It's no secret that sometimes getting a toddler to brush their teeth can be a bit challenging, often feeling more like a chore than an essential part of a basic hygiene routine. They run. They hide. They do anything they can to try to avoid it. And then right when they become interested, they swallow the toothpaste like it's candy (yikes!). Stroking their teeth for barely 2 seconds and toss it onto the counter saying "done." And although my son has always been pretty good at the whole teeth brushing process, I found some extra things that have worked to moving him toward a more effective process.
Make it part of the routine.
Toddlers thrive off of consistency to learn pretty much everything and anything. So establishing this as part of the routine gives them the ability to foresee when it is coming and prepare themselves for it. I've personally found it way more effective when sandwiched between his two favorite activities such as in the mornings between breakfast and individual lay time, or at night between bath time and reading time.
Do a song and dance.
When you want your toddler to do something, the best thing to do is to appeal it as more of a game than a chore. Adding a fun and memorable song is an easy way to get them excited about brushing. For my son, I use the song: "this is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth. This is the way we brush our teeth, so early in the morning. Brush 'em up and brush 'em down, in little circles, round and round".
Be a good model.
I know that this seems so basic, but I think that in the chaos of the parenting life, we often forget how much our kids learn by just watching us. We find it a lot easier to just tell them what to do and point it out directly rather than showing them. But when I started to actually brush my teeth WITH my son, I discovered that he better understood just how to do it.
Help them brush.
Toddler honestly are notorious for their adorable yet frustrating short attention span. Something that they do with pretty much every activity. So we can't really be too surprised by them brushing for a few seconds and then being done with it. So even if brushing has to be very quick, you can still try to guide them on how to brush properly. Let them try on their own first to establish a sense of independence, but then also help them finish up the job. It only takes a few seconds but can keep their teeth healthy while they learn to do it themselves.
Rewards, rewards, rewards.
Kids LOVE incentives - for everything. And rightfully so. So if you have already set up a system for things such as potty training, behavioral issues, and more, why not add teeth brushing to the list? For a toddler it doesn't have to be anything huge. It could be grabbing a toy from a box of cheap dollar store toys, one of their favorite snacks, a little more screen time for the day, a sticker or anything else that peaks their interests in a positive way.
Get a personalized toothbrush/toothpaste.
Make them more excited about the whole process by taking a trip on down to the store to let them pick out a toothbrush and toothpaste. It could be their favorite character, one that lights up, or a cool electric tooth brush that they like to push the buttons on. Turning brushing time from a chore into playtime can mean the difference between telling your child to brush and them telling you that they want to take the initiative to brush. If you don't want to spend that much money on a new toothbrush, at least allow them to pick out their favorite color when buying ordinary toothbrushes. Also, look for toothpaste formulated for children and, if possible, let them choose the flavor. You may think that bubblegum toothpaste is gross and leaves a weird taste in your mouth, but your child may think it's the best thing.
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