How do you guys clean ur child’s teeth who’s under 3.
I am so worried about my daughter 2 and half’s teeth. i have bought tooth brushes since she was one. she plays and pretends to clean. but wont let me clean.
when i look inside her mouth her teeth are yellow. this morning i spent 30 min convincing her to let me clean her teeth but she wont.
or if she does she would let me clean for few sec only.
what should i do? I am concerned.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
My 2 y/o nephew loves brushing his teeth (morning and night). He's been doing it since he was about a year and a half. You just need to show them by example... I guess. Make it a fun activity instead of a "chore". Get her involved in picking out a toothbrush and toothpaste for herself (that's what we do with my nephew).
What about bath-time? Wonder if it'd be easier to get her to brush her teeth while she's taking a bath?
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
Also, we spoke with my nephew's pediatrician about toothpaste, and were assured that they are okay to use on small children (in small amounts and ONLY once/day... so if you use toothpaste in the morning, you can just use plain water at night).
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
I get the tutty fruity or other flavored kinda toothpastes for my 2.5 year old. Her ped's office says to use floride free until she knows not to swallow. Start with putting your child's head in your lap and brushing like that. Get her involved in choosing her toothbrush so she will be more interested. Also, even if she lets you brush for a few secs, thats better than nothing. Once she gets used to the sensation, she might let you do it longer. Also my daughter likes me to sing songs while brushing so maybe try that as well. Oh, i also showed my daughter my own fillings and told her if u dont brush your teeth, daant main keera lag jaye ga mama ki tarah. Now she understands why she should brush her teeth.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
I started brushing my son's teeth when he was around 18 months old (or earlier, i cannot remember). I got him a Stages toothbrush and toddler toothpaste.
At first, he was hesitant. So, I created a song which we sing together, to this day. For him, it makes brushing his teeth fun.
Now, he just wants to eat the toothpaste rather than actually brush his teeth. Another trick is to brush your own teeth while your child brushes their teeth. Stop and let your kid brush your teeth. Then, say "mama turn" and you brush their teeth.
Just make it fun and interesting. Creating your own songs creates suspense and excites them too. Also, if your kid wants to brush their teeth while they are in the bathtub, let them. The whole point is to get them to brush.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
I think I started around the 15 month mark,but not very regularly and without tooth paste.
She is 18 months old and I got the apple & banana flavored paste which says it is ok to swallow.I have not used it yet.
Toothbrush time is such a favorite activity for her that every single time I open the bathroom door when she is around she gets her booster seat and puts it in front of the sink and when I ask what she is going to do,I am told 'Baaah'(that is 'brush'..!!)
Now the problem is that she wants to do it all by herself and just puts the brush in her mouth and on the tongue.ANd that obviously does not serve the purpose.She does not let me do it,I tried brushing mine with her and in front of her and even made up a song (just like we have a bath time song..).I let her do it her way for a few mins and then try to get my turn,and then put the brush back but every single time that ends up in a tantrum....:(
I have not been too regular with her,I mean mostly we brush once a day but it is something I am trying to fix,and atleast try her to let me do it for her once a day.As long as she is developing the knowledge that it has to be a good habit,practiced twice daily,I think I am on the right track as of now.Atleast she likes doing it..!!
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
*may be you and your child brush your teeth together, even if you have brushed ur teeth earlier...as said by Afsoon, make it a fun activity rather than a chore. i think play games with brushing teeth by pretending you gonna drive a car or ride a horse and try to have a SLOW-RACE! *:D
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
My 2 y/o nephew loves brushing his teeth (morning and night). He's been doing it since he was about a year and a half. You just need to show them by example... I guess. Make it a fun activity instead of a "chore". Get her involved in picking out a toothbrush and toothpaste for herself (that's what we do with my nephew).
What about bath-time? Wonder if it'd be easier to get her to brush her teeth while she's taking a bath?
she selects her own tooth brush, her fav tooth paste and loves playing with it. she puts paste on and than washes off and brushes without tooth paste and wont let me clean her teeth. she can not clean herself.
i do my same time and tell her do this now and this now bt doesnt work.
she loves bath time with bubble and will only play with her bath toys.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
I think I started around the 15 month mark,but not very regularly and without tooth paste. She is 18 months old and I got the apple & banana flavored paste which says it is ok to swallow.I have not used it yet. Toothbrush time is such a favorite activity for her that every single time I open the bathroom door when she is around she gets her booster seat and puts it in front of the sink and when I ask what she is going to do,I am told 'Baaah'(that is 'brush'..!!) Now the problem is that she wants to do it all by herself and just puts the brush in her mouth and on the tongue.ANd that obviously does not serve the purpose.She does not let me do it,I tried brushing mine with her and in front of her and even made up a song (just like we have a bath time song..).I let her do it her way for a few mins and then try to get my turn,and then put the brush back but every single time that ends up in a tantrum....:( I have not been too regular with her,I mean mostly we brush once a day but it is something I am trying to fix,and atleast try her to let me do it for her once a day.As long as she is developing the knowledge that it has to be a good habit,practiced twice daily,I think I am on the right track as of now.Atleast she likes doing it..!!
i am trying to make it fun activity. bt issue is she wont let me touch her tooth brush. she puts her brush under runny water and doesnt let me turn off water or help her infact do anything with her brush. maybe its a phase she is going through
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
i hav same issue with my 3 yrs old. no song, no brush, no flavoured toothpaste works with her. she would eat the paste, chew on brush, hums to the song but won't clean or let clean so i now i start using force. she cries for a while n is then normal. i wish there was an easier solution like some spray that instantly clean teeth n tongue n is drinkable
PS: Now that i began to google i found oral sprays with xylitol that claim to be effective. are swallowable n keep bacterias away.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
She also needs to go tothedentist when she's 3. My daughter's teeth were also in need of betterbrushing and the doctor recommnded an electric toothbrush. She got one from walmart that lets the child decorate it with stickers etc. Now she lets me brush better even though she is not such a big fan still.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
^ The electric brushes with all the different designs (cartoon characters) are fun!. My nephew has 2 of those and 2 regular brushes. He picks the one he wants to use when it's time to brush... I think the fact that he gets to pick and choose between the different brushes is what makes the whole thing fun for him; it's like him picking out a toy to play with for a few minutes.
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
Oh, and if it's really impossible to get your kids to brush.... make sure to rinse his/her mouth out with water every time he/she drinks milk or eats... the water will hopefully wash out most of the food particles that may otherwise get stuck between/around the teeth.
(We give my nephew water to drink right after he finishes up eating/drinking milk... regardless of his brushing routine).
Re: cleaning teeth for kids
my has has been brushing since he was like 18-20 months. He was a little hesitant for few days, he is like me and has very strong reflux, but now he is 4 and had been doing on his own for almost a year now, I do stand there and check, and help him scrap his tongue.
Few things that helped were me brushing with him, sometimes when his cousins come over I I make them brush with my son, so he thinks it is cool to brush. I never bought him electric brush because I wanted him to get used to brushing on his own first, some of his cousins have it, so before he brushes he pretends that he is turning it on and makes buzzing sound himself :):)
Make it interesting and may be tell her she will get an extra story at night, so you will take her to the park if she learns how to brush etc, don't give up, every child has his/her own issues like that. Good luck..