Do you brush your toddlers teeth?

Question

I started brushing my daughters teeth once she turned 1. As she’s growing I find it harder to do so because she won’t open her mouth as much or she will play with her toothbrush, or just won’t want to. She still drinks milk water and applejuice son of course her teeth will have milk on her teeth here and there. She’s now 1 yr 5MO so do you know of easier ways or a better toothbrush that can be easier to use? Her now toothbrush is like a regular one looks like any other toothbrush but for toddlers

Answer

I brush then my son likes to brush his teeth. So I tell him he can’t brush until after I do and he will normally sit still

Answer

My son is going to be 2 next month and he was similar where he didn't want us brushing his teeth, even though we've been doing it since 6 months old.  We started playing a tooth brushing game recently which has helped.  We go an an 'animal brushing hunt' and say...I think I see a bear in your mouth!!!  let's brush it away!' Then ask 'do you see another animal?' And let him name one, then we brush that away.  He seems to enjoy it and its less of a struggle now!

Answer

It's really really important to start brushing early. I know it seems horrid but if you have to you may have to force it a bit at first. He will get used to it, and hopefully start cooperating! My daughter had to have caps and crowns put on when she was 3 1/2. We did brush but probably didn't start as early as we should have (You are supposed to start as soon as they get teeth) and she did breastfeed at night. Sometimes the decay is unavoidable , in her case it was a combo of night nursing and genetics - she got her first tooth when she was 10 months and by 18 months her front teeth had visible decay. So just know that it can happen no matter what you do, but brushing regularly helps prevent it tremendously! She did not want to let us brush when she was 18 months- 2 years and the dentist recommended wrapping her up in a towel with her arms at her sides  (like swaddling) and laying her on the bed, and having one of us hold her head still and the other brush her teeth. (and also give her lots of praise and little rewards for brushing) It sucked having to do that at first but she soon stopped fighting it and now at 4.5 she even reminds me at night sometimes that we need to brush :) Good luck!

Answer

I’m a dental assistant and have been for three years now. This is a question that comes up a lot. And as a mother of a toddler I have to fight with my son. He’s almost two. He use to love to let me brush his teeth. Some days we are good and he lets us and others not so much. But I learned from a pediatric dentist to lay him in my lap and tuck his arms under my legs without pressure. I felt bad at first but he is completely fine and let’s me brush his teeth other days we play the tickle game where l tickle his tummy and he lays in my lap and I tell him okay bubby let’s tickle those teethers and he lets me brush his teeth. It’s hard at times with a toddler but we have to brush their teeth. I’ve seen so many little kids come in with massive amounts of decay and we have to refer them out to be sedated so I always promised myself I will never let my sons teeth get bad. He may get a cavity here and there but not a full mouth of them because I didn’t take care of his teeth. So see if you can get her to play games to let you brush her teeth. And if not you may have to lay her in your lap and lightly tuck her arms until she will let you brush them. A short time of her laying there vs. hours in a dental chair is what you have to think of.

Answer

We sing a song and I let her brush them herself. She basically chews it, but it’s the habit of brushing in the morning and brushing at night that’s important. When she’s done “brushing” herself, I do a quick brush. She doesn’t love it, but it’s part of the routine so she allows it. She’ll even tell me when I forget!

Answer

Not sure what to recommend here. My son loves brushing his teeth.

Answer

I’m very strict on teeth brushing. I wipe their gums before they get teeth, and start brushing as soon as they get teeth. My youngest HATES it, so I literally have to hold him down to floss and brush his teeth some nights. I don’t think it matters if they like it or not. Having a ton of cavities filled is way worse than them crying for 2 minutes every night. 
They make toddler toothbrushes. Kids toothpaste tastes yummy. Once they get used to the routine of it, they usually quit fighting it and accept teeth brushing as just a normal part of the day.

Answer

I swipe at his teeth the best I can, then put some more baby toothpaste on it and let him brush. It’s at the point where every night he walks to the sink and tells me “momma, ush?” He does a TERRIBLE job and I doubt his teeth are clean at all, but at least something is happening in there.

Answer

Yes, but it’s usually a pain.

Answer

Luckily my daughter loves brushing her teeth

Do you brush your toddlers teeth?

Let’s Glow

Glow is here for you on your path to pregnancy

25+ million

4.8 stars

20+

Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy

1st Year (Baby & You)

Baby Products