Advice on Brushing Toddler's Teeth

DS is 2 and we've been brushing his teeth regularly for awhile now.
I use a kids toothbrush (we have Thomas the Train) and the kids toothpaste w/o flouride, so it's safe for him to swallow. He's not too keen on spitting yet.

Usually, I just give him the toothbrush and he gnaws on the bristles, which I figure it getting the job done just fine.

We've about to move to regular toothpaste, as soon as I find a good "spitting" strategy for him.

I would buy child friendly toothpaste - Little Bear or Thomas the Tank Engine and have it by your toothpaste. Then take your daughter with you and let her pick one out. When it's time for her to go to bed, take her to the bathroom and brush your teeth and offer hers up. She'll probably want to do just what mommy does! I'd get her used to it before you start brushing it for her. Sing "Brusha Brusha Brusha" or make up a silly song. I used to say "Eeeees" and "Ahhhhhhs" and my daughter would open her mouth or make a smiley face so I could clean the fronts. You could also sing "This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth...so early in the evening).

My dentist told me to just clean them with a dry cloth. I did this for her first 2 teeth but she wasn't too happy.
Then when she got more I got her a kids tooth brush, she loved.
We did (and still have) a little problem because she wants to chew in the brush as I am trying to brush her teeth, so we can't 5 sec. for chew and 5 sec to brush, and repeat.
Don't use the "kids" tooth paste. They have special tooth past for little kids without fluoride which she she shouldn't have yet.
I also floss her teeth every once in a while, with a thread for sewing when she is sleeping, I could never do it when she is awake.

We used a tiny toothbrush and just a tiny, tiny, tiny smear of kiddie toothpaste. Then you work with them on spitting when they are done. My dd could spit it out at that age so I was worried about her swallowing much if anything. Also, if any of the teeth are touching you need to floss also.

They make a little finger cover with bristles on it that you can use if you feel she's not big enough for a toothbrush. My ped suggested that as soon as the first tooth came through to start brushing with just a toothbrush--no paste.

I started brushing my DD teeth at 6 months using a wet cloth. When she started getting her other teeth I went ahead and bought her a toothbrush (stage 1) for babies/toddlers (softer bristles, soft bumper for their tender gums). I also used Weleda Children's Tooth Gel (you can purchase online at drugstore.com, I think Target carries it too, but not sure) - it's an all natural toothpaste free of fluoride, detergents, synthetic fragrances, colours, and other preservatives. She's 2 1/2 now and I still use Weleda. I switched to a children's toothpaste with fluoride but found out that our city water contains a little fluoride already and of course too much is really bad for our LOs.

Also, my DD always watched me brush and floss my teeth in addition to having me wipe hers, so it wasn't that hard to have her get used to the whole process. In fact, she asks for floss whenever she thinks she has something stuck between her teeth and brushing is hardly ever an issue. Start now so that you won't have to fight with her later =)

Start brushing asap! My daughters dentist (she's 19 months) told us to have her brush her teeth in the morning with a tiny dab of kids fluoride toothpaste and then we should brush and floss her teeth at night. My daughter fusses and fights it but as she gets older it is getting easier. I often have her sing... aaahhhh, or I look for "cavity bugs" way in the back. And if she really isn't having it I have to resort to "you will have a time out if you do not brush" That usually does the trick. One piece of advice my dentist gave was to start brushing in a different area each time, that way if you don't get the whole mouth you will get that part tomorrow.
We use Thom's, she likes the orange flavor. and she loves regular mint floss, but we have a floss stick which makes it soooooo easy to floss.
Also if you havn't yet, I recommend finding a good pediatric dentist for her soon!