I’ve been doing quick “happy visits” at 9 a.m., letting them hold Mr. Thirsty and practice counting teeth to 10 before the prophy. What phrases or little steps help you keep toddlers calm while teaching them brushing basics without rushing the appointment?
phrases or little steps help you keep toddlers calm while — I pair “smell the cupcake, blow out the candle” breathing with Mr. Thirsty “having a sip,” then let them brush my gloved finger with a pea of paste to demo tiny circles. Right after your 9 a.m. count-to-10, I give one choice — “blueberry or bubblegum?” — and hand them a 30-sec sand timer to flip so they feel in control.
Short answer from my side: I’m seeing the same pattern — one concrete thing that helped was writing down the exact handoff and timebox it to 15–20 min. Does that match what you’re running into?
@tony_m1994 do you ever use a 30-second sand timer so they can see the polish won’t take longer than a cartoon intro? I hand them a small mirror and say, “You’re the tooth detective — show me where the sugar bugs hide,” then let them point while I count and finish with a two-choice “polish flavor” card.
At 9 a.m., I say “kiss the ceiling, freeze” for a 10-count; let them choose paste — sticker after.
@rhernandez06 I let ‘Mr. Thirsty’ tickle a finger, then 10 ‘rainbow swipes’; parent lap if squirmy.