How do I get a two-year-old boy to brush his teeth?

Question

Thanks to those who suggest dbrushing with him and so forth. Good advice, but I've done all that and he's not keen! Any other thoughts?

Answer 1

when i was young i would never brush my teeth then i learned about gingivitis if that doesn't work get him flavored toothpaste like bubblegum

Answer 2

2 Year olds are into having 'control'.

It's not a question of IF he will brush, because you know he has to, but WHEN. So ask "Do you want to brush your teeth next, or wash your face?" Or you can say "First, we'll brush our teeth, and then we'll read a book."

Let him pick out a special toothbrush and paste. (The 'Little Bear" kind by Oral-B doesn't have flouride in it, so they can swallow it safely.) Ask the cashier to give him his own special bag to carry his stuff home.

Let him tell the cashier, Grandma, Daddy, everyone in town that he has a new toothbrush.

Can he see in the bathroom mirror? Kids love to watch themselves. If not, try to find one of those unbreakable mirrors (like Fisher-Price?) so he can SEE the process.

Let him look in your mouth after you have eaten something that stays on your teeth. Take him with you while you brush, and let him 'check' you to make sure you've brushed them all clean. This helps him to understand WHY people brush teeth.

You can also get one of those 'dental mirrors' in the dollar store, and let him use that and a flashlight to look at your teeth (do this when your teeth are CLEAN). Tell him that the teeth are clean because you brush them. My daughter LOVES to do this. Who knows why?

You can also take a picture of him brushing his teeth. Again, they like to see themselves.

You can try 'disclosure tablets' that turn plaque red and let him brush off the red spots.

And if you make tooth-brushing a 'we're all doing this, and you should too" kind of thing, he will probably want to participate.

Our dentist actually demonstrates 'how to' to kids. They also told us that any brushing the kid does 'doesn't count' and that the parents MUST help them brush until they're about in Kindergarden.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I had the same problem with my two year old. I took him to the shops and let him choose his own special baby toothbrush & paste. Then we chose some star stickers. At home I made a chart for him and explained that when he brushed his teeth (and let me brush them - he can't do it properly at this age of course!) he would get a star. I made it into a game. then I stuck the chart on the bathroom wall at his eye level. It worked a treat! I also gave him another toothbrush and he prentends to brush the teeth of a dolphin bath toy - he tells the dolphin "well done" and gives it a star too! If he doesn't brush enough or let us do it he doesn't get a star - but since we started this new approach he has always let us brush this teeth. Good luck! :)

Answer 4

I have a 2 year old daughter that there have been some kicking and screaming matches with when brushing toofers. It may sound funny, but I bribe her with an ice cube to brush her teeth. She likes ice for some reason so this works ... (sometimes) After brushing she knows its time she gets a piece of ice. Things have calmed down dramaticly. I have heard stickers work too.

Answer 5

Take your son in the bathroom with you when you brush your teeth. Tell him how much fun it is to do. And most kids will want to do something fun and follow what their parents do. What might also help is letting him pick out his own toothbrush at the store and his own toothpaste. That way he will feel like a big boy in doing so.

Answer 6

My 3 yr old watched an episode of the Simpsons where Lisa got braces . I told him its because she didnt brush her teeth properly. It worked he brushes his teeth now.

And when my 5 yr old was younger I used to tell him his teeth would go green if he didnt brush that worked with him. I know its a bit mean but sometimes with kids a small white lie is justified.

Answer 7

I know this sounds kinda crazy. But if he is good at spitting things out, fill the sink a little with water, and put little circles in the sink ( you could use the ones from the milk jugs). For everytime that he can spit through a circle he gets a nickle to put in a piggy bank. This worked for a friend he started wanting to brush his teeth everyday, then when he earned enough money he got to buy a special toy.

Answer 8

Explain to him what will happen if he doesn't brush his teeth. If possible let the child meet someone who has not taken care of there teeth and show them or what always worked with my grandmother was tell the children that they need to brush their teeth or they will all fall out after which she would drop her false teeth in her lap!!heheheh

Answer 9

This may sound ridiculous, but it works for us...

My 18 month old daughter LOVES being upside-down. She sits on our laps and leans backwards. Well, we started brushing her teeth while she's doing that. It works for a few reasons:

-Her mouth opens up when she's upside-down b/c she's laughing
-She thinks its fun
-It gets daddy and mommy both involved in the process. [She sits with daddy and mommy brushes the teeth]
-At the end, we let her "brush" her own teeth

Answer 10

Most dentists recommend that you brush your children's teeth until they are 6 because until that age they lack the manual dexterity to do a good job on their teeth. So for now you should keep brushing them, or have him brush them himself then go over them afterwards. You could try a reward chart to motivate him. Hang it up by the sink. Have two places per day (one for morning, one for evening) for him to place a sticker. Allow him to put his sticker on only after he has brushed his teeth and allowed you to go over them when he's done.

Answer 11

Make sure he has "cool" toothpaste that tastes good and has a familiar image on it. Always brush with him, kids like to imitate their parents. Make it exclusive, like: "We´regoing to brush our teeth, just the two uf us, we´ll see you after." Try to make it happen at the same time to establish a routine. Before you know it, he´ll get into the groove. Good Luck!
This is what I did and it works.