While you may be ready to pass the toothbrush, you toddler may not be
eager to take it. In any case, they should be taught. At some point, your child
will have to learn to do things—in this case, brushing—on their own. You just
have to be there to make it happen.
Because toddlers do not really understand the importance of it,
brushing, for them, can come across as an undesirable chore.
Thus, getting your
little ones to brush can be a serious challenge. For this reason, it is
critical that you help him or her build a healthy oral routine.
Make brushing less of a struggle for the both of you with these tactics:
Play pretend
Motivate your toddler to practice on his or her stuffed toys or dolls.
Doing so may help them get used to the idea of brushing and take scariness out
of the picture. You can also show him or her the proper way of doing it, as
well as let your tot brush your teeth to switch thing up.
Don’t expect too much
In the beginning, your toddler does not have to brush for a full two
minutes. Just keep it short at first, and then slowly lengthen the time as your
child gets older. Also, don’t stress out about them not being able to clean the
gum lines or having to reach into the nooks yet. In these early years, it’s
more about instilling the habit of brushing, rather than teaching them about
the technique.
Give him options
Let him try out a bunch of toothpastes and let him decide what
toothpaste and toothbrush he wants to use. Try new toothpaste each time or have
your child pick one that he’s sure to like.
Take turns
Let your toddler feel in control but ensure his or her teeth is getting
cleaned in the process. You can let your little one brush his teeth in the
morning, while you brush his in the evening. If they insist on brushing on
their own, have them hold another toothbrush while you take care of the job.
Resist on scolding or holding them down
Though this could get your job done faster, it can make brushing feel
like a punishment for your child. This will make them dislike the process and
resist any of what you want to instill. Keep it as light and fun as possible so
they will be encouraged to practice doing so.
Brush your teeth with your toddler
Set a good example and join in when it’s time for your child to brush
his teeth. You can set up a competition to make it more exciting for him. That
way, you may motivate him into brushing longer to give his teeth a thorough
cleanse.
Find a back up
Make a cosmetic dentist appointment periodically and ask your
cosmetic dentist to give your little one a thumbs-up for brushing his
teeth himself. This can encourage him to continue doing the habit and
eventually making it part of his routine.
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