Introducing the Toothbrush

I would just ask them to open back up so I can clean their teeth. Sometimes I sing a silly song about brushing teeth - just whatever pops in my head... to make them laugh - which opens the mouth. My 2 1/2 yr old still bites down on it at least once everytime I do it. It takes time for them to get use to it... even the dental assistant has issues w/ my boy biting it and we have been brushing his since he was about 8-9 mo. old & seeing the dentist since just shortly after, cause he had a lot of teeth early.

But any attempt to brush will do her good. Remember - it is a new skill & feels funny to her. Be patient & try not to get upset.... it will take a little time to "master" the skill - just like everything else she tries.

Also, don't let her drink anything but water in bed - that alone will help her teeth.

Let her watch this video of Elmo brushing his teeth. It might make her want to do it too if she likes Elmo.

http://www.sesamestreet.org/game_player/-/pgpv/gameplayer...

Hello did you also know they sell one just for you to brush her teeth it has a longer handle. They work great. Also that if she has over 20 teeth to use toothpaste with fluoride in it about the size of a pea or if they have less teeth the size of a grain of rice, My grandson likes his toothbrush to be electric he is 28 months, he and electric one about a year and a half. He has always liked to brush his teeth. My daughter is so lucky.

Why not let her "help"brush her teeth? My grandson used to "brush his teeth" at the same time that Mama and Papa brushed their teeth. He had his own tooth brush, with just a tiny bit of tooth paste and he would do the brushing himself. Of course they would follow up by helping him finish...but it fot him used to having the tooth brush in his mouth and seemed to make it more "fun"

I daughter did the same thing. It is a phase. She will get throught it. But you have to be patient. Let her watch you brush your teeth and make a game out of it. She will get it just keep at it. Good Luck!

Put some yummy toddler toothpaste on it, and let her chew on it for a while, it will do a pretty good job doing just that.
I always had better luck brushing their teeth when they were laying down - I had them lay down on the bed and did it that way - they are a little more contained and cannot squirm away as easily.

first don't sweat it too much, she will have to learn and it might take awhile. try teaching her to say "aahhh", and praise her for keeping her mouth open. don't know if she's learning to take turns yet (probably not yet, at one, right? my son is 3 1/2 so that is so far away, i forget! lol!) but it's a good chance to practice that, first you get a turn, then mommy gets a turn, etc. you can also let her "brush" yours too, and show her how to say "aaah", like that. just a few thoughts, she'll pick it up. mine is 3 1/2 now and other than wanting me to hold the toothbrush while he puts the toothpaste on, doesn't want any help. good luck!

My 2 1/2 yr old son does this too. He loves his toothbrush and wants to do it himself. I would give her the tooth brush and let her chew on it. She's still young. My dentist said we didn't need to brush his teeth that early. So I just let him play with it to introduce the toothbrush! :) You can use a finger brush to brush her teeth with instead.

My son (now 2) has gone through lots of phases with tooth brushing, from chewing, to fighting to finally accepting.

The things that worked the best though was to buy him an electric toothbrush and we bribed him (not good, I know). But after brushing our teeth we get to watch a little something on the computer (we happen to watch Sesame Street videos).

Also, make sure she sees you brushing.