Teaching spitting during toothbrushing

Learning to spit is important as children transit to fluoride containing toothpastes. Parents can start practising around the age of 2 years. Not sure how? Here are some tricks from a paediatric dentist!

Strategy 1

Sometimes children don’t realise that spitting is part of the brushing process. Demonstrate and let them link the 2 actions together. Demonstrate how you rinse and spit when you brush your own teeth. Kids are really good at watching and learning. This could be all your child needs to get going.

Strategy 2

Kids have started to learn some simple numbers eg 1, 2, 3… Have your child practise saying “two!” This allows the mouth to form the right shape naturally for the spit to happen.

(Secret tip : For train lovers, you can also make them go “Choo Choo choooo!” Works just the same)

Strategy 3

Kids love to have fun! Put a sticker or toy target in the sink for them to spit at/ knock over.

Strategy 4

Don’t underestimate what kids can comprehend! Explaining the why (we need to spit) to kids can motivate them to not swallow the toothpaste. See slides for ways to explain in a fun 2 year old manner!

Found this useful? Please share this with your friends. Any other tricks that worked for you? We’d love to hear those too!

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