How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

My son does not like to brush his teeth. Any advice?

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

DD started liking it much more after we got her a Cinderella brush - maybe you can get one with a character that he likes? They also make some that play a song - the child is supposed to brush until the song is over.

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

I used to sit DD on the counter in the bathroom and let her look at herself in the mirror. I also let her pick out the toothbrush and toothpaste herself. After she "brushed" I would tell her "now it's Mommy's turn" so I could be sure all the teeth got done properly.

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

Our pediatric dentist gave my kids a 2 minute sand hourglass (pink for girls, blue for boys) and we treat it like a game everynight. See if you can have "shiny and bright teeth" before the timer runs out. Then once they are done, I have to look at their teeth and say "Yes! They are shiny and bright!" High fives all around and the mundane task of brushing teeth completed.

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

If he's anything like my DS, tell him he's not allowed and thats all he'll want to do

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

This is going to sound so silly but Megan is obsessed with Little Mermaid. So I would tell her to sing like Aerial and she would open her mouth and let me brush.

Now we are onto...pretending that she is in the doctors office which I find so surprising because she hates going to the doctor. But she finds it funny that I call her a lady..and ask how she is..ask to see her teeth and so on. It works EVERY NIGHT..sometimes I have to play it up more than usual but it usually gets the job done.

She also LOVES wetting the brush herself and she has just started putting the paste on it herself. I wont let her brush though, or else its not getting done at all.

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

I sing my toothbrush song - almost to row row row your boat...

Brush, Brush Brush your teeth
Brush your little teeth
Up and down and all around
You've got to get them clean.

DS dances to the song - he goes up/down/all around.

If you brush teeth right after a meal, chances are they'd want to play so maybe say, "Brush your teeth and then you can play with your toys"

Re: How to get a 2 year old to brush their teeth

hmmmm... i basically sit on his feet while my arm is holding his arms down, then i force tooth brush into his mouth.

at that point he gives up as i start brushing the food he ate that day away. i say oh wait i see that apple...and so on.

since he's on so many meds, i have to make sure these teeth are scrubbed