How did you make toothbrushing fun?

hbr.white · November 2013

We can get our DD to gnaw on a toothbrush with toddler toothpaste; however, she fights us if we try to hold her down and brush her teeth. I don't want to create negative feelings about toothbrushing by holding her down; however, she needs to know that you have to brush your teeth every day twice a day, period. Wondering if any parents out there have come up with a way to make it fun and enjoyable. I've thought about a reward board with stickers, but at 2 years old, I'm not sure she can comprehend this tactic just yet. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

lite-bright · November 2013

When they were younger, we talked about "food monsters" and brushing them away. About how little bits of food can stay in your mouth and hurt your teeth, so we have to go after them. And make a big deal "Oh, I see one! We better scrub there!" "Did you see that one? It was a big one! Let's get it!"

We also sing made-up songs about tooth-brushing and narrate the process. "First we brush-brush-brush and we brush on the bottom ... then we brush-brush-brush and we brush on the top ..." etc., etc. DD2 loves that and if we forget, she tells us, "Sing the brush-brush song!"

We went through phases of having to hold down for short periods, but mostly we tried to make it positive and fun and that went a long way.

blu-eyedwife · November 2013

He brushes his teeth with us, I think that helps, because it's just like mom/dad. Like your daughter he gnaws on the brush, and we have to encourage "back and forth so fast!" Sometimes he likes us to do it for him. Sometimes he likes to brush his "truck's teeth" (the grill) but I only let him do that after he's brushed his own, so it's incentive.

amom333 · November 2013

We sing when she brushes her teeth. We'll sing one song and let her brush them herself and then when the song is over, we sing another song while mommy brushes her teeth. She didn't always open her mouth all the way so we'd brush what we could. Now, however, she's fine with it - it's become routine.

kristennd · November 2013

We stand him on the counter so he can see himself in the mirror, with one arm around him, and brush our own teeth at the same time.

JulesDiane · November 2013

We found a catchy music video about brushing teeth on you tube, and would let her watch it while we brushed her teeth.

SusieBW · November 2013

lite-bright said:

When they were younger, we talked about "food monsters" and brushing them away. About how little bits of food can stay in your mouth and hurt your teeth, so we have to go after them. And make a big deal "Oh, I see one! We better scrub there!" "Did you see that one? It was a big one! Let's get it!"

lite-bright
Thank you for this! DD has good days and bad days when it comes to brushing her teeth, and we've just been letting it go. She makes a little effort twice a day, and sometimes lets us help, so I've always felt like overall, she's fine. But this morning, I told her about food monsters, and she was fascinated! I sat in front of her and told her that I could see the food monsters better, so I would get them for her, and she handed her toothbrush right over and let me brush all I wanted. It was like magic! Thank you!

Chuck1906 · November 2013

My son used to fight me when I would brush his teeth with just water and a brush. Now that he's 2, I have been using the toddler toothpaste - fruity tooty flavor and he now likes getting his teeth brushed.

What I tend to do is while he is still strapped in his booster seat, I will come up behind him and brush his teeth. I find its easier to brush them that way. Sometimes I might play around and pretend the toothbrush is an airplane which he gets a kick out of before I put it in his mouth.

Now I always talk to him and explain what I am doing. So I will say something like Daddy needs to get the food out thats stuck between your teeth or Daddy needs to make sure your teeth are clean. After I give him a good cleaning, I will let him hold the brush on his own and he gets to brush his own teeth. I have even taught him how to rinse his mouth out once he is done too! LOL!

kaybe24 · November 2013

We brush his teeth then let him brush and we count out loud slowly one, two, three. It took a while but now he keeps brushing after we count to three. Really any routine that you stick to should get your child used to after a while.

hbr.white · December 2013

lite-bright said:

When they were younger, we talked about "food monsters" and brushing them away. About how little bits of food can stay in your mouth and hurt your teeth, so we have to go after them. And make a big deal "Oh, I see one! We better scrub there!" "Did you see that one? It was a big one! Let's get it!"

We also sing made-up songs about tooth-brushing and narrate the process. "First we brush-brush-brush and we brush on the bottom ... then we brush-brush-brush and we brush on the top ..." etc., etc. DD2 loves that and if we forget, she tells us, "Sing the brush-brush song!"

This is a great idea! Thank you!!

tracey4228 · December 2013

Elmo!!

There's a fun Elmo song about brushing on You Tube. We still sing it together at times

Brush, brushy, brush. Now spit.

tracyl0826 · December 2013

It used to be a fight every day until I found a battery powered Thomas the Train toothbrush...now he loves to brush his teeth...especially his tongue, so he has to let me clean all of his teeth before he's allowed to get his tongue brushed. I also feel like I can get them much cleaner with the battery powered toothbrush.

Want a personalized experience?

How did you make toothbrushing fun?

Re: How did you make toothbrushing fun?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards