Q&A: How to Brush Baby/Toddler Teeth

Welcome to Ask the Village where all of us moms come together to share our best tips, tricks, advice, and support to one another so we can all be each other’s village!

Today’s question: how do you brush your little one’s teeth when they hate it?!

If you’re struggling to brush your little one’s teeth, we have tons of tips below on how to hopefully make it a better experience for everyone!

More Ask the Village posts found here!

• Have 2 toothbrushes (one for baby and one for parents)
  
• Sing songs (big rec! either songs they love or teeth brushing ones like Ms Rachel, Raffi, Elmo)
  
• Do it when they let you assist and don’t force it when they don’t, they will get there when they’re ready
  
• Dancing
  
• Start early so they’re used to it, even if just gums and a silicone brusher
  
• Do it at the same time as an older sibling or when parent is brushing
  
• Do it in the high chair
  
• Yummy tasting toothpaste
  
• Save screen time for brushing teeth time (Hey Bear, YouTube teeth brushing videos, Elmo brush your teeth video)
  
• Put them in the sink in a towel so their hands aren’t able to grab
  
• Let them brush and then go in after with it or with a finger tooth brush
  
• Do it in the bath
  
• 2 tooth brushes (one for them to hold, one for you to actually brush)
  
• Get their favorite character toothbrush and/or toothpaste
  
• Let them do it first (this is what works for us!)
  
• Make it a game and pretend you are the foods they ate that day
  
• Sing the same song for it so they make the association and know how long it will take
  
• Stay flexible – some days it’s great some days it’s hard, you don’t have to push it on the hard days
  
• If going particularly badly, take a break and try again later or another time
  
• Do a song leading up to the brushing (so they can know it’s coming up)
  
• Let them play during it – with the sink, with a special toy, turning on and off the lights
  
• Give them the toothpaste to hold while you sneak in to brush
  
• Have the toothbrush out all the time at home so they get used to it
  
• Let them hold the brush and chew on it and intermittently brush their teeth
  
• Take turns (mom/dad fake brushes teeth or do it for real, then baby’s turn)
  
• Getting a stool for the sink and allowing them to be independent and do themselves helps them be more interested
  
• Give them a small mirror to hold so they can watch what you’re doing
  
• Sit behind them and lean their head on your lap so you can get in there
  
• Start as early as you start solids and build into the meal cleanup routine
  
• Tell them to “say cheese” then get in their and quick brush (be silly so it’s funny to them!)
  
• Don’t stress about the timing, just slowly work up to a proper brush
  
• Give them the toothbrush while changing their diaper
  
• Lay them between your legs with their arms under your thighs and tickle them so they open their mouth
  
• Tell them a story during it

Good luck, I hope one of these ideas helps make it a better experience going forward. Let us know which works for y’all!