Yes, that's our task for this week. We're trying to start Official Teeth Brushing now that he's almost two and a half, and this includes Real Toothpaste instead of the baby stuff, and you're not supposed to swallow this stuff.
So we thought hey, how hard could it be to teach a kid to spit, he's certainly an expert at drooling. Turns out it's actually a very complex concept. Is it even necessary to rinse and spit if we use the recommended teeniest amount of toothpaste? Any more experienced folk out there want to share?
Of course, we also still need to work on getting him to let us brush his teeth for him, he insists on doing it himself. It is admittedly pretty cute to see the influence that we have on him, he's been watching us brush our teeth (especially his father who is like the dream date for any dentist due to his consistent teeth brushing and complete lack of cavities over the years) and it has inspired him to try to reach the toothbrush in a little farther each night. We still only get about 15 seconds of toothbrush-in-mouth time, but ya gotta start somewhere.
And here I thought we were the only ones ignoring dental hygene--because trying to stick a toothbrush into a under 2 year olds mouth is like asking for a freak out session. Ha!
He's almost three... doing better, but the back teeth are surely suffering! And you are having more success than we are--kiddo wouldn't dare let mom and dad touch the toothbrush.
Posted by: Bethany | October 27, 2005 at 06:29 AM
I agree that it is really hard to teach a toddler to spit! I think we kept up with the non-flouride gel stuff until he could spit. Just keep working on it - twice a day every day. As far as having him "let you brush" his teeth.....try this (worked great for us and still does at 5). Tell him you are going to let him brush his own teeth all by himself. BUT, mom &/or dad want to "check" (ie brush) after he is done to see what a great job he's done. Make it seem like he's in control.
Posted by: Kendra | October 27, 2005 at 08:08 AM
How timely - Laid-Off dad is working on a similar problem:
http://laidoffdad.typepad.com/lod/2005/10/you_want_to_kno.html
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 27, 2005 at 09:55 AM
There was a pediatric dentist speaking at this support group I was at last year sometime. He said not to worry about a tiny bit of toothpaste. In order for flouride to cause problems, you'd have to literally eat tubes of toothpaste. So we've been brushing Toddler in Chief's teeth with the real stuff for almost a year (he's 2 1/2). We just use enough to get a tiny bit frothy. And then he has a sip of water when we're done.
Posted by: Suzanne | October 27, 2005 at 08:17 PM
Bethany: I immediately fell in like with another mom I met a while back, after she told a story about how she took her 14 month old to the doctor and the doctor asked her what kind of toothbrush they were using to brush his teeth, and she said "Brush his teeth?" :-)
Thanks all for the tips... and especially to know that it's OK to swallow little amounts and just drinking water is enough, that's good to know.
Posted by: Cynical Mom | October 27, 2005 at 09:32 PM
We are facing the same hurdle with our son. He refuses to even try to spit. Very frustrating because our child dentist says he already has a cavity and needs to start using the fluoride toothpaste. He claims swallowing a tiny a bit twice a day is not going to hurt him and that the benefit outweighs any risk, but that is not the point. How do you teach a toddler to spit!
Bernard
http://www.raisingeli.com
Posted by: Bernard | May 17, 2009 at 04:45 AM