How to Get a Toddler to Brush Their Teeth (Tips That Actually Work)

By Dr. Boris Zusin · Published August 2, 2026

Getting a toddler to willingly sit through tooth brushing can feel like a nightly negotiation — and if it's a fight every night, you're not doing anything wrong, it's just genuinely a common phase. A few practical shifts make it easier for both of you.

Let Them "Practice" First, Then You Finish

Hand your toddler their own brush to try first — letting them feel in control usually reduces resistance — and then follow up yourself to actually get the teeth clean. Toddlers don't have the fine motor skills to brush effectively on their own until around age 6 or 7, so their turn is really about building the habit, and your turn is what actually does the cleaning.

Use the Right Amount of Toothpaste

For children under 3, use just a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. From age 3 to 6, a pea-sized amount is appropriate. Using fluoride toothpaste (rather than skipping it) is recommended even for young children, since the amounts used at this stage are safe and meaningfully reduce cavity risk — just supervise so they're spitting rather than swallowing it.

Make It Part of a Predictable Routine

Brushing at the same two points in the day — right after breakfast and right before bed, in the same order every time — reduces the negotiation, since it becomes an expected part of the routine rather than a surprise ask. Many parents find pairing it with something else predictable (right after pajamas, right before a bedtime story) helps it stick.

Try a Song, a Timer, or a Favorite Character Brush

A two-minute song or video, a sand timer, or a toothbrush featuring a favorite character can turn brushing into something your toddler wants to do rather than something being done to them. Letting them pick out their own toothbrush (from fluoride-appropriate options) at the store also builds a small sense of ownership.

Stay Calm and Matter-of-Fact, Even Through Resistance

Toddlers pick up on tension, and a nightly power struggle tends to reinforce the resistance rather than resolve it. A calm, consistent, "this is just what we do" tone — without a lot of negotiation or bargaining — usually works better over time than either giving in or turning it into a bigger confrontation.

When to Get Help

If brushing is a serious daily struggle despite trying several approaches, or if you notice signs of a cavity (white or brown spots on the teeth), bring it up at your child's next visit — we're glad to demonstrate technique in the office and troubleshoot what's not working at home.

Every child goes through a brushing-resistance phase at some point — consistency now is what sets the habit for the years ahead. See our complete guide to baby teeth for more on this stage.