Toddlers aren't necessarily known for their rational temperament. But that doesn't mean everything has to be a battle. Get advice here, from medical experts and moms like you, on how to get even the most stubborn toddler to not only brush, but actually enjoy good oral hygiene.
Involve older siblings
"Our toddler wants to do everything that her big sisters do, so we made sure to include her in our bedtime routine from the start! We have goofy 'brush your teeth' songs that we sing together and each girl has their own special toothbrush. They all RUN to the bathroom when it's time to brush their teeth! For our toddler, we made sure to get her an age-appropriate toothpaste like Orajel PAW Patrol Fluoride-Free Training Toothpaste. That way, we don't have to worry if she swallows a little bit while learning to brush! Plus, it has a great flavor — now she won't brush with any other toothpaste!"
— Stacey Garska Rodriguez, creator of The Soccer Mom Blog and mom of three
Start early
"A key here is to make sure oral hygiene practices are started early and have already become a routine in your child's daily activities. This may help as they get older when they start to take over the responsibility of doing it themselves. The best things I have found with my patients and families are making it a game with a timer, doing it with the whole family, and allowing them to have their favorite character toothbrush/toothpaste combination."
— Jessica (J.J.) Smith, CPNP-AC, CPN, board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner currently practicing in acute care medicine at Dayton Children's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio
Combine brushing with something they enjoy
"To get your toddler to enjoy brushing his or her teeth, I would try and make it a fun experience. Buy a toothbrush with their favorite character (i.e., Elmo) and a flavor of toothpaste they will enjoy. Make them listen or dance to a song for the length of time it takes to thoroughly brush their teeth."
— Christy Quinn, Mom.com team and mom of one
Allow them some control
"Give them ownership of the process. Teach them to squirt their own toothpaste and brush themselves. Then it's mama's turn to brush! It takes extra time, but it can be a fun bonding experience."
— Gretchen Bossio, blogger and mom of four
Pick a toothbrush with their favorite character
"First of all, teach by example. Also, there are many fun toothbrushes featuring your kids' favorite characters to get them excited about brushing. Pair this up with singing and a little pretend play (their teddy bear's teeth need brushing too!) and the task will be a lot more enjoyable for all."
— Johanna Torres, Mom.com team and mom of three
There's an app for that
"I got them cute character toothbrushes and toothpastes. Also there are several resources online that you can access with your phone to measure how long they've brushed and for building a reward system."
— Yuliana Delgado, Mom.com team and mom of two
Resist the power struggle
"The word toddler is often associated with power struggle. It’s best not to fight about the issue, but instead make oral hygiene fun and engaging. Including it in morning and nighttime rituals certainly helps, too. Toddlers who have oral aversions may need special accommodations."
— Wendy C., mom of three
Make it fun, and lead by example
"Sing songs to them while brushing their teeth. Let them brush first and then you can do it after to show them that brushing is fun. Also, showing them that mommy and daddy brush too is a good idea."
— Dr. Melissa Weintraub, dentist, blogger, and mom of three
*Disclaimer: The advice on mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
