Getting my toddler to brush his teeth

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.

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!

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.

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...

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!

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??!!