My son of 3 yrs, doesnt co-operate to brush his teeth?

Question

He doesnt have a problem with the taste of the paste. But when he hears "come to brush your teeth", he starts saying no and becomess adament. We have to hold him and brush his teeth. Everyday morning, it is like a battle in our house.

Suggestion please to make him co-operate

Answer 1

show him pictures of people who DONT have teeth.. that might change his perspective.

Answer 2

I would say make a game out of it. Why not you start brushing your teeth and maybe act like you just all of a sudden forgot how. Then ask your son to show you how to do it since you know he is such a smart kid. Get the kids mouthwash called Cool Agent Blue, yep its a mouthwash but when swished around in the mouth, it turns the teeth blue to show where brushing was missed. Ask your dentist for the little red tablets that you can chew up and it shows where the plaque is by turning it red. I used to as a kid love these cuz my teeth would turn red and that means I would have to brush again to get it off since I didn't want red teeth.

Get creative with it since he's only 3 and making it fun will want him to brush his teeth more often instead of thinking it's such a chore and a battle. I'm sure he doesn't like to be yelled at and argued with over it. If he continues to not brush his teeth, start saying that he cant have candy or anything until he starts doing it everyday. If there is something that is his favorite for candy, do not allow him to have it until he does start brushing. Once he does, maybe use it as a reward and give him a small amount of it.

Answer 3

Try brushing your teeth while he is there at the sink too and have him high enough to see in the mirror. all the sudsy foam make it fun. A bit of a mess to clean in the sink or bathroom is nothing compared to future dental bills. It never hurts to change a chore to a game. Relax and make it a pleasant time. A goofy time. Just not a demand. Don`t say come brush... Go get him gently while chatting calmly. Lead him to the bathroom...Set him so he can see... and have the toothbrushes handy and the paste out, or race to open it. Afterwards just say "Ok, if you brush longer than I do, you get to watch what you want on the TV" ( or play the game you want, or we`ll color or go for a walk, see a neighbor today... or some kind of reward.) Good Luck!

Answer 4

Make a game of it. Brush yours at the same time and set a timer for two minutes. Whoever can brush for the full two minutes wins. Reward him with stickers, small toys, letting him watch an extra cartoon or an extra story at bedtime. Think of what is his most favorite thing.. Is it watching a cartoon or playing with a certain toy? Tell him if he doesn't brush, he is without that thing for the day. Do a chore chart with him. There are different ones out there. We do one that has tokens. If he does his chores, he earns tokens that he can redeem for a new toy, trip to the park, sleepover at granny's, trip to the fun center, etc.
You can try to explain what could happen if he doesn't brush them, but it may be hard for a three year old to understand that concept. I am not a fan of lying about critters that come and get their teeth or scaring them about it because then they may be scared when it is time for their baby teeth to really fall out. They'll also learn you lied to them before and they won't be so quick to believe you in the future.

Answer 5

Usually in that age they dont know what is wright or wrong, u have to train him, he is just like a mould, in which way u shape they will become in that same way. U try to tell him that we (mother & father ) are brushing after getting up from bed, u should change his brushes, which are attractive, u should say that if u dont brush bacteria comes, usally in TV for paste advertisement they show clearly that how bacteria is affecting the teeth, etc u should try to bring attractive pictures of good habits so that he will be convinced to your versions.

Answer 6

There is a children's toothbrush called Firefly that flashes in one minute increments when a button is pressed. Perhaps that would be fun for him--if you make the brushing experience fun, rather than a chore, he will be more willing to do it.
You could also model good oral hygiene for him by having him watch you brush your teeth, then exclaiming about how good it feels.

If he cannot be persuaded by any means, just tell him you'll be brushing his teeth until he does it on his own. That experience will probably be unpleasant enough to motivate him.

Answer 7

Well it is easy. Think what does your child like the best. First make a chart. When he brushes his teeth one day put a check and tell him that when he reaches an amount of check then he will get the thing he likes. It really will help

Answer 8

Thanks to my mother in laws- both had great tips- he loves to brush his teeth.

MIne has at tooth brushes.

One is a lighted one for 60 seconds-Firefly
I put the kid flavored polish on it and he is IN the bathroom and we brush our teeth to gether till the light goes out.

We also see Itsy bitsy spider and brush our teeth with his "spiderman" tooth brush.

I also give him a "Mater" toothbrush to just put inhis mouth to "hang out and watch TV" with.

He has a "Lightening McQueen" one for the "fast tooth brushing" of the shower.

Good luck.

We made a big production of the ELMO healthcare video and went a purchased a special toothbrush together and special
"his" toothpaste only... and he has dixie cups..its a big thing.
With Stickers and everything. AT first- now he jsut does it on his own at naptime and bedtime. Morning is still an issue- since no one here is a morning person. So we brush in the shower.

Answer 9

My three year old daughter was the same. Until I started to give her "choices". Every time I would tell her it was time to brush her teeth she would automatically drop to the floor and say "noooo!" Then I would ask her if she wanted to "walk like an elephant or walk like a *****" to the sink. She would automatically stop and look and me and say, "like a *****!!" and I would play along and say, "Come on puppy..." she would walk like a puppy up to the sink. Then once she was at the sink I would ask her, "Do you want to open your mouth like a dinosour or a crocodile?" she would choose a crocodile. And she would open wide. (You get the point?) Children love to play games and they also love to choose. It gives them a sense of power and decision. The reason this works so well is because they are in the stage of "autonomy" where they are wanting to do things for them selves. We need to support that stage through choices. Of course we give them the choices. It works so well during clean up too, "would you like to pick up the red blocks first or the blue ones first?" Mom of three children under five

Answer 10

if you can, try and make a game out of it. Or a chart that you can put stars on for every time he brushes his teeth. And then after he gets so many stars, take him to do something he likes or give him some kind of reward for it.

Answer 11

When a friend ours son was four she was going thru the same problem with too much candy and not brushing. One day my husband asked him if he knew what would happen if he didn't take care of his teeth. Then he moved his dentures in and out of his mouth.... Zak started listening to his mom!