Brushing teeth with toothpaste

How in the heck do you get your toddler to understand the spitting thing?? We just started using toothpaste with Kieran about 2 weeks ago (he's 2y4m). Every time, I try to get him to take water in his mouth and spit it out (I figure I'll work on the swishing around once this is mastered!), and he just keeps swallowing it! I've tried saying, "Don't drink it, just spit it in the sink" but then he just never closes his mouth and the water just falls out. I've said "Don't swallow it, just spit it out" but I don't think he knows what swallow means. I'm at a loss. I know he will eventually learn it no matter what, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips that they used that worked!

Re: Brushing teeth with toothpaste

My sons dentist actually told us to never use a cup of water for rinsing. He said to first brush with toothpaste, then rinse toothbrush under water and brush again then spit. I usually do the rinse/brush/spit two times after using toothpaste.
It is hard to get them to spit, but this might work out better for you this way.

Re: Brushing teeth with toothpaste

I think he's a little young to get the concept yet. My DD didn't use regular toothpaste until she was a little older than three.

Re: Brushing teeth with toothpaste

I've been using fluoride toothpaste on ds since he turned 2.
i showed him how to spit in the sink, it took a couple of times but he got it! he even sticks his tongue out now so i can use a tongue scrapper on it - rinses and spits out again.

just let him watch you and show him what your doing while he's doing it.

eta: we don't use a cup as pp said.

Message edited 6/5/2012 8:09:19 AM.

Re: Brushing teeth with toothpaste

Thanks for the responses. I never thought of not using a cup. I guess that makes sense, because their instinct would be to drink it. We're using fluoride-free toothpaste, so I'm not concerned about him swallowing, it's just something that I know he should learn eventually. He definitely gets the spitting part, so I will try just brushing with water after. Thanks!