How to Get Toddlers to Brush Their Teeth

Many parents have heard from their pediatricians that taking care of a child's teeth starts in infancy. While a nine month old may allow his mother to brush without much of a struggle, toddlers are more likely to deny access to their pearly whites. There are several strategies that make tooth brushing easier and more fun.

Choices, Choices
Giving toddlers choices makes them more likely to comply with your requests. For example, having two toothbrushes to choose from instead of one gives the child a better sense of choice and control. Parents may also allow their children to choose whether to stand on a stool or sit on the counter to brush. Many adults choose to brush their teeth in the shower. Why not allow a toddler to choose whether to brush after or during bath time? If the toddler is very insistent on brushing themselves, then allow the child to brush more often.

Taking Turns
Some toddlers may object to having a parent clean their teeth, but will happily chew on a toothbrush themselves. A possible solution to this dilemma is to allow both! Perhaps the toddler brushes first, and then allows the parent to finish the job. Some toddlers would rather have a parent get the unpleasant cleaning out of the way first and then be allowed to explore the toothbrush.

Another variation to this tactic is to allow the child to brush the teeth of a doll while the parent brushes the toddler's teeth. Some parents allow their toddlers to give them a good brushing in exchange for being able to brush the child's teeth.

Make It Fun
Sometimes children just need to find the fun in mundane activities. Some toddlers love songs, and will happily brush along to tune of "Brush, brush, brush your teeth". Any lyrics parents make up can help children enjoy tooth brushing more.

Parents could also make up games to thrill their otherwise unimpressed toddlers. Encouraging the child to count their teeth as they brush is one option. Using their special fruit-flavored toothpaste to ward away germs in the same way a firefighter would put out a fire is another idea. This is an area where parents can really benefit from following their child's lead. Examine the child's interests and create a game stemming from it. The idea isn't to instill a duty to brushing, but rather to make brushing teeth an enjoyable experience until it becomes a habit.

The most important thing to remember is that teaching a toddler to brush his teeth is a good habit that will last a lifetime. Getting there can sometimes be a struggle. Parents should relax and allow their child to develop this skill at their own pace in a way that will associate happy and fun memories with tooth brushing.