My four-year old girl doesn’t like brushing her teeth. She cries each time I tell her to brush her teeth. Please give me some advice, thank you very much.
Our dentist was delighted to hear that we still brush our 6 year old. Maybe just do it for her a bit longer? Maybe gums are sore if she's not as thorough? Maybe she feels like she doesn't know what to do? It's kind of guess work from here.
Put a cd player in the bathroom and have her brush her teeth during the length of one song. Our dentist recommended this. Keeps it fun for kids, and they brush longer that way -- about as long as we are all supposed to brush I guess.
What worked for us. First we have a race - 'I bet I can get to the bathroom first, one two three go' He wins the race. Then we let him pick the toothbrush. 'It's time to brush, do you want the yellow toothbrush or the blue one?' Then he picks the toothpaste - the blue one or the clear one. Then he gets to brush off the nasty talking bacteria. Essentially it is a game. We also still check when he thinks he is done, spot more bacteria and brush his teeth ourselves. According to our dentist, kids do not brush effectively until much older.
Does she let you brush her teeth or does she just not like her teeth brushed at all?
If she fights it either way, try something creative and funny.
So I’ll tell you what I did but it is really silly….
My son loves to play pretend more than anything. What I did one time was say to my son "Shhhh do you hear that? I can hear the food in your mouth talking" He asked what they were saying and I told him they were saying "come on guys! Let's start making cavities in his mouth! HAHAHA!" My son laughing said "Mommy hurry and get the food!" and as I was brushing he said "Mommy be the food talking again!" Then being the food I said "No, please don't brush your teeth! We want to give you cavities!" As he was rinsing I was the food yelling "No don't make us go down the drain!" My son laughing hysterically all the while. He still loves that game and now he brushes his teeth all on his own without me even asking.
If she prefers having YOU brush her teeth then I would continue to do so. Trust me! Before you know it she will not want Mom brushing her teeth anymore.
Pick your battles 8-)
we use Tom's of Maine natural with strawberry flavor toothpaste for kids. She also picked out her own toothbrush--an electric one with lots of princessy stickers that she put on it herself. I love the electric because even if you don't do the whole 2 minutes it works better than the manual.
Ultimately, yes, we go and brush the teeth with her every night. She likes puting the toothpaste on the brush and then most of the time I brush them for her!
Why does she dislike it? Changing toothpaste might help or a softer brush could help. What does your dentist say? Was there dental trama in the past? Does she have a cavity? I really don't know what to advise as I don't know the why she has.
at four, my son is often the same way. also, i would LOVE for him to get up and get ready by himself in the mornings - i know for a fact that he can do each and every thing by himself when he wants to. i think my son's problem is it can get overwhelming. so a lot of times i just "help" him do it. it would be nice if he would brush his own teeth - i know he can - but it's not a battle i want to fight twice a day. so i usually get him to somewhat cooperate by asking him if he wants me to help him. and then i just do it for him. part of me thinks he's big enough to do this, i shouldn't have to - but since i know he can, i don't mind doing it to delete the drama. i can do that because mine is an only - now at 5 or 6 i might be telling you a different story. i hope that eventually he will stop wanting me to help him...! lol...
