- Be creative.
- Pretend the toothbrush is a train and the teeth, a track. Make enthusiastic train noises.
- Give the toothbrush and teeth voices and have them talk to each other.
- Pretend to be “hunting” for bits of food from the day and make a big production about each speck you find.
- Make up a tooth brushing song, or use a variation of a favourite: “This is the way we brush our teeth…” … ” Twinkle, twinkle little teeth…”
- Tell a story that is completely disassociated with the tooth-brushing to take your child’s mind off the process: “Once upon a time a little boy named Sam went to the beach…”
- Brush your child’s teeth while watching their favourite movie or show.
- After you brush your child’s teeth, or before you get started, let your little one take a turn.
They’ll most likely just chew on the brush, but it will help them feel like they have some control over the situation.
- Plus, it will help them get used to having the brush in their mouth. Don’t let your baby walk around with a brush in their mouth, though – they could fall and get injured.
- Brush together and take advantage of your little one’s desire to imitate your actions. You might even take turns brushing each other’s teeth.
- Try brushing in front of a mirror so that your baby can see what’s happening. Letting your little one sit on the bathroom counter and look into the wall mirror is often exciting enough to keep them from squirming too much.
- Take your baby in for a dental checkup between age one and three. Call your dentist for more information, since your dentist, or your pediatrician, can tell you at what age to make this first appointment. In the meantime, your pediatrician can check your baby’s teeth during regular appointments. You might also add the “dentist” game to your play from time to time so that your little one won’t be so frightened at their very first dental appointment.
- The bottom line is: Just do it.
If none of these ideas helps, you’ll just have to hold your baby in your lap and be thankful that they cry with their mouth open! I know that sounds awful, but the displeasure you have to deal with over toothbrushing is infinitely less than that of watching your toddler in the dentist chair screaming while they have cavities filled, or worse yet, suffering through surgery because of decayed teeth.
Elizabeth Pantley is a mother of four, grandmother, and author of the bestselling book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution, plus 8 other books in the No-Cry Solution Series which helps mums and dads through all key stages of parenting. Visit her on her website, blog, Instagram or Pinterest.
