Getting a 2 Year Old to Brush Teeth

Take a "magic" trip to Target to let her pick out her COOL new big girl toothbrush. My son has one of the electric toothbrushes that looks like a fire engine and one that looks like a power ranger. We use the fire engine in the morning and the power ranger at night. My feeling is - if they get to pick it out - they will use it!

Get her a toothbrush with her FAVORITE cartoon character on it,and buy her some bubblegum Favored toothpaste or fruity favors, something that will taste interesting to her.

We also let our daughter brush first. I even let her put the toothpaste on the brush. After she has brushed, then we finish the job. I also brush my teeth at the same time and she will usually try to mimic the actions that I'm taking. And of course a cool toothbrush that she picked out helps too.

We did something like Alexis with our two year-old. We let him pick out his own toothbrush and toothpaste. Then the dentist gave him a toothbrush that he loves! I let him brush his teeth first then my husband or I go over a second time. Letting him think he is doing everything has helped. This might be gross but we even got him to floss! I bought these dinosaur floss picks and every night I say "let's feed the dinosaurs, they have to eat the yuckies in your mouth!" He loves this and actually let's me floss his teeth!

Mix a couple of drops of green food coloring in a little (1T) of water and have her swish. Then tell her you need to brush the slime out of her mouth. Have her inspect periodically to see if it's gone, then let her have a turn.

S.

My daughter is 2 and we have to find a new method every couple of months. We had let her brush our teeth while we brush hers, that worked for a good while... We let her get a new toothbrush, that was a good one. And currently I go through everything she eats all day.. I say, " I see cookies", "There are fruit snacks on your teeth", "get that oatmeal off your teeth", etc. Half the times she starts telling me stuff that she eats. She thinks it is a lot of fun.

you could brush yours with her and make a game of it. I used to do that as a nanny. I have the problem of trying to keep my son from brushing his all day long... From my experience, kids like to be just like their parents. Good luck

everyone else has given great advice. let her pick out her own toothbrush at the store, even her own toothpaste. My son got an electric one for Christmas from his 'girlfriend' because he saw HER brushing with it, so that's another good idea.

Make sure there is a big mirror where she can watch herself brush. My son loves that.

Here's how our tooth brushing conversation goes (VERY love and logic):

Me - "It's time to brush your teeth. Do you want the green one or the SpongeBob one?"
Son - "SpongeBob"
Me - "Do you want it on or off?" (SpongeBob is the electric one)
Son - "off"
Me - "Do you want to brush first or do you want me to?"
Son - "Me First."

I still get what *I* want (teeth brushed), but my son gets a bit of control over how it happens. Everyone wins.

ETA: I also sing a song that way it controls HOW LONG he is brushing. I just made up a silly song. Anything will do.

Good luck! My son is 9, and I still have to remind him to brush his teeth. In fact, the dentist said it's pretty common.

Just help her brush as you can. When my son was younger, it would sometimes help if i pointed out what a big boy he was and also brushed my teeth at the same time.

If your child likes to read stories or has other pre-lights out activities she enjoys, you might add an extra story or let her choose, or reward her with a few extra minutes ofanother favorite activity, and lots of praise.

Let her pick out a fun toothbrush and kid flavored toothpaste. You might try purchasing one of the kid "movies" dealing with the toothbrushing and watch it with her.

Also, mention what happens to your teeth, in simple kid terms, when you don't brush. They turn black, rot and fall out.

If she's learning to count, make it a game of singing to 100, with one number for each brush stroke, that kind of thing. My son especially liked that. Or make up silly songs and let her be messy, having a foamy face from tooth brushing.

What we did was make it Daddy's thing with her... first of all, men are stronger and tend to be firmer, so they realize real soon they don't have a choice. The first few times they struggle, but then they get pretty good at it. We also got an electric toothbrush, so she loves pushing the button and feeling it shake. Hope this helps.

You have gotten such good advice already, I don't know if mine will help. The dentist told us that we should be brushing our granddaughters teeth and that at first it would be a struggle and it was. But now twice a day we stand her on the counter where she can see in the mirror and I brush her teeth. I sing a silly little song and we play a game. So now with lots of giggles and grins we get the job done. The dentist said not to worry about the toothpaste yet, just get the 'gunk' off her teeth every day. Just be patient, but firm.

Let her brush your teeth while you brush hers. You could also buy her one of the musical toothbrushes at walmart. Maybe she can brush while she jams out to the tunes!

Brush at the same time as her, make it seem like a fun game, have a chart, and let her put a sticker on it when she bruses. Since she is just two, maybe once a day would be o.k. for now.

My son likes his electric toothbrush. That is his time with big sister in the morning and daddy at night. he like to put it on the charger when finished.

There is a mouthwash at WalMart that she can do before brushing her teeth. It leaves all of her teeth slightly blue stained. Then make a game out of having to brush all the blue stains off of her teeth.

Hi! R.,
Well, you could use the old trick I used to as well get my kids to clean their rooms, do their homework, and anything else they should do. I put each one a can with a lid and a hole in the lid, and each time they did their work or brush their teeth I'd give them a quarter and they would put it in the can. At the end of the week we would count out how much they made and I would take them to their favorite place to spend it. Then Next Monday I would start over again. But, they got where they wanted to do those things and forgot about the money, so, the older they got the easier it was. This was a quarter a night, not each chore. I would be broke if with each chore. Maybe it can work for you too! Good Luck
Shirley

Maybe allowing her to pick out her tooth brush from the store, along with the tooth paste that is just hers, and when you brush your teeth, (getting your tooth brush ready, suggest that maybe she can do the same thing). Then brush your teeth with out hassling her. Brushing teeth is very important at any age, so if push comes to shove, brushing them for her until she readily brushes her own teeth. (Make it fun).

Good Luck

T. D

We do what everyone else has said, but I brush first. She picks the toothbrush, then I brush her teeth. She reminds me that when I'm done, it's her turn! We sit her on the counter where she can turn and see herself... usually when she spits! I brush her hair while she brushes. It's easiest after her bath at night... no tangles! But definitely, if they know they're going to get to brush their teeth themselves, they're more cooperative!

Good luck!

We recommend to our parents of toddlers with this issue the automatic toothbrushes. MOST like to turn it on and feel it on their gums.

Get her a special tooth brush set like Disney Princesses or Dora. I bought my almost 3 year old a Thomas set, it has the tooth brush, cup and a holder at Wal-Mart for fairly cheap. I also found Thomas toothpaste at Babies R Us. Our dentist told me that it is not about them doing it right, right now but getting them into the habbit. We are a busy family so he doesn't get to brush his teeth in the morning, only after his bath before bed. But I give him his tooth brush with tooth paste, and let him sit on the counter and brush his teeth. I do help him to make sure that he at least hits all the teeth once. I hope this helps.

i let my 2 year do it first by herself then i tell her it's my turn and i do a quick run thru. also she loves to brush her teeth in the bath. i always let a little bath water run and never just fill up the tub, that way there is always fresh water to drink and play with. she love to brush her teeth with the water. the act of brushing is the best part, not the tooth paste. good luck!

all of the other advice is great!! one thing that i personally have done tell my kids that im going to tickle their teeth!! and i say tickle tickle while im brushing so they laugh all the way through!