https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:22:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-257695 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 03:41:29 +0000 808love 257695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love these ideas. It beats the hold them down and cry method. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250996 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:07:45 +0000 Red 250996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone, it looks like I need to find a song to make it a bit more fun. </p> <p>@Lozza, good idea. Gonna have to give that a try.</p> <p>@Honeybee, that makes sense, I just ordered this book to see if this will get her excited about brushing her teeth properly.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Your-Teeth-Please-Pop-Up/dp/0895774747/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1344366271&#038;sr=1-2&#038;keywords=teeth+brushing+in+books" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Your-Teeth-Please-Pop-Up/dp/0895774747/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1344366271&#038;sr=1-2&#038;keywords=teeth+brushing+in+books</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250836 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:13:26 +0000 Honeybee 250836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if it would work for you, but once we taught DD to brush her own teeth, she became much more enthusiastic about it. She brushes her teeth all by herself and then we "spot check" (usually getting the back molars for her) once she's done.</p> <p>We also sing a tooth brushing song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." And sometimes if she's still resistant, we'll have brush her teddy bear's teeth first; he gets lots of compliments on how clean and sparkly his teeth are, which encourages her to do her own. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250783 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:36:28 +0000 Lozza 250783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS will let me brush his teeth if I let him brush mine at the same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250759 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:25:31 +0000 mamimami 250759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have problems with this, so I am not really one to offer advice. Sometimes I have to pin down his arms and hold his head to get the brush in. But when he's in a good mood, he enjoys a nice rendition of "brush your teeth-y" sung to the tune of "shake your booty." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250752 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:20:16 +0000 purrpletulips 250752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually brush her teeth to start and then let her take over. Sometimes we will do the opposite with allowing her to start and us to finish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250370 Tue, 07 Aug 2012 03:23:38 +0000 looch 250370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read electric toothbrushes aren't recommended for young kids BUT we do have one that DS loves. It's a Thomas the Train one and he just holds it while we brush. We also sing a toothbrushing song, but it's in German and that's my husband's domain. My son likes to stand up when he's brushing his teeth, maybe you can try that too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250280 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:09:56 +0000 Red 250280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Haven't used a tooth brushing song yet so that's definitely worth a try. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250142 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:40:28 +0000 Red 250142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: I was afraid that was the case. We do hold her down when she doesn't cooperate but I'm thinking those forced sessions don't really get her teeth very clean.</p> <p>@Andrea: We haven't taken her to the dentist yet but will in a couple of months. Thanks for the book rec, gonna give it a try :). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250131 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:28:22 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 250131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sing a little song that sounds like "eeee ahhhhh eeee ahhhh" and I can usually get front and back teeth that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250125 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:16:32 +0000 Red 250125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jessiejo17: The timer sounds like a great idea for when she's a bit older. Right now, I can imagine her abandoning the toothbrush to play with the timer, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250071 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:22:03 +0000 Andrea 250071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have this book:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Rookie-Toddler/dp/0531252361/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1344295223&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=brushing+teeth+book" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Brush-Rookie-Toddler/dp/0531252361/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1344295223&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=brushing+teeth+book</a></p> <p>You can sing along to the words and DD loves it. Also, have you taken her to the dentist? I found that the 6 month visits help a ton. DD loves the dentist and kids are more likely to listen to other adults sometimes than their own parents! DD flosses her teeth because "the dentist said so". Love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-250046 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:07:17 +0000 mrs. wagon 250046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, we've tried everything. Recently the best tactic is to let him use an adult toothbrush and brush our teeth alongside him. We do have a kids electric toothbrush and he liked it for a while, but not anymore. Our pediatrician said once they hit this age, you just have to hold them down and brush them forcibly because they can really start to have tooth problems now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-249883 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:56:41 +0000 LuLu Mom 249883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My nieces have a timer that the dentist gave them, and they love brushing now because of it, it's like a game to them. The youngest one asks if she can brush her teeth like 10 times a day! ha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tactics-for-brushing-toddler-teeth#post-249881 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:55:38 +0000 Red 249881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little girl used to love it when I brush her teeth but now that she's older (20 months), she fights it 80% of the time. I've tried several tactics including brushing alongside her to show how fun it is. Currently, I hand her one toothbrush while I hold another and we take turns brushing her teeth. This works now but I can tell that she's getting bored of it and I'm running out of ideas.</p> <p>What tooth brushing tips and tricks work for you? Also, what are your thoughts on electric toothbrushes and is she too young for one? </p>