Teaching Spitting When Brushing Teeth

I am a pediatric dentist and I can tell you children at that age cannot reasonably spit yet. Just be patient. Use water to brush or training toothpaste that is safe to swallow and give her time.

I don't know at what age they master this, but I've been working with my almost 3 year old for at least 6 months, twice a day, and she just is unable to spit. I just keep reminding her, and letting her watch me and her sister spit, and she does her little practice spit thing and I just smile and say "good try, next time don't swallow, spit" and she says "'k Mommy" and then we try again next time. I'm not expecting her to get this anytime soon, but good luck to you.

We are at the same phase with my 2 1/2 yo. We brush our teeth together and when I spit he loves to make the spitting noises, but nothing comes out. We are just going to keep practicing with the training toothpaste until he can spit.

Hi T., make sure you are using the "training toothpaste" (Oral B makes one) that way if she swallows it, it isn't harmful - make sure you put only a tiny dab on her brush. Also, try giving her a cup to spit in..that is what my 3 year old does. And truthfully, she actually learned to spit on her own. I'm not sure how, but one day we were brushing and she just did it.....hang in there, she will get it.

Let her chew on the toothbrush. She will watch you and copy soon enough. Do not use toothpaste. That is what we need to spit out . Check the warnings on the box. It is not good for children or anyone for that matter to swallow toothpaste. No flouride way too young and at 5 or so only on the teeth not orally ever. Then she will need to spit it out well but at the dentist we use the vacuum type evacuator also. M. RDH NTP oral facial myologist

Teach her and let her practice at other times besides when brushing teeth. Perhaps over the sink with just water... tell her "don't swallow toothpaste...spit out...."
That is what I did with both my kids.

Its probably just a reflex that she "swallows"... with a toddler, what they have in their heads is not necessarily what they can actually do. As with all things. Their "coordination" is not fully "mastered" yet.

Just practice.
Use funny sound effects or songs even... anything that will help her. She will get it in time.

All the best,
Susan

I say just keep practicing. I have a 17 month old that we have been brushing his teeth since his first tooth. Now at 17 months he walks into the bathroom and points at his mouth and says "teeth", meaning brush my teeth. I give him his little tooth brush with the special little kids training toothpaste that is ok if they swallow. he tries to brush his own teeth while I brush mine, then I take over and really brush them. Then I try to show him how to spit by showing him how I do it then give him a little water. I do this everyday twice a day. usually he drinks the water but..... the other day he actually spit! Great! But, as a little boy would all he did for the rest of the day was spit! He spit on the dog, on the couch, on the floor, in his potty, on me, on the pumpkin, in the plant, in the laundry basket, ALL DAY LONG!!! Spit, spit, spit! So, just keep practicing! Spit happens! Good Luck!

We brush teeth in the bathtub at night (I haven't advanced to 2 times a day yet, I probably should).

This helps with the rinse and spit part, since they don't have to aim it into a sink or anything, she can just dribble it out of her mouth.

I first brushed teeth over the sink, but right after the bath, and the spitting part basically was me splashing water into her mouth, not telling her to spit it or drink it or anything, just getting a few splashes in and letting it all leak out onto her bath towel. I think that helped her get the concept down that this part is not drinking the water, just rinsing with it. Now that she gets it we use a cup in the tub (my daughter is also 2 1/2).

I wouldn't stress about her swallowing the tiny amount of toothpaste if it is just a small amount and only once day. They are bound to swallow some.

Hello! I do 2 things - first - my daughter watches us often as we brush our teeth and use mouthwash. She sees us doing the spitting, especially when we over-exaggerate it. Then we have a "swish and spit" cup in her bathroom. Once she brushes, she then takes a swig and swishes and spits. We just started doing it with her and she now does it on her own. She also now pretends to have mouthwash and spits that as well! Good luck!