how to make my daughter brush her teeth?
By evepin
@evepin (721)
Philippines
May 3, 2010 9:41am CST
i am really getting frustrated with this problem. it started when she turned 2. she used to love brushing her teeth. then suddenly out of the blue, she hated brushing her teeth. she didn't like bathing too (unlike before when it was sooo easy). she wails and screams and kicks like crazy when we try to brush her teeth. it takes three people for the job to get done. but i dont want it to be like this. until now she doesnt brush her teeth. i tried a lot of tactics like brushing with her, asking help from her playschool teacher, showing her videos of kids and characters brushing, etc etc. it helped for a while but then she goes back to not brushing.
now her teeth are turning black. and i'm so worried. i feel like a failure in this aspect. please help. or is there no solution because this is the stage where toddlers assert themselves?
2 people like this
6 responses
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
3 May 10
Hi evepin: I think that's a stage on your daughters process and as you have mentioned, brushing her teeth should not be so difficult. Don't be afraid about that but at the same time you have to do something. I don't think that using three people to make her brush her teeth would be a good idea but there must be other strategies. What about inviting her to do something funny, to watch tv or to play a videogame only after she brushher teeth. Well that's an idea and there must be some other to make this easier. Thanks for asking me this question. Have a nice day.
ALVARO
@evepin (721)
• Philippines
4 May 10
hi all! ok, sorry if i didnt give more details on what i have done so far. my daughter is 2.5 yo. before seh turned two, she loved brushing her teeth by herself or by us (me and her nanny).
1. i show her that all three of us (me, dad, nanny) in our household brush our teeth. day, lunch, night. we brush our teeth in front of her and i tell her that brushing is good to protect her teeth and clean her mouth.
2. i talk to the teacher and she helped by brushing her teeth with my daughter too after her playschool classes.
3. they had activities involving brushing her teeth
4. i showed videos of cartoon characters and people brushing and i talk to her about it. for a time she did brush her teeth then suddenly she didnt want again.
5. i also showed her that her favorite cousin and her best pal brush their teeth
6. she chose her toothbrushes and her kiddie toothpastes. we have a total of 6 toothbrushes now with different characters, shapes, and sizes, plus two kiddie toothpastes too.
funny thing is, on her first day of summer class, there was this baby doll, and guess what she did to her. she got the toothbrush, put toothpaste (not real) on it, pretended to soak the brush in the glass (supposedly with water), then began brushing her teeth. i guess this meant that she understand the concept of brushing and steps involved. but she refuses to brush hers. *Sigh*
it pains me that i have to force brushing her teeth but like i said, her front teeth are yellow now and at the back of these teeth they're beginning to blacken.
i dont know what else to do. teaching by example, talking to her, showing that others do it, etc. whew....
@braelk1 (11)
• United States
3 May 10
Just like potty training, give her rewards. tell her you'll go out with her and let her pick out a toy everytime she does. After a week, if she still doesn't brush her teeth without a new toy, tell her to do it three times and you'll take her to Toys R Us. Ween her away from the toys. I know this can get expensive, but so can a dentist bill. ;] ;] ;]
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
3 May 10
How old is your daughter now? When kids are super little, they love to mimic what we do, and many times pediatricians and dentists will say to start using a baby toothbrush as soon as your baby has a tooth to help them get used to it.
Have you taken her to a dentist yet? Some other suggestions for you - take her to the store and have HER pick out her own toothbrush, maybe one of the kid friendly ones that is battery operated and spins... there are also ones that play a song while you brush. Also, let her choose her own kid-friendly toothpaste, colorful flossers, and maybe fluoride rinse or mouthwash. Explain to her that since she is getting to pick out her own fun things to help take care of her teeth, she has to USE them. You could even let her get a little hand mirror to use while she brushes.
Of course this is all dependent on how old she is whether this will work or not. My daughter is 6 and she brushes her teeth herself but I help her sometimes because she doesn't always do it long enough. If your daughter is still only 2 though, you will have to brush her teeth for her, and probably take her to a kid friendly dentist for help if she is having problems with her teeth.
@indahfth (11161)
• Indonesia
3 May 10
Give your child real-life examples, rather than mere commands or waffle. How can children diligent brushing teeth, if the father or mother is not diligent in brushing your teeth.
After we give an example, Facilitate child brushed his teeth, as he led them to play "quiz teeth" or tells a story about the dangers of germs for their dental health. In addition to providing information about dental and oral health as well as deepen our relationship, how will the activities of brushing as a thing that always awaited by children. So parents need to be creative to create an environment, state, and tooth brushing activity as something fun for the children.
@bestylish (922)
• Philippines
4 May 10
I remember how my mom experienced this difficulty on us when me and my brothers were still small. We all don't feel like brushing our teeth. Gosh! Those were the days. LOL! 
Why don't you try giving her a reward if she brushes her teeth. My mom didn't use this method to us but she used this method to make us study. Until now, my mom and dad still uses this method. LOL! That way we will always give our best in our studies. It might work when it comes to brushing.
Why don't you try giving her a reward if she brushes her teeth. My mom didn't use this method to us but she used this method to make us study. Until now, my mom and dad still uses this method. LOL! That way we will always give our best in our studies. It might work when it comes to brushing. @AdrianoItaly (12)
• Italy
3 May 10
my mother showed me a picture of a smile of my grand-father ...
since that day I brush my teeth 4 times a day ..
