Most toddlers clamp down at the site of a toothbrush and refuse to let you anywhere near their pearly whites. Kids are not born with the knowledge of how to wield a toothbrush; hence, this new experience initially seems scary to them. If cleaning is treated as a chore, it will not be enjoyable for kids, and you will not be able to get their cooperation. 

But there is good news for you if you are a toddler’s parent. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to try and make it fun and remove the stigma attached to cleaning teeth. Many fun ways, such as “sugar bugs” or “clean the teddy’s mouth,” will appeal to the kids, who will get excited when brushing their teeth.

Let us go through some ways you can make cleaning teeth a learning and enjoyable activity for your toddlers.

Why Do Toddlers Not Like The Idea of Brushing?

You might feel like everything is a fight with toddlers, from mealtime to getting dressed, traveling, and cleaning their pearly whites. You will get into many conflicts with the young ones, such as what to eat when to sleep, what to wear, and so on. 

• The act of rebellion is natural in tiny tots as they seek autonomy and control.
• By refusing to let you clean his mouth, your little one tells you, “This is my mouth, so my wish!”
• The look and feel of something as foreign as a toothbrush inside their mouth might be outrageous for toddlers who are still trying to make sense of the world around them.

How To Encourage And Teach Teeth Brushing To Toddlers?

We must start cleaning our infants’ mouths with a little bit of gauze right from six months of age and use toothbrushes for infants as their teeth erupt. It is essential to start early as it will not just prevent tooth decay but also prepare your kid for the act of cleaning their mouth. Here are a few tips you could use to develop the habit of brushing for your tiny tots and make it exciting too:

• Play Dr. Teddy – You could use your kid’s toy to introduce the idea of toothbrushes to your child. Let them clean their toy’s mouth, and then gradually, you could try cleaning your kid’s mouth. Make this activity fun by adding funny voices and silly expressions. Kids are great learners, and they can imitate pretty quickly. Having their favorite toy to play with while cleaning their mouth is a safe way to teach them the concept.
• Demonstrate the activity on yourself – Children emulate whatever their parents do, so brushing yourself in front of them will make the kids learn faster. Use a good technique to clean your mouth in front of your kids. You could keep explaining to them what you are doing and why, and it would be more effective if you kept the demonstration fun and upbeat. Showing enthusiasm during the activity is key to success as it can rub off on your toddler and excite them about oral hygiene.
• Let the child take the lead – Never try to force your way into your child’s mouth. Allow your kid to hold the toothbrush and gently guide them. You must be on the lookout for how much toothpaste is going on the bristles. The AAP (American Academy of Paediatrics) says that only a rice-sized dollop is required for kids under the age of three. You can give pea-sized toothpaste to your child of three to six years. If your kid uses too much toothpaste, it will lead to permanent tooth stains due to its fluoride. Once the child is done, you could check with your child if you can do a final check.  You might feel your child is not using the optimum technique to clean his mouth, but giving them control, more practice, and lots of praise goes a long way in establishing this habit. Kids usually get proficient at brushing by seven or eight years of age. 
• Do not make toothpaste a reason to fight – If your child does not like the taste of toothpaste, do not hassle over it. The AAP says that brushing is much more essential than the amount of toothpaste on the bristles.
• Sing songs – Singing along helps immensely in the brushing activity for kids. Choose a song your toddler likes, like “This is the way we brush our teeth.” or any of their favorite songs, and give it a go with a dry toothbrush first. Singing songs also makes toddlers realize how long they need to clean their mouths, so make the song last a couple of minutes and let them use their brushes for that duration.
• Use the right tools – You should use a children’s brush and tasty toothpaste specially made for kids so that your child looks forward to mouth cleaning time. If the tool is too big, it would be difficult for toddlers to maneuver and will not fit into their mouths properly.
• Give reinforcements – When you visit your family dentist next time, ask your doctor to explain the significance of daily brushing to your kid. Sometimes you need a third party or an authority (or expert) to communicate the idea to your children. 

Teaching your toddlers how to clean their mouth can be tedious and stressful, but with the many tips and ideas illustrated above, you can make brushing fun and cheerful for you and your kids.