does when she attempts to do it herself and then instead ends up brushing the wall. Any tips would be great!

memali26 · June 2012

We brush DD1's teeth, then let her have a turn. If she doesn't cooperate with us, she doesn't get a turn. So far this has worked and she's only lost her turn once or twice in the last several months of doing this. When she was younger and wouldn't have understood that tactic, I would give her a second toothbrush to "help."

avbliss · June 2012

I sing a familiar song such as twinkle twinkle little star or the abc's so she knows when its done and then she gets a turn.

Pumpkin62307 · June 2012

Oh, I could have written your post! DS dreads brushing his teeth, you'd think we were torturing him! Sometimes he even asks to go potty to get out of it! LOL! One thing that works sometimes is singing a song from Barney about brushing teeth. "Well I'm brushing my teeth on top, it's so much fun I'd hat to stop. While I'm brushing my teeth and having so much fun, I never let the water run, no. I never let the water run." Then there's a couple more verses....but like I said that only work about 20% of the time. Other than that it's more crying, scream, pinning hands...etc. I do agree with you though, it's easier when they're screaming because their mouth is open! I try to get him to take a turn, but he's not interested in that at all.

Sorry I'm not much help. This is a show of support, if nothing else...

winomom22 · June 2012

We use an electric tooth brush. We let her do it herself first and then we do a quick sweep after she is done. I like the electric tooth brush because then at least it is doing the work for her if she is just chewing on it. KWIM?

doremi29 · June 2012

I sing him the Raffi song (horribly cheesy, but here's a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dup3IArSNs&feature=related )

I've told him that if he doesn't let me brush his teeth, he has to go to bed without stories (which I hope I never have to follow through with). Luckily he looooves books and loves when we snuggle and read. He's a very strong-willed kid and we've had many fights over brushing, but he usually gives in after a few seconds because he knows I won't quit until he lets me do it.

TiffanyBerry · June 2012

DD brushes her teeth great, but she is NOT sufficiently patient with me when it's my turn. So, she sits on daddy's lap and looks at the photos and videos of her that I've taken (I post lots of them online, but you could just use your camera). Totally works for us!

HappytobeMrs · June 2012

We've had the same issue, but found if we tell him we see his favorite tv characters or a truck, etc in his mouth, he'll open up to let us brush

DynoMight · June 2012

We have two tooth brushes. He gets to start with one then I take turns with the other one. Since the Bubble Guppies episode about brushing teeth, it's been a lot easier. We struggle in the morning but at night after the bath, he is very good about letting me brush his teeth like they do on Guppies.