Five ways to encourage your toddler to brush their teeth

If your toddler is a little reluctant to go through the routine of brushing their teeth twice a day, these five ideas should help.

1. Practise on teddies and dolls – Experiencing toothbrushing in their play will make them more interested in having a go on their own teeth.  
2. Let them brush your teeth – Encouraging them to brush your teeth will help them understand the process and show them that it can be fun to do.  
3. Try with just water before adding toothpaste – Sometimes toothpaste can be a bit much to begin with, along with the strange sensation of having your teeth brushed. So, start with water and build up by adding tiny amounts of toothpaste. It’s recommended that you stick to minty flavoured toddler toothpaste, otherwise when your child moves past children’s toothpaste, they can find the taste of regular toothpaste too overpowering.  
4. Try it in the bath to make it more fun – Brushing teeth in the bath is a good way to distract them in the process. You can do this with bath toys or light splashes, while you brush their teeth.  
5. Let them pick out their own toothbrush – They're more likely to engage with the process of teeth brushing if they’re excited about it.