Toddler swallowing toothpaste

[KiriAndLou]

Hello. DD is approaching 2 and a half and still swallows the toothpaste when her teeth are brushed. We only use a tiny smear of it but it's still really not ideal. I thought she'd have cottoned on by now. I've tried teaching her to spit, showing her how I spit it out, explaining that it's not for swallowing and reminding her not to swallow and even inserting my finger between her teeth to prevent her jaws closing so she can't swallow (I shan't be doing that again- ouch!) but nothing has worked. Any ideas, oh wise mumsnetters? What has worked for you?

[Mamadothe]

Same issue with my DD, I’m hoping he will cotton on soon. Not terribly worried about it. Just keep showing her how you do it and she will get there :)

[Bringonspring]

My son only stopped doing this at 4. I don’t really see the issue tbh.

[Merename]

God yes I’m only seriously working on it now with my 4yr old. Is it that big a deal?

[OverTheRainbow88]

Hadn’t even considered telling my 4’year old to spit it out!! It’s a fight to get him to brush them though!!!

[MaidenoftheSpear]

Have you tried squeezing it right into the bristles so she can't just lick it off the top?
DD3 ate pretty much a whole tube of toothpaste last week, despite my attempts at rationing it she was sneaking some in every time she went for a wee 🙄. The tube has been moved!

[KiriAndLou]

@MaidenoftheSpear

Have you tried squeezing it right into the bristles so she can't just lick it off the top?
DD3 ate pretty much a whole tube of toothpaste last week, despite my attempts at rationing it she was sneaking some in every time she went for a wee 🙄. The tube has been moved!

They are so sneaky!

I see a lot of online banging on about toothpaste being bad for you if swallowed so I've been a bit worried about her continually doing it. Good to see it's not just me struggling with this.

[garlictwist]

I have been swallowing toothpaste for 40 years. Is it really that bad?!

[dimples76]

My 7 year old son with additional needs still swallows toothpaste. I asked his dentist about it and he said not to worry.

[Givemestrengthorgin]

I had a total panic about this after I mentioned to the dentist that my 4 year old still swallowed his toothpaste while brushing instead of spitting and she said he could end up with flurosis. He is now 7 and thankfully no sign of it on his adult teeth. I think unless they swallow more than the recommended amount when brushing (ie eating it out the tube more than a one off, or getting fluoride supplements) then it won't cause any problems.