Getting my toddler to brush his teeth

@garnet80 (349)
Australia
January 4, 2008 2:09am CST
I'm at my wits end. My almost 3 year old son refuses to brush his teeth. Yes he does it sometimes and that's only after I've turned it into a game. I've tried with tooth paste and without. Does anyone have any tips to help make teethbrushing any easier on both my son and myself. He used to love toothpaste even to the point that I had to confiscate the tube or else he'd suck it dry or flood the inside tube with water if in the bath. Now he spits the toothpaste out. I really don't know what to do.
3 people like this
6 responses
@thedster (18)
• United States
4 Jan 08
What's wrong with making it a game? My husband was good at getting teeth brushed when our kids were 3, but he always made it a game. The point is to get the job done, right? If it takes a game to get it done without everyone getting upset, why would that be a problem? Brushing itself is more important than whether or not he uses toothpaste, so I'd avoid the battle and just go without. My daughter will only use toddler toothpaste (she's 4), and only one specific brand, and I don't make a special trip to the store when she runs out, so she goes without for a few days. Check out Firefly toothbrushes, they flash for one full minute, which is the minimum recommended brushing time.
@garnet80 (349)
• Australia
4 Jan 08
There's nothing wrong with making it a game and we do have many different games to play. He used to be great at brushing his teeth but then stopped. My ex husband says he has no trouble with teeth brushing just with the hair washing whereas my problem is the opposite. Makes me wonder sometimes if they forced him to brush and scared him. But by working at it we'll get there eventually. And my son does enjoy some of the games I just have to try to come up with some new ones to keep teeth brushing fun.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 08
Awesome. And I agree, it is odd that your ex claims to have the opposite issue. Maybe ask your son how he brushes at Daddy's house? I'd be wondering too. Single parenting is hard, my Mom raised us mostly on her own, remarried and had a baby when I was in college, then divorced when my brother was four. His dad has always been a pita... Good luck!
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
6 Jan 08
I would recommend 2 things - 1 good & 1 more a scare tactic! 1) buy him a battery operated brush, my nieces have so much fun with theirs that they will brush their teeth every 5 minutes if they were allowed. The noise & the fact they don't have to do all the work seems to make it more fun for them! 2) find pictures of yukky teeth, black, chipped & falling out, show it to him & just let him know that he will end up with yukky teeth like that, if he doesn't brush his teeth. Just explain that to have nice teeth he needs to brush at LEAST once a day & maybe that will shock him in to wanting it. Mix the battery operated brush with the yukky pictures & you might have a winner! Good luck!
@garnet80 (349)
• Australia
6 Jan 08
I might try the battery operated brush it is something I haven't tried. He brushed his teeth without much complaint yesterday morning which was great.
• India
3 Mar 08
well i faced the problem myself..then i took my son to the supermarket and asked him to pick his own tooth brush and paste.and he did it with lot of intrest and the next day even before i got up he was all ready to try his coice.then later as the enthusiansm vaded i bribed him with his fav. drink which would be given only after he brushes his teeth..then after some time even that failed i started telling everybody in the home and his friends that he doesn't brush his teeth and is a bad boy--u guys don't play with himm and all stuff...then he realised that he shud brush daily and followed the routine.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Do you brush your teeth with him? I found that with my kids when they were tots, doing things WITH THEM whether brushing our teeth or going potty or picking up after ourselves etc etc helped a great deal....and actually talking to them (just a conversation) to keep them mentally occupied, helped a great deal too...
@garnet80 (349)
• Australia
4 Jan 08
Yes I have tried brushing my teeth with him and even letting him try to brush my teeth as well. Lol he does like to go potty when I go which I think is cute. He's done pretty well in that department and used to be not to bad with brushing his teeth. I have a rubber tooth brush that fits over your finger and i play a game with that with him. He likes to try to bite my finger. And I get him to growl so that he holds his front teeth together so I can brush the front ones. I just have to be quick when I do this though.
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Well, there are quite a few things you could try. You could take him to a store, and have him pick out his own tooth brush, tooth paste etc. You could also, institute a punishment. If he doesn't brush his teeth in the morning, when you tell him to, he doesn't get any sweets, tv time, or to go to the park, if he refused to brush his teeth at all, he can sit in his room on his bed until he decides to comply. It sounds like he thinks teeth brushing is an option, or he thinks you may think that. Make it apparent, that He won't be allowed to do anything, until he is obediant. Now, the night time brushing may be more tricky, I would set a time that he had to brush his teeth by, say, 15 minutes, when the time is up, if he has obediantly brushed his teeth, than he can have a story before bed, if he hasn't, it's straight to bed. A few nights of punishment may be enough for him to change his mind and go ahead and obey. I think many parents, (myself included) fall into a routine of nagging our children, and they don't believe that we'll do what we say we will (b/c many times we don't) so they drag it on, if you set a time limit, and a punishment, then you won't be begging him at 8:30 to brush his teeth, and there will be a concise plan to follow if he disobeys. also, another option, would be to just take away any treats whatsoever. he will of course fight you, and ask why, you simply tell him, you won't help me take care of your teeth, I can't give you any treats, because I don't want you to get cavities. Brushing your teeth helps to protect you from cavities from sugary stuff, if you won't brush, you won't recieve any treats until you obey me. THen have him go a week of brushing, before he begins to see treats in his life again. I know it's a bit harsh, but sometimes you have to be hard, to get the message across to your children that obediance is not a request, that they must comply. GOod luck to you!
@garnet80 (349)
• Australia
4 Jan 08
I never thought of do the whole punishment thing of taking things away. I will give that a try. And yes I must admit I have done the whole hot air thing of do this or you are in trouble and then not done anything. But it's better to be harder now then have to watch him at the dentist getting fillings later on.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
i would really suggest you talk to you dentist about this, i am sure they have some tips that could help you out. they have so many cool flavours of tp and so many cool types of brushes, take him shopping with you and let him pick it out??!!
@garnet80 (349)
• Australia
4 Jan 08
I do have to book him in for a dentist appointment. I have been slack and holding off as the dentist is so pricey. When my next child support comes in I'm going to take him then.