[blparent] Tooth Brushing and To Allison

[Kia Vaca]

Jessica,

In brushing my daughter’s teeth, I help her by giving her a routine
and explaining what we’re going to do. I usually brush her teeth once
in the morning and once at night, before her bath. It goes a bit like
this.

First, I tell her that we are going to brush her teeth. Then I show
her the toothbrush without the toothpaste. I allow her to touch the
toothbrush for a minute. Even though she is not blind, toddlers and
children like to touch things just because they’re curious. Then I
allow her to watch me as I put toothpaste on her toothbrush. All these
steps help her to be more comfortable with the upcoming process of
brushing her teeth. It also allows her to be a part of the process
although she isn’t technically doing anything just yet.

Once we’re set, I ask her to open her mouth, and I slide the
toothbrush inside. I usually start on one side and gently brush her
teeth for a few seconds. I then change to the other side in order to
brush the other teeth. I ten to leave the front teeth for last.
Although the goal is to brush for two minutes, it is a work in
progress for toddlers. Only when I have finished brushing her teeth do
I allow her to try it herself. This allows her to feel independent,
and you can give her a few words to express how proud you are of her
for trying to brush her teeth on her own,.

If we approach the whole process of brushing teeth calmly and make it
fun, toddlers are more likely to cooperate and enjoy it. You, as a
mom, will feel less stressed as well. One thing that I’ve found
tremendously helpful is to brush my teeth with her. Children tend to
do things when they see us doing them first. I hope this helps and
good luck with everything.

Kia