Brushing teeth - 3 yr old

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Forum -> Children's Health

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Wed, Jan 13 2021, 10:49 am

Hi all! My son is 3.5 yrs old and refuses to brush his teeth. I didn't have an issue with this with his older siblings - they were all excited to join the adult world... Smile

This one is more fearful. He won't let me do it even without toothpaste or water, and even with his special paw patrol toothbrush...I offered to do a chart, he doesn't want. He is just plain scared.

Any recommendations for what I can do? Good books/videos/other ways to encourage him?

Thanks in advance!

amother

Tan

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 10:50 am

Let him brush by himself 1st with just water and when he gets more comfortable, he can start with toothpaste.

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 10:53 am

Doesn't want to... Sad

amother

Tan

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 10:57 am

LO wrote:

Doesn't want to... Sad

I'd let it go for now and bring it up again in a while.
Would he use kiddie mouthwash instead?

Anonymous me

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 12:43 pm

I used to have this struggle with one of my little ones. I think getting your child to brush his teeth, even at a young age is important. Even a young child can get many cavities and the dentist experience is definitely more traumatic than teeth brushing.

What I did that was helpful was: have my child choose his toothbrush. Talking and vibrating toothbrushes may the experience more fun and also help clean the teeth more quickly and efficiently. I also would have my child watch an Uncle Moishy song, while I would brush his teeth so that he would be happy and more distracted. Make sure you are using a more mild tasty toothpaste flavor, like Colgate mild bubble fruit.

Best of luck!

amother

Wheat

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 2:00 pm

Maybe brush your teeth while he is holding his.
If it is a manual tooth brush here's a kiddie chant that
a visiting dentist taught my preschool class:
(starting bottom up) Up like the grass
(starting top down) Down like the rain
(open mouth on the
tops and bottoms) Back and forth like a choo choo train

Demonstrate this chant on your own teeth with your toothbrush.
Laminate a drawing of a big tooth/teeth on paper and let him brush
that with toothpaste.

Just thinking, is the toothpaste too minty?

avrahamama

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 2:03 pm

Start with no toothpaste. Just water.

Then play a game. Look for all the food he ate that day.

"Let's get all the mac and cheese out of your teeth! Oh look I found orange!"

Two of my kids needed it like that.

amother

Sienna

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 2:15 pm

Its worth it to invest in a more expensive electrical toothbrush. Phillips sonicare for kids comes with a special App and my kids love brushing with it, it never gets boring.

amother

Amethyst

Wed, Jan 13 2021, 2:23 pm

The Disney app for toothbrushing

There are several short videos for kids on toothbrushing - Elmo etc...

Depends I think on if it’s a minor fear or major fear in terms of how to handle and whether to push it or not.

Confused

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