Tips for brushing toddler teeth #ProHealthKids #sponsored #ad @OralB
This paid post is brought to you by the new free Oral-B Disney Timer App as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.
We’ve been mostly lucky in the teeth department. Except I didn’t think that when my son started teething early and often. He had all of his baby teeth a few months before he turned 2-years-old, and just before his second birthday, he visited a dentist for the first time. (The dentist visit was a bit traumatic – for a few minutes – but she gave us a lot of tips and assured me we were doing a good job taking care of our boy.)
Some nights are not so easy. And mornings are fairly difficult amidst the chaos of getting out the door to make sure his teeth are in tip-top shape.
(Yes, we have three toothbrushes. We actually have five, but I only photographed three.)
I finally thought of a few tips for brushing toddler teeth (things that worked for us):
1. Brush teeth during bath time, or directly after bath time (before leaving the bathroom.)
2. Let the toddler “help” or brush after you brush for them.
3. Silly songs. Make up songs about teeth.
4. Distract the toddler (books, a show? something that keeps them entertained, but lets you get access to their teeth.)
5. Use the Oral-B Disney Timer app to countdown the brushing time.
We started brushing his teeth when he had just a couple of teeth. We brushed with just a bit of water, and eventually started using a toothpaste with no fluoride. He loved brushing his teeth! We would stand in front of the mirror and I would sing “brush brush brush” to him (just something I made up.) I occasionally rapped “this is how we brush our teeth.” As he got older, it became more of a challenge.
It’s always easiest to brush his teeth when he’s in the bathtub. I just have to make sure that he isn’t going to drink anything or snack after his bath. But he’ll let me brush his teeth while he’s in the tub. Unfortunately, he doesn’t take a bath 7 nights a week (some nights just don’t warrant a bath time.) So what do we do if I don’t have water to distract him?
I allow him to sit on the big potty or little potty. He’s in the very early stages of potty training, and the potty is a big deal for him. And he can flush the big potty AFTER I brush his teeth. (Also a very big deal.)
Sometimes I bribe him with a partial episode of one of his shows. Or extra books before we turn the lights out. Whatever it takes.
He can brush his teeth after I brush. This makes him feel more involved and I think he feels older, more independent, when I have him brush his own teeth. Oh, and he loves to have his tongue brushed! So I often tell him that I’ll brush his tongue if he’ll let me get the back teeth.
And just recently I downloaded the Oral-B Disney Timer app. This app has been a game changer for me. We scan the toothbrush we’re going to use that evening (we have a variety of brushes because sometimes we want Piglet and sometimes we need Tigger to help us.) The app recognizes the brush and pulls up a picture to “brush.” Then it counts down 2 minutes, while the toothbrush clears the toothpaste away to reveal a picture.
We’ve only gotten through a few pictures, so I haven’t unlocked several books on the app yet. But my boy wants to do it over every time. He loves looking back at the pictures we’ve uncovered. I’m also a little more anxious to get toothbrushes that aren’t Winnie the Pooh-themed. What will those pictures reveal??
The app includes a calendar and it encourages him to brush twice daily for two minutes. I’ve always been lucky to get him to sit for me, for one minute. Never mind two whole minutes. And last night when the timer finished, he put his brush down and said, “all done!” It’s just the cutest. And I hope the fun doesn’t wear off any time soon.
Does your child take teeth brushing seriously or is it a challenge for you to brush for them? Have you tried the Oral-B Disney Timer app yet?
Great tips. My oldest never gave us much trouble about brushing, but my little man just would not spit out the toothpaste to save his life – for like 2 years LOL.
Huh, interesting tips. I don’t recall ever having a big issue with brushing my teeth as a kids. My dad told me when I first started brushing that all my teeth would fall out if I didn’t, lol. So I brushed them religiously.
These are great tips and he is such a cutie! I am going to have to start brushing my one year old twins teeth soon…kinda dreading it!
Love it. Emma is definately a challenge in the brushing department, mainly because she wants to suck the toothpaste off or run off with the toothbrush. She does ask to brush by saying “teeth” when I am brushing my teeth. We brush together š
These are great tips! My kids were so independent and didn’t like us to help! LOL!
Hahah that is really great that he likes getting his tongue brushed, because so much yuckiness gets stuck in there and I can imagine it would normally be really hard to get kids to let you do that! He is very cute and these are great tips š
For a while, when my kids were younger, they laid down with their heads in my lap and let me brush their teeth. It was a good angle to be able to get to their teeth.
cute app!! we do all have to do what we can to get kiddos brushing young.
Good tips. When the kids want to do it themselves, but already really capable yet, it gets tricky.
Great tips! My daughter is a pain with brushing her teeth. She’s 2 so it’s hard to reason with her! I keep getting her new toothbrushes to keep her interested so I’ll have to try these.
How cute is he! We’re about to get to the toddler toothbrushing stage with my youngest.
These are great tips for brushing a toddler’s teeth. I had no idea about the Oral B Disney Timer app. What a cool idea – isn’t technology wonderful?
Aww, so cute! My son has those same dino pjs! He loves to brush his little chiclets and tries to chew his brush!
The app absolutely captivated us last night for the first time. He chose Dusty Crophopper as his character, but was so disappointed that the first picture was Mickey.
great tips! My littlest one who is 14 months loves to brush his teeth! So cute seeing him want to do that!
I love that the app includes a calendar. Kids LOVE calendars for some reason, or at least mine do. š I remember loving them too! It’s a fun way to help get/keep them motivated to brush.
Great tips to make sure those little teeth are well cared for!
These are great tips for brushing toddler teeth! What a battle it can be and any help is always appreciated.
Cute post! Davey loves to brush his teeth. He is very detailed and tries very hard to get every tooth! Love your pics!
It is important for children to learn good oral hygiene habits when they are young so it can be part of their lives throughout their childhood and into adulthood.
Great tips – love doing it after bath time! We have been using the app and it’s very helpful.
I wish my son was that good about brushing…he throws a fit every time he has to do it -_-
He is so cute and these are great tips!
Great tips. My daughter is a great brusher…I have to literally stand there and watch my sons, though, or I don’t know if they would do it.
I’ve been working with my two year old on brushing! Last night he really did well!
I saw the commercial for this and I thought it was awesome! I need to check it out!
I think brushing their teeth in the bath is a great tip! Love all your ideas.
Great tips! My son who is 5 tries to rush thru brushing his teeth, so we’ve started to make a game of it. Of course I also have a problem with my almost 12 yr old making sure to brush 2-3x a day as well. Maybe I need to start a reward system!
These are great tips. It is a battle to get him to brush his teeth. I’m going to have to try during bath time.
These are great tips for brushing a toddlers teeth. It’s always good to adopt the practice of good hygiene habits at an early age.
Great ideas for getting those pearly whites clean! The one thing I’m lucky about with my second child is that he LOVES to brush his teeth. I have to explain to him that we don’t need to do it 5x a day lol Now if my teen would like it as much, we’d be set!
These are great tips. We’ve found that using a battery powered toothbrush helps keep it fun for our little guy.
he’s a dang cutie pie! i think the toothbrushes that make music are a good tool. pricey but fun
My 6 year old is NOT liking brushing his teeth lately. Maybe a new toothbrush will get him motivated.
How cool is it that now they have an app for that?? That is such a great idea š
What adorable kiddos!!!! We are big on oral hygiene here too.