Eight Creative Ways to Get Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Did you know February is National Children’s Dental Health Month?  Appropriately, we want to address a few issues related to children’s dental health.

Kids aren’t always enthusiastic about dental hygiene.  Yet, it’s crucial to their entire health that they take care of their teeth and gums.  Helping them develop good oral hygiene habits from the get-go will ensure they enjoy healthy smiles throughout their lives.

Here are a few ideas for how to help your kids become life-long flossers and teeth brushers!

1.  The first step is the most important.  Be a model.  Your kids imitate you and develop many of your own habits.  So why not make brushing your teeth a family affair?  Floss and brush your teeth in the morning and at night with your children.

2. Buy small hand-held flossers in fun colors.  Hand-held flossers are easier for kids to use than traditional spool dental floss.

3. Since kids tend to give their teeth a couple of swipes with the brush, then call it a day, it’s a good idea to set an egg timer for two minutes.

4. Let your child pick out his or her own toothbrush (as long as it’s a soft-bristle brush appropriate for children).  Children often get excited about using their very own “dinosaur” or “princess” brush.

5. Get your children their very own (this is key J) cute stepping stool to make it easy for them to reach the sink.  They’ll love using their little stool and make excuses to do so – like brushing their teeth!

6. Use a sticker chart to reward each tooth brushing session.  Once your children have earned a set number of stars, they get a prize!

7. Make it fun!  Sing a goofy “tooth-brushing” song every day when it’s “tooth-brushing time.”  Do what it takes to convince your child that this is a fun activity, not a mundane chore!

8. Be consistent and persistent – and upbeat!  Don’t be deterred if your children cause a scene every time you tell them to brush their teeth.  You are the parent – insist on it.  Eventually, they will understand that we brush our teeth every day, cease to resist, and develop the habit.