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Getting Your
Kids to Brush: Advice from Experienced Moms
"The best tool we've found for brushing
teeth is the new spinning toothbrush from Colgate. It's only $6 and
my 4 year old can't wait to use it several times per day." -- Koren
from WA
"About brushing your toddlers teeth; I've always
told my little ones that their teeth are saying "Yaah, we're getting
a bath." -- Ellen from MS
"This is in re: to your item about how to encourage
a toddler to brush his/her teeth. We make it fun by making silly faces,
i.e. big toothy grin to reach the front teeth, opening wide to reach the
molars, etc." -- Sue from IL
Tips for getting young kids interested in brushing their
teeth:
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Pretend you are tickling their teeth with the
toothbrush. This works well with brushing their tongue too because
that can really tickle.
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Take turns. First I let my girls brush their
own teeth and then it is my turn to brush their teeth.
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After brushing their teeth let them have a turn
brushing or "tickling" your teeth.
-- Jen from WI
I have three children and what worked best was always letting them watch
me brush my teeth first. Later I would let them play with a toothbrush
(when I was watching) because it is natural to put it in their mouths
immediately. Then, I would get that really good tasting kids toothpaste (Crest)
and put it on the brush. Then I would play a little game and pretend to
find germs in their mouth and tell them oh no germs lets get them out!
I would give them lots of attention saying their is one over here, oh no
one over here. I would squeal with joy with then brushed that bad old germ
away.
I would give them a cup of water and show them myself how to drink and to
spit it out. Earlier when they started sticking stuff in their mouths I
would tell them "Spit it out" and they learned by watching me
spit it out or fold their cheeks and lips to a kiss shape and pull it out
as they pushed the object with their tongue
The key was always saying "Cucka" and that meant anything dirty.
So when they thought they had dirty teeth they would brush as I pointed
and then spit the rest of them out.
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Every day I would ask them to open their mouth and I would look at their
teeth and say OOHHH germs! and they always got the best laugh out of that
and the look on my face. When their teeth were done, I would say,
"All clean, no germs!" and ask them to smile at me. Then I would
clap or coo or verbally reward that behavior.
That worked for years, now they are all over 8 and I have to resort to
nagging or telling them stories of lost teeth, infected gums, etc. But
when supervised at these ages as far as making sure they do it and do it
right goes we monitor them and get the dentist they like to teach them and
care for them.
Toddlers love attention. If they feel they are making the parent pleased
they will do it again and again. And they are at an age where they love
big reactions in facial expressions. Try fake crying if they take a
toy back from you and you will see it works! -- Lisa from TX
We have a contest to see who can clean their teeth and be done first.
Of course, they always win! -- Brenda from OK
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