How to teach a toddler to deal with toothpaste?

[sophi4ka]

My DD is 2yo and so far we've been brushing her teeth with just water. I think its probably time to start using a toothpaste, however I don't know how to teach her not to swallow it, but instead rinse the mouth and spit it.

Any tips?

Thanks
Sophie

[Krisis]

I don't know if you can teach them that. My DS doesn't get the whole spitting thing, so we use Baby Orajel training toothpaste, dye free and fluoride free. It's working out really well so far. HTH!

[onyxravnos]

i agree - i dont think you can.

get a baby toothpaste thats safe to swallow and use just a tiny bit.

[kdtmom2be]

modelling.. you do it, they do it.
however, that said, my dad apparently swallows it and he's not come to any harm after 65 years.... (gross maybe, but true)

[Zevy]

We use Baby oragel as well, and you don't have to spit it out.

he loves it. He begs to brush his teeth every morning and evening.

[leighi123]

I've used regular toothpaste (same as the one I use), sense ds got teeth at 8months. He could spit it out then.... I dont see why a 2yr old couldnt easily learn to swish and spit? Its something kids do anyway when they arent suposed to...whenever I catch ds goofing around spitting I send him to brush his teeth!

[LeahC]

Ditto the modeling suggestion. Start with having her spit out a tiny bit of water and once she gets that, see if she can handle some toddler/ child toothpaste that has less flouride and usually a milder flavor. If your daughter still has a hard time, then use a Xylitol based toddler toothpaste that is okay for her to swallow until she gets it.

[saraisabee]

Just chiming in to say it's a good idea to start with a kid toothpaste instead of whatever you're using. One day when a family member was visiting, she shared her toothpaste with my then 2-year-old. A whole year later and I STILL can't get her to try any toothpaste whatsoever, even if one of her favorite cartoon characters is pictured, or if it's pink and strawberry flavored. She just looks at it and says "too minty!"

[sophi4ka]

Thanks ladies!
I will try out your suggestions

[ShadowMoon]

DS loves brushing his teeth but doesn't get the spit/rinse technique quite yet. We use a kid toothpaste without fluoride, (JASON brand, organic and strawberry/banana flavored).

[ann_of_loxley]

You can't. Just make sure you get a flouride free toothpaste.
We like Aloe Dent but they ran out so we just bought a Toms one. Its an 'adult' one but its apricot flavour and the only flouride free one they had in at the time! lol

[Chicky2]

All mine just eventually started spitting when they were ready.

We use Spry, which has Xylitol, and can be swallowed. Actually now we alternate between that and Tom's silly strawberry. It is fluoride free, and she can spit, but we don't do fluoride toothpaste.

[Butterfy Baby]

Practice with water. Teach her to swish and spit. Once she figures out how to hold water and spit (without swallowing), toothpaste is a cinch.

My daughter is 2.5 and has been using regular toothpaste for quite a long time---8 months now or so? Just practice with water. It's fun and gives them permission to have fun spitting, lol. I think mine loves brushing teeth just for the pure joy of spitting

[dexlor]

My 21 month old DD loves Waleda (sp?) tooth gel. It's flouride free and completely natural. Modeling is always a good idea too!

[JudiAU]

Just use something flouride free and don't worry about it. We use the Earth's Best one made by Jason. Way too expensive but the toddler likes it and it makes tooth brushing marginally easier so hey, we buy it.

[lnitti]

my dd1 will be 6 in March. She still uses just water. She can't tolerate the taste of any toothpaste. I think she is a super taster. I think I'll start another thread on that!

My dd2 is 2 years. We've tried toothpaste once (the Tom's strawberry one). She did not like it one bit. So, I'm not really sure if I should keep trying or just let her use water only like her sister?

[almadianna]

we use the earths best toothpaste and figure that they will learn how to spit when they get older.

[tanyalynn]

We all use ecodent tooth powder, it's fluoride free and comes in a lot of different flavors.

[mama2soren]

Originally Posted by dexlor

My 21 month old DD loves Waleda (sp?) tooth gel. It's flouride free and completely natural. Modeling is always a good idea too!

DS loves it too!