Brushing Teeth - San Marcos, CA

Try an electric toothbrush and tell him you are going to ticklt his teeth. That is how the dentist gets my kids to open wide while he cleans their teeth with a vibrating brush. it works!

I met a dental hygenist in one of my mommy and me classes who gave me the best advice when I was experiencing resistance-I told him that there are "sugar bugs" in his mouth that would eat up his teeth if he did not brush! That has worked for years(he is now 7) and just recently stopped asking me after he brushed if it looked like all the sugar bugs were gone! It worked brilliantly for us, so give it a try!

My son is 2 and was the same way. We found a really, really soft toothbrush at Whole Foods that he loves. We also had to tell him that if he didn't brush his teeth that they would fall out. I know that sounds mean...but it worked. Good luck!

Dear E.,

Have you tried using one of the child-friendly toothpastes from Tom's of Maine? My grandchildren liked 'silly strawberry' best. These can be found in any health/natural food stores and some supermarkets.

I think the important part of the routine is the brushing, not the paste, so you might want to just encourage the brushing without paste, since that seems to suit your child. Once it becomes more familiar, you could introduce paste like 'grownups' use. Also, could you 'import' an older related child or neighbor child--kids love imitating 'bigger kids.'

B.

I have four children,(2yrs-10yrs), and the thing that worked best for me was taking them to talk to the dentist. Your family dentist would be happy to talk to your little one without scheduling an appointment. Our dentist is a wonderful man, and he has a special way of making the kids feel comfortable enough to trust what he says. I used to have to hold down my 2 year old son to brush his teeth, but once he talked to the dentist, we never had to do that again! Dental hygeine is no longer a fight in our house.

let him pick out a battery operated toothbrush with his favorite super hero on it. Worked for me!
And Lara, she is trying to find another way to help with this situation. Way to make her feel bad.

E., Have you tried the safe-to-swallow clear toothpaste that does not require the child to spit or rinse? The toothpaste is Orajel Toddler training toothpaste and the flavor is friut splash. Try it with a small headed battery operated toothbrush to ensure your son is really brushing properly. You can also set a timer for a minute so he knows how long to brush. Also try taking him to to dentist for a cleaning and the dentist can count his teeth. My 3 year old son loves when his dentist does this. We also all go to the same dentist together every 6 months so that he can see how important it is. Good luck!

Hi, I am the mother of a 12 yr old moderatley autistic daughter. Please please please never and i mean never refer to your son as "getting the monsters out". I am a health assistant at an elementary school. And i can't believe how many parents threaten thier children. Please don't ever do that. I have wonderful students telling me that thier mom is going to shave thier head if they get headlice, or if you get sick again i'm taking you to the doctor and you will get a shot. Believe me this is just a phase your son is going thru and other things will be getting his attention. As the mother of an autistic child i have learned to shake things up a bit. Try brushing his teeth at the kitchen sink for a few days or a week. A two or three step stool, or sitting on the counter will be very fun and different. Do you have a second bathroom? try teeth brushing in a different setting. and the old standby Find something he realy likes and use that as a reward (just not food). Hope something here will work for you. J. H.

try a toothpaste that is non-foaming. the agents used to get it to do that can really upset a little persons tummy, not to mention your own. it can also feel like your gums are on fire if you are really sensitive.

my 2 year old loves her Weleda childern's tooth gel. My 9 year old sneaks it too, though he normally uses Tom's of Maine strawberry for kids.

happy brushing!

Hi E.,

I have 2 sisters that work in the Dental Field and they each have 2 kids and they always say it's best to let them do it in the morning but you have to hold them down at night and do it yourself. I know it's hard but I have a 4yr. old and a 1 1/2 year old. I wasn't that dilligent about the teeth brushing with my 4 year old and now she has to have a couple of root canals and crowns. We now have an electric tooth brush for the whole family (different brush heads) and I let my daughter do it in the morning and then I do it at night. I also do my 1 yr. old. I hate to do it but I don't want her to have to have work done on her teeth,too. I hope this advice helps. Also, the Dentist told me that toothpaste really isn't necessary and to just use water until they are ready for toothpaste.

A.

My son is 2 and a half. We got a toothbrush that lights up. I pretend his teeth are tracks and the toothbrush is the train. I say "choo choo, coming down the tracks" and he loves it. I pretend there is a dark tunnel in there and the light on the toothbrush lights the way. Also, I let him brush his own teeth before nap so that he gets the hang of it. As long as I do it once a day (before bed) that's good enough. Good luck!

If you're not using toothpaste on a daily basis I don't think it's such a big deal. The brushing with bristles is more important as well as building the habit of using a toothbrush everyday. Maybe you could try to sneak a bit of toothpaste once a week and ease the transition. I guess for small children toothpaste could have an odd and startling taste, but the forcefulness of holding him down will more likely cause him to always hate brushing his teeth. I have a 2 year old son too, so I feel for you!
Best of Luck,
M.

I've been using a battery operated toothbrush (Braun/ Oral-B) with my now, 5 year old daughter, for many years now.

As a result, tooth brushing time is cut down to a minimum and efficient.

So far, her dentist says she has healthy teeth & she has never had any cavities.

P.S. She sees her dentist twice a year.

I bought my girls the battery operated ones and they seem to like them. I also think they help them prepare for getting there teeth cleaned

I am happy to say I have 3 children ranging from 5 to 13yrs old. I loved when the kids were 2years old. It was a time of great discovery and at times very challaging. I found that each of them started to assert control over all theier acctivities. What I found most helpful was talking to them or role playing (when we weren't doing the activies that I found a challange) and finding out what solutions they had for the issue that I was having with them not doing what I wanted.

For example: sleeping at the bed time I set wasn't working for my 2nd child when he was 2. Staying in bed wanting to sleep with us instead of his brother was making it very challenging for me and my husband (we needed time together)and I always am concerned with meeting the needs of my children but the needs of my marriage... well I am sure you get the idea. I needed him to go to bed.
After breakfast when he is the most playful and happiest we did some role playing. He was the Mommy and I was him. It was fun, and he in his own ways gave me the solutions. After I wouldn't stay in bed and do what he wanted. He placed me in bed then tried to push his bed closer to his brothers bed. I got out of bed and helpped him. He put me back in bed gave me all of his sleeping toys blackets and kisses and then left the room. I was stunned.
I tried it his way and he went right to bed. Funny thing is it also helpped his older brother sleep better too.

They have the answers we just need to find a way to listen. When they are part of any solution your chances for sucess is much greater.

Different flavor toothpaste? Sounds like he doesn't like the flavor. Monsters in the mouth is scary! ah! Scared me! ;)

We were having trouble with this with our 2.5 year old as well. Lately, we've made it a part of the routine after he gets out of the bath, and we're using an electric toothbrush with a smaller head. It makes it more interesting for him since it makes sounds and massages, and I think it does a more efficient job in the little time it's in his mouth than a manual toothbrush. Also, he's more cooperative when he can do it himself. As for the toothpaste, I'd say it's not a big deal not using it as long as he brushes, gargles, and spits.

Maybe he doesn't like the toothpaste? Try a different flavor - probably a fruity one. My kids hate mint, so I have to be careful, one time I thought I was buying bubble gum and it was bubble MINT. But, I recall, my dentist telling me it was important to brush - even if it was with water - not to worry about the toothpaste.

If you give him a toothbrush with the toddler toothpaste on it, it's okay for him to swallow. Maybe if you let him do that for a while by himself he'll get the hang of it and eventually allow you to help.

I'm sure you mean well, but it sounds as if your technique could create some real psychological problems. He may only be two, but he deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Traumatizing him every time you brush his teeth cannot possibly be a good thing, and it certainly will not endear him to the tooth brushing process. He is two. Let him do it with no toothpaste for awhile if that is his preference. None of my four were good at brushing until about the age of 4 to 6, but they all eventually got the hang of it, and understood the importance. Please, please rethink your methods and consider not only your son's teeth, but also his emotional well-being.

hi there. we usually take turns. my son is 3. he gets a turn. then i get a turn. that way he gets clean teeth while practicing to do it himself. toothpaste isn't all that important right now it's just for them to practice. also, i would stop forcing the issue and holding him down to do it. once you attach too much value to something he'll know he can use it in a power struggle and you want to let that go before tooth care becomes something he can bargain with you with. try to make it more of a taking turns game. then you can 'take turns' with other things like sharing a slice of pizza or other things he might find more fun

xxx S..

I worked for a pediatric dentist for 9 years. Age 2 is the time where you should start bringing your child in for annual cleanings and checkups. There is a lot of information online at babycenter.com, and other websites, about getting toddlers to brush. One suggestion is to let them brush your teeth. Somehow it makes them feel empowered that if you're going to brush theirs, they get to brush yours. Of course, it's just pretend, but they don't realize that.

He may not like the toothpaste your using either. If he doesn't spit the toothpaste out, use a kind that doesn't have fluoride in it. Swallowing too much fluoride can cause white etching on the teeth.

Dear E.,

You are doing just exactly what all moms have to do. He is 2 years old. just the time when they want to be in charge. Keep on doing what you are doing. You know, it is just one more way that you can teach him that his parents are in charge, and that you know what is good for him whether he likes it or not.

Just smile. C. N.

Our dentist has a stuffed animal alligator with plastic teeth in his mouth - you might try to find something like that so your son can brush the animal's teeth before brushing his own.

Also, a more mild toothpaste might help - my daughter used Tom's of Maine brand children's strawberry toothpaste & it has a more natural flavor than the other brands.

We've used the sticker system to get our daughter to do things she doesn't want to do... We get a gift card (w/no $ on it) and she gets to put a sticker on her card every time she does -----. Then when she gets 8 stickers on her card, she can redeem it (to us) for a prize of her choice (usually something we would not normally let her have... like an ice cream or gummy bears!). She likes the card because it looks like a credit card. It takes a little while to get them into this kind of reward system; she didn't really care for it until she reaped the rewards a few times! We started out w/ fewer # of stickers. Maybe you could start out by letting him earn stickers for brushing w/out toothpaste & then after he understands the reward system you can introduce the toothpaste as a new "rule" to the "game".

Hi E., If it helps, toothpaste doesn't do much, it's the brushing that makes dental health... the paste might be too sweet or intense for his little taste buds.. try a little baking soda or just let him brush w/o paste.. he'll work it out on his own..

My daughter LOVES the little Dixie cups that you rinse with. So we bought her some of those and made out like they were EXTRA special and she can get her own cup of water to rinse with AFTER she brushes...works like a charm. Good Luck!

Hi E., God Bless you teachers!!!! My son is in 1st grade and we Love his teacher! I don't know if you already do this but my son always did better with teeth brushing when i let him do it all himself, standing on his stepstool so he could see in the mirror. (Of course with all the praises!) Then he wouldn't mind if i said WoW,what a great job you did,let me see. and then i'd get his toothbrush and say is this how you do it. and i'd start brushing his teeth in a silly way and he'd think that was funny and before you know it I had just given him a good tooth brushing!Or you have him brush your teeth and say Wow you are so good at that let me see you do that on your teeth. Basically a lot of distracting, and letting him think he was in control of it all!! I also suggest getting him to a good pediatric dentist soon. My son loves his and is a perfect little angel for her and soon learned that his wants to brush good every day so he doesn't get cavities! ( plus she gives him toys and has video games to play with and a t.v. to watch while he's in the chair!) Hope this helps, Good Luck, C. D. Long Beach,CA.

Holding your son's arms while he screams and you brush his teeth sounds like an excellent way to get him to hate brushing! You might want to rethink the "monster in your mouth" strategy as well. I might get slammed for this, but my suggestion is to stop brushing his teeth and leave some toothbrushes with his toys so he can play with them on his own in a neutral setting. After you see that he's become comfortable with them, you can try again, letting him do the brushing and giving lots of praise for any improvements that you see. Try brushing together - make a "follow the leader" game out of it. As he gets more and more comfortable with the routine, you can add toothpaste and do a follow-up brushing by you or dad to make sure that all the teeth got cleaned. I like to tell my 3 year old all the food I'm finding when I brush her teeth (ooh, did you have apples today? where did this string cheese come from? oh my gosh, look how many peanuts I found!") This also helps her connect WHY we brush our teeth - to get rid of the leftover food that will give our teeth "boo boos." (cavities) Best of luck!

Hey E.,

I've heard not to stress too much over a toddler brushing every day. I skip a day or two here and there, and so far everything's fine. I figure it's something new and different for my son that he has to get used to, and will. It IS something that I'm concerned with, but have faith it will come in time. I've read not to force the issue too much or else they'll REALLY resist. It's something I'll be working on more diligently as he nears 3 (this August). I think it just takes time to adjust to things.

Good luck,
M.

Hi E.,
My daughter went through a similar phase at the exact same age. I asked her dentist about it (who is fantastic with kids) and he said that at 2 it's much, much more about developing good habits than the actual need for perfect brushing with toothpaste. He said to let my daughter brush without the toothpaste if that's what made her have a good experience so that she doesn't develop the idea that she doesn't like to brush her teeth.

When my daughter started preschool (2 years 9 months) they had a dentist do a presentation to the class. She handed out these little presents to the children- it included a small tube of toothpaste. My daughter started using it on her own!

My daughter is 4 now and brushes an entire 2 minutes plus on her own- happily- without having to ask- she loves to do it. I still brush my teeth with her in the morning just to keep her enthusiastic.

My advice would be to allow him to brush without the paste and keep it exciting, non overwhelming and fun - your enthusiasm is important!

get a white toothpaste to match the color of the bristles on the toothbrush. instead of putting a strip of toothpaste on the toothbrush in front of him, smear some toothpaste on the bristles so that it's not noticeable while he's napping or away, that way when he goes to brush it'll already be there w/out him knowing (until he starts brushing) i think that for now just the habit of getting the toothbrush in the mouth is ok, water can also be the only thing necessary at this age. good luck!

Hi E.,
My dentist said that it really doesn't matter whether or not they have toothpaste on the toothbrush when they're this young. So, I don't bother with it. My 8 year old had the same trouble. We talked about what troubled her about brushing and she finally came to the conclusion that she doesn't like the texture of toothpaste. We tried baking soda. (Yuck.) But she's into it right now. Go figure. I just keep talking to them about how they want to deal with the problem and if it sounds reasonable, that's what we go with. Good luck.

It's great that you are making the move to have your child brush. It's an important habit to start. I would really encourage you not to force your son to do it. Invite him in the bathroom in the morning and evening when you and your husband are brushing. Try to make it a family event. Ruffi has a great brushing teeth song. We like to sing that. Also try giving him a small piece of dental floss, and show him what you use it for. Brush at random times of the day, right now the dental hygine pattern is being set. Have fun with it, and hopefully your son will to. Do you have a good dentist. Sometimes that helps.....good luck momma!!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyones response. My daughter is 4 and still hates brushing. We've tried everything.

My daughter is almost 2 and hates having her teeth brushed. So, I brush her three favorite stuffed animals teeth before hers, and compliment them on how good they are and how shiny their teeth are. We still use toddler toothpaste, however my daughter likes to suck off the toothpaste more than use it to brush. I make sure we get the tops, bottoms, and back, and then I brush hers. It works most of the time, but sometimes it doesn't. Good luck!

Hi E.,
I had the same issues with my son when he was two. Our dentist said not to worry about the toothpaste. Let him get use to just brushing his teeth without it and then later (it took till he was almost 3 yrs. old) to introduce toothpaste.
It is more important to brush than to use toothpaste especially so young with not so many teeth.
My son is now almost 4 years old and brushes his teeth on his own with toothpaste. There is hope.

good luck,

O.