Help!! How do I get my 2-year old to let me brush her teeth?

Question

I've been having trouble with this for a while. I've tried flavored kid's toothpaste, different kinds of brushes, and nothing has helped. I'm worried about her getting cavities, but she just won't let me brush them.

Answer 1

ARGH!!!! I can't believe the people who said that a 2 yr old doesn't need it's teeth brushed or let them do it their self!!!

First off- as soon as teeth emerge is when you need to start brushing them! What they are suggesting is just to let them rot because they are 'only' baby teeth. That's just crazy! If they get cavities in baby teeth they most certainly will have fillings put in. I know several kids that have had baby teeth filled.

But I feel your pain!! My little girl that will be 3 in October fights having her teeth brushed tooth and nail but it's getting better. I let her brush them herself for a minute or so then I make her sit on the counter and I go back over them myself. She doesn't really like toothpaste so we just use water and the toothbrush. Some days I can get her to use a tiny watered down amount of toothpaste.

Answer 2

I have a 2 yr old & I don't brush her teeth, she does. She has never let me do it for her & how will she learn to do it herself if you're doing it for her. She won't get it perfectly but any brushing is better than none. What we do is get the toothpaste with their favorite character on it.(right now it's Dora) Then we put a little on & hum twinkle twinkle little star & then Happy Birthday to make sure they've brushed long enough. If at any time she stops then I stop humming & remind her that she needs to 'brush brush brush" . THat usually does the trick. We had a problem with her wanting to just suck the toothpaste off at first but not for long when I said either you do it or I will. After me doing it once she was ok, cause I hold her forehead with one hand & brush with the other. THat only ahd to happen once. lol

Answer 3

I had a hard time getting my 28 month old son to brush at first. If he wouldn't let me, I would use a wash rag to clean his teeth and he didn't like it very much.

I also bought a Sponge Bob automatic tooth brush (He loves this character) and the toothpaste without floride (it is safe for kids to swollow while brushing).

When I brush his teeth i tell him that we have to get all of the little buggies from the food off of his teeth. The combonation of the three things have really helped in getting him to cooperate. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 4

thats a hard one i have a 2 year old also and the only way she lets me brush her teeth if i am brushing mine it will be hard but keep on trying tell her nice thing about her teeth and dont ever threaten her it will make her really not want to brush her teeth let her try brushing them by her self and then you prebrush them your self if that does not work then get a cloth put a little toothpaste on it and clean her teeth

Answer 5

How about finding a book you can read to her that tells all about brushing her teeth and cavity bugs (ughhh) Go to your local library and ask the librarian to help you find a book for her age. They will have it and you can learn all about cavity bugs and how to get rid of them together! She will soon be so excited and brushing her teeth will be fun!

Talk to your dentist - take her in to see him/her and let her pick up some fun big girl stickers while she is there.

Happy Brushing!

Answer 6

Two year old want to do everything themselves a lot of times. Explain that you are going to brush her teeth and then she can. Make a chart or get a jar. When she brushes her teeth she can put a sticker on the chart or put a marble in the jar or a cotton ball or something so she can physically see her progress and gives positive re-enforcement

Answer 7

Get her involved and make a game of it. Ask a friend or family member sometimes the kids will do it for others ans let her brush them with just water before or after you have a brush.

Answer 8

Got this off a message board - lol:

"We went through this big time with my son when he was two -- to the point that we spent $500 on dental work. Then I insisted on good toothbrushing and it was a screaming match every night. What worked for us was a suggestion I got from another mom. She had talked to her son's teeth when she brushed them. I started doing this, and then pretty soon we were telling tall tales about his teeth going to the park playing on the playground while he was asleep. It really distracted him. Others have suggested doing it a different time of the day when you're not so tired."

Also this link might have some helpful hints: http://www.ehow.com/how_2299_brush-toddlers-teeth.html

Answer 9

there's this book out there, I forget what it's called (sorry), but it's that book that has the black and white cover and has that poem about the kid not wanting to get outta bed because he says he's sick, and at the end he finds out that it's Saturday....

anywho, the story has to do with the kid eating candy and eating other stuff that is NOT good for him, and also something about not wanting to take a shower. At the end, he meets an old man who never has taken a shower and who eats candy (all kinds) on a daily basis. He has rotting and missing teeth and he stinks. Then relate it to HER not wanting to brush her teeth....

if not, take toys away and tell her that she will not play until she brushes her teeth. keep her in punishment mode until she realizes that what you are asking her to do is something that she NEEDS to do on a daily basis...

Answer 10

Try letting her watch you brush YOUR teeth every day- & then give HER a brush (her own)- & see if she'll copy you. Even if she doesn't do a very good job of it at first, she'll get better with time. Don't make an issue of it, just show her it's something all mommies do. Children are attracted by example.