Getting your toddler into a good tooth brushing routine is important for their dental health. Although it’s sometimes easier said than done, don’t worry if your toddler won’t brush their teeth, you’re not alone.
To help, we’ve shared our top ten tips on how to get a toddler to brush their teeth.
10 tips for how to get a toddler to brush their teeth
- Start brushing their teeth early
You should start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as their first tooth comes through. You don’t have to wait until they have a full set. By brushing your child’s teeth from a young age, it will become a more established part of their routine by the time they reach the toddler stage. Here at Dr Talbots, we have our Finger Brush and Gum Massager set. The finger brush is the perfect first toothbrush for babies from 3+ months, and the gum massager can be used from 6+ months.
- Brush your teeth at the same time
One way to encourage your toddler to brush their teeth is by teaching by example. Let your toddler watch you brush your teeth before they brush theirs. You could also let them hold your toothbrush while you do it, so they feel like they’re brushing your teeth before brushing their own.
- Give them lots of praise
Don’t forget to give your toddler plenty of praise during the tooth brushing process. It can be easy to get caught up in the moments when they’re not cooperating, but it’s important to praise them when they do something good.
- Play two minutes of nursery rhymes
Two minutes can feel like a long time, especially to a toddler who doesn’t want to brush their teeth. Try playing two minutes of nursery rhymes or a song they enjoy to help pass the time. Play this song only during tooth brushing time so that it becomes a novelty and something they can look forward to.
- Choose an easy grip toothbrush
The brush you use to clean your toddler's teeth can make all the difference. Make sure to choose a toothbrush with an easy-grip handle, like our Baby Toothbrush Training Set, which includes both a baby toothbrush and a toddler toothbrush. This way, your child can easily practice brushing their teeth themselves, removing any frustration caused by dropping the brush.
- Make a reward sticker chart
Create a tooth brushing sticker chart with small rewards once they reach milestones, like a healthy snack or a new book. You can find printable tooth brushing charts online, or digital versions too.
- Brush their favourite teddy's teeth too
If your child has a favourite teddy or toy, involve it in the teeth brushing process. Let your toddler (or you) pretend to brush the toy's teeth. This role playing can help make the activity feel more familiar and less intimidating and it can encourage your toddler to copy the actions they see.
- Read a tooth brushing book
As part of their nighttime routine, read some toddler books about why they should brush their teeth. This will help them understand why it’s so important.
- Give them a choice
Let your toddler choose their own character toothbrush so they look forward to using it, whether it’s their favourite character or a fun design. You can also offer different flavours of toothpaste, so they can choose one they like.
- Let them try holding the brush
Once you’ve brushed your toddler's teeth, let them hold the brush and try themselves. This is not only good practice for them, but it also helps them feel more involved. Don’t put any extra toothpaste on the brush for this, as they should only use a small amount per day.
If you’re child isn’t toddler age yet, check out our blog post on how to brush your baby’s teeth and come back to this one when they hit toddler age. Shop our baby and toddler oral care where you can find out more about our Baby Toothbrush Training Set which includes a brush for babies and a brush for toddlers.
