My almost 3 year old is refusing to brush her teeth. We went to the dentist a few weeks ago and she was amazingly compliant at the dentist's. I think part of the issue is that she doesn't like the taste of the Crest Kid's toothpaste - I bought a different kind this morning. However, she is just being so head strong about this. Last night she went to bed with no stories and had her tv taken away this morning, but that didn't even seem to faze her. Has anyone had a similar issue and found a way to work with their child?
I see you already have some great responses here (love the tooth fairy sticker idea & brushing with someone), but thought I'd add my 2 cents. My boys are very particular regarding the taste of toothpaste, one won't go near anything mint, and we've had best luck with Kids Colgate, Watermelon flavor. They won't use anything else! Good luck!
Maybe make it a game. Put a cd player in the bathroom and pop her favorite cd in and see if she can brush for one entire song. (That's how long my dentist said to brush and how to time it.) Maybe she'd think it was fun. She's also old enough to be told that this is a non-negotiable issue. Just one of those things we have to do in life. And she can stand there in the bathroom until she gets it done.
Hello,
My son is 8 & still hates the mint toothpastes so we get colgate pop stars. It is a mild mint & has star breath strips in it. It comes in one of those stand up bottles like the new adult flavord ones like vanilla mint. The only other thing that I can suggest would be the trainer tooth paste I think by oral B that has little bear on the front. Good Luck.
One of these days I will be able to buy one toothpaste that will work for the whole family.
Hi M.!
My daughter turned 3 in November and is also "head strong" when she wants to be. The only way she will brush her teeth is with someone else. We see if she can brush longer than her older brothers or Mommy and Daddy. I don't know if it will help your daughter or not but I thought I'd pass "our way" along to you.
Good Luck!
After a brief illness, my 2 year old went through this. So, I bought one of the finger toothbrushes for infants and the orajel toothpaste. After a week or so, he wanted to use the toothbrush, again, but still the orajel toothpaste. Now, we're back on track!
My kids have like 5 different toothbrushes...music ones, spinning ones ect...also, we have baby toothpaste and fluouride toothpast...the do not like the crest toothpaste either..we use winnie the pooh or little einstein I think it is oral B? They get to pick which they want out of all that...They brush first and then mom does quality control.
Good Luck..maybe take her to the store and let her pick out the "supplies"
M.,
Hi! I am Meema to 5 wonderful grandsons. I have a couple of them that really like the taste of Crest Wild Expressions Burstin Bubblegum flavored toothpaste!!! They have just turned 3. The one when he comes over now, likes to brush his teeth with it at least 3 or 4 times while he is here for just the afternoon, nighttime brushing is easy with that Crest too! worth a try!
A.
I just wanted to add that if your daughter can not spit or doesn't spit yet, you will want to look into a flouride free toothpaste. I have a 3 year old and 2 year old. They both LOVE brushing their teeth. It was a struggle at first with my oldest and their were times I had to hold her on my lap and get what I could done. I also took them to the store and let them pick out a soft or extra soft bristle brush (my daighter loves using her bob/larry toothbrush) and I also bought some infant/toddler toothpaste. We have a bubble gum and an apple bannana flavor one. My 2 year old was easier, because he wants to do everything his older sister does. Also I let them start on their own, then I have my daughter say things like aahhh and eeee and I can do better cleaning on the tops and sides of her teeth. Another thing she likes is sticking her tongue out so I can brush her tongue.
You could tell her the Tooth Fairy also comes and checks to see if children have brushed their teeth. The Tooth Fairy could come AT ANY TIME and if she brushed her teeth she will leave a sticker. If she didn't brush her teeth she won't leave a sticker.
Then buy a package of stickers. If your daughter brushes her teeth, leave a sticker (with the backing still on) where she leaves her toothbrush for her to find the next day. We used very tiny cheap stickers (once I used smiley face stickers I had gotten free in the mail!)
You can reward her every time she brushes her teeth, or you can make it so the Tooth Fairy only comes sometimes because she's so busy. Stickers are cheap, so it's not a heavy cost!
Most kids love stickers, and they love the idea of the Tooth Fairy checking and leaving a sticker. We use the House Fairy now to keep her room clean. The House Fairy could visit at any time and leave a surprise. You wouldn't believe how good that works!
My daughter has been very particular about toothpaste. The Crest stuff is minty and mint can be like a spicy taste for kids. She would detect mint in flavors even I can't. So, I've been using kids' toothpaste to use up what she doesn't like. The only one we know she's going to like now is Oral B in a bubble gum flavor. The current one is Berry Bubble.
You could also keep a little chart for her. She can put a little sticker on each time she brushes her teeth. After so many stickers, perhaps a small reward of some kind. Adjust the number of stickers as necessary.
