We have been working with our 2 year old with brushing her teeth since she was 1. We have used the children's toothpaste that is safe to swallow, but all she wants to do is suck it off. I brush them for her, but she cries becasuse she wants to do it. What are some good ways to teach them not to swallow. I always make her spit, but she relaly doens't spit anything out, she is just spitting. She has alot of teeth and I don't want them going bad because they aren't getting brushed good enough. Any helpful tips would be great. Thanks!
I have one word for you--"distraction". My 18 month old has a toothbrush that she holds and chews around on while I use a separate toothbrush to actually brush her teeth. If I don't try to take "her" toothbrush away, she gets bored with it after a couple minutes and sets it down.
I've always been told just to use water on the toothbrush until the kids are older and able to spit the paste out. As for brushing, I started using those automatic toothbrushes (the battery operated ones) when my kids were about this age and they loved them. They kept them in there mouths for several minutes. You could also try letting her have a turn first with the brush, then it's your turn to finish up.
Have you tried a battery-operated toothbrush? It makes it fun for them, and by the time it starts to vibrate, the toothpaste is going on their teeth instead of being swallowed. You can usually find them real cheap...maybe try a dollar store. I got mine at Walgreen's here in Missouri for $1 each. Good luck!
My daughter is almost 3 and pretty on top of things, but she's only just started being interested in spitting, so my thought is you might just be way ahead of the gun. My daughter also loves to suck off the toothpaste! Also, as much as I want my daughter to let me brush her teeth and get it done efficiently, I also want her to learn to take responsibility and in her world, even trying to brush I view as good. So, I try to let her brush, be supportive and then I swoop in, explain what I'm doing and do a quick clean up behind her to make sure there is nothing left in her teeth. You also might ask your own dentist about it. Hope that helps!
PS We also have an electric toothbrush as well as a manual one and I let her pick.
Geeez, this sounds exactly like my 2 year old girlie (and her big brother when he was this age)...and it sounds like you are on the right track to me.
Will she let you clean her teeth using something other than the tooth brush? My little one will let us brush her teeth, but not for as long as I'd like. So I alternate with the finger-brush [http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=304729&a...] or a baby wash cloth during her bath. I put a teensie bit of baking soda on the finger-brush or the towel, and scrub around her teeth and gums while she's busy playing with bath bubbles.
My philosophy is that if she doesn't taste her toothpaste and if I'm not using her little fun toothbrush, her instinct to "take over" won't kick in, and I can get the job done.
I should offer the disclaimer that this works better some days than others!
I'll also admit that recently I have a harder time getting my 7 year old son to brush (or bathe) for longer than thirteen seconds! But I see some suggestions here that I might just try on him :-) Lol.
Good Luck.
you know they are little mirrors so have her watch you and make it look fun shake your shoulders and have daddy and grandma and anyone she is exposed to do it.
Then as she is doing it sing a song or have a kiddie cd playing and you sing along. Even have her brush along with you, it may take awhile to catch on but she will. Be sure to get down to her level so she can see how your doing it.
I know my friends had great success by giving their son his toothbrush (without toothpaste) and allowing him to 'brush' his teeth first. He is allowed to walk around proudly brushing his teeth. When he is finished, he holds his brush while mum and dad go over with a different brush with toothpaste.
I think we all have the same problem: independence v. effectiveness! I tell my daughter it's time to tickle her teeth.....and we make up a tickle song and she laughs and tickles away....I think I have told her 100 times not to eat the toothpaste and she does it once and then the second time she's good....she's getting better, but I like the idea of the electric toothbrush. I think I'll try it!
Uhm...I completely understand. Been there. I recently switched my daughter over to "big people" toothpaste. Which she is very excited about. She works well with deadlines, so we talked about it for about a week and I told her once she started using "Big people" toothpaste, she wouldn't be able to suck on it and swallow it. She would have to spit it out. However it turned out to not be an issue, she does not like the taste of it. She spits now and she lets me brush her teeth, so I know that her teeth are cleaned. Yeah!!
She just had her first dental appointment and she is fine. She's 4 and we are a little late on having the first appointment.
