Not brushing 2yo's teeth - help!

[erinpjensen]

Hi, I have a spirited 2 year old ds and, to be honest, we have not made tooth brushing a priority. But after a visit to our AP pedi yesterday and reading these boards, I know we must make a change. I should also say that we haven't made it a priority b/c he hates to have his teeth brushed and we have a battle each time we try.

Two questions:

1) Ds loves to chew on his toothbrush and especially loves to eat the toothpaste (Weleda - no flouride). Unfortunately, in the past we've let him carry around the toothpaste with his brush and put paste on as he likes (to encourage him liking the process) which he enjoys sucking off. It looks like we should be using a flouride paste at this point which I know he shouldn't swallow. Yikes! Swallowing is the only thing that makes it fun for him. Any advice? Maybe get a stool and turn spitting into fun? Or, just use the flouride paste 1x day, make him spit, and the other times stick to the Weleda? Help!

2) I just about had a heart attack when I read about flossing? Should I be flossing too? OMG! I can barely get a brush in for 5 seconds, how can I floss?

I want to do what is right but I could just cry about having to force this on him.

Thanks!

[Clarity]

I use both flouridated and not...I let her "play" and suck on the unflouridated, and then I use a pea size of the flouridated for when I am doing the brushing. It does get swallowed, but if you limit it to a small controlled amount my dentist said it would not be a problem. I do not leave the flouridated toothpast down where she can reach it.

You can try learning to spit...does brushing his when you brush your own teeth help at all?

[Smilemomma]