Fun Ways to Teach Toddlers to Brush their Teeth

Are you looking for ways to make brushing your toddler’s teeth fun?

Brushing a toddler’s teeth can definitely be a bit challenging. As a mom of 6, I’ve had my share of toddler power struggles trying to brush the teeth of an unwilling toddler.

Dental hygiene is so important though and your child is creating habits that will last him a lifetime. That’s why I was so excited to partner with Orajel™ as a Smilehood ambassador this year. Orajel is one of the most trusted brands of pain relief and oral care solutions for babies and young children and a favorite in my house since the very beginning.

When I was a new mom, I knew good dental hygiene was important but I also thought if I ran a toothbrush over my child’s teeth once a day or so that I was covering my bases. I was shocked when my 4 year old visited the dentist and we discovered that he had 2 cavities.

We thought we were making dental hygiene a priority but apparently we weren’t doing enough.

We’ve stepped up our game since then and now with toddler twins we have really had to get creative to make brushing teeth a fun experience for everyone.

Want some tips to get your toddler excited about brushing his teeth?

Let your toddler choose his toothbrush. When we make the change from finger brushes to a toddler toothbrush, I love to let my toddler choose the toothbrush. We make a big deal about going to the store to go toothbrush shopping. Orajel™ has some great character toothbrushes that my kids have always loved and when they get a choice in the purchase they are more excited about it. Our current favorite is the Baby Orajel™ Elmo Tooth & Gum Cleanser because anything Elmo is popular with my twins at the moment.

Sing a song. Toddlers are always looking for ways to have fun. Sing a favorite song while you brush your toddler’s teeth to distract her and make it a positive experience. We always try and make it through the ABC song so we know that we have brushed well enough.

Take turns. Toddlers are independent little creatures. Mine usually want to do everything themselves, including brushing their teeth. Unfortunately, I know that they won’t brush well enough so we compromise. I take a turn first, making sure that I brush their teeth really well, then they get a turn to brush. This is a great way to help them practice brushing skills and feel independent while still making sure their teeth get clean.

Practice with paint. Toddlers need to get comfortable with the idea of using a toothbrush, especially if they are used to a finger brush. Try toothbrush painting! Use an old toothbrush instead of a paintbrush to make a fun art project.

Use a toothbrush to relieve teething pain. Teething is definitely a rough stage, for toddlers AND for mom. I’ve found that one of the best ways to relieve teething pain is to brush your toddler’s teeth. The bristles of the toothbrush feel great on sore gums so it’s an awesome way to help your toddler develop positive feelings about brushing her teeth.

Use a mirror. Toddlers love to see everything that is going on. Try having your toddler hold a small hand mirror while you brush her teeth so she can see exactly what you are doing. It may buy you a few extra minutes to really get those teeth clean.

Do you have any tricks you use to get your toddler to brush his teeth without a fight?

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Rachel

Rachel knows what it is like to be busy and worry about balancing everything without losing your sanity. As a mom of 6 incredibly different kids, including twins, she's just about seen it all . . . when she isn't too sleep deprived to notice. Rachel holds a B.A. in English and is a former teacher. She is the creator of Busy Mommy Media and works full time from home as a blogger and marketing consultant.

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