Introducing a Tooth-brushing Habit WAY Too Late

Make spitting in the sink FUN!!!! My DD likes her Dora toothbrush...but man, oh, man, does she like to spit in the sink!!! Sounds gross doesnt it!?! In order to spit, she has to brush and build up "foam" from the toothpaste. Swirling and swashling in the mouth does this too.

M:)

P.S. I make it a BIG deal that we only spit in the sink...no where else.

When my daughter was younger she didn't mind brushing her teeth but was frustrated because she couldn't do it by herself like a big kid.
To solve that, I had her brush her teeth while I brushed mine. Then we would switch and I would brush her teeth and then she would brush mine. That way she got to practice brushing on her own and I would still be able to make sure her teeth were clean. It ended up being a fun game!

Start out slow...my dentist was very clear that the night brushing should be prioritized over the morning brushing to ensure they are all nice and clean before bed. If any of his teeth touch each other, you should also be flossing--there are some great pre-threaded flossers that are sized for a toddler mouth.

Get a couple of different toothbushes and let him choose which he would like to use. You can also try two different flavors of paste.

YOU need to be brushing his teeth, but I let my daughter start and I finish.

I ask her to show me her "monster" teeth to open wide and her "smile" teeth to let me get the front and sides. She reminds ME to do her tongue. I also encourage her to SPIT in the sink all she wants while we are brushing. She thinks this is great.

Don't stress if you miss a night here and there...just try to get him to rinse his mouth with some water at a minimum.

He is only three, while it may be hard for you to change your bad habits it's not hard to re-program and three year old. If you prioritize teeth brushing as very important and start a routine today I bet within a week or so he'll accept it as a habit. Singing toothbrushes don't hurt either ;).

My daughter doesn't really like doing it either. I usually kind of hug her while I brush her teeth. She stands on the toilet and puts the side of her chest against my chest. This way her head isn't jerking around and she is more comfortable while I am getting all the angles.

edit* i meant to say the side of her head against my chest

I just got my kids (they picked them out) these toothbrushes that look like crayons and they light up when you push on the bottom. They blink for like a minute or so to encourage longer brushing. My kids like to turn off the bathroom light when they brush. You could probably find them at WalMart.

you can get him a toothbrush that sings or lights up for the amount of time he is supposed to be brushing.

My almost 5 and 3 yr old watch the Sesame Street Brushing Teeth podcast on my Ipod and brush away! Every morning and before bed! It used to be a major struggle to get them to brush but now I cant keep them from brushing! Hope this helps!

Here is the youtube link to the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iSw0yBZGUc

I have heard to let kids listen to their favorite song while brushing. They have fun and brush their teeth the amount of time reccommended. Who knows he might break into a little dance while brushing:-)

You might also try the battery operated children's toothbrushes available in drugstores. Our little one wasn't too interested in brushing until she had an on-off switch on her toothbrush.

Try making a "special" trip to the store and let him pick out his own toothbrush. Make a game of it and what usually works is to let him brush his own teeth, and then finish for him.
If he can swish, Agent CoolBlue is a great mouthwash for kids that stains the bacteria so you can both see what needs to come off.

Also, I would suggest taking him to the dentist, who should have some ways to make the whole transition fun and exciting.