Fun Ways To Encourage Your Child To Brush Their Teeth

Posted on: 18 December 2014

Toothbrushing. Though kids are told it's good for them, many still don't want to do it! If this sounds like your child, you will no doubt want to learn how to fix this problem. Well do not fret, because here you will learn about some clever ways to encourage your child to brush their teeth more.

Make It A Group Activity

Some children won't want to brush their teeth by themselves. Instead, they will want a "toothbrushing buddy" to brush their teeth at the same time as them. So to make toothbrushing more of a social event for your child, try the following tips:

  • Join in with the toothbrushing: If you usually brush your teeth when your child is not around, change your schedule so that you brush your teeth at the same time as they do. When brushing your teeth, make sure to act excited about doing it. Tell your child that you're making your teeth shiny and healthy, and encourage them to do the same. Your child may well become more motivated to brush their own teeth. Plus, they may learn helpful toothbrushing tips by watching how you brush your teeth.
  • Use a stuffed animal: Another fun idea is to have your child "brush" a favorite stuffed animal or doll's teeth. Doing this may give them the feeling of having a companion to brush their teeth with, making it more enjoyable for them.

Make It Fun 

Children are usually unmotivated to do things that seem boring to them. So if your child thinks of toothbrushing as a boring thing to do, it is your job to change that! Follow the below tips to make toothbrushing a more exciting activity for your kid:

  • Take them shopping: If your child has a drab-looking toothbrush and toothpaste, it's no wonder they don't want to brush their teeth! So consider taking your kid to a store that has fun toothbrushes and toothpastes. You may even shop online if there are no good stores nearby. Some toothbrushes you might consider include ones that play songs or that have cartoon characters on them. You may also consider an electric toothbrush. For a toothpaste, see if you can find any fun flavors for your child. Just make sure the toothpaste is high quality.
  • Play toothbrushing games: For example, you may have a contest with your child to see who can make more bubbles from brushing. Or you could cheer your child on while they brush their teeth for getting rid of "sugar bugs." 

Now that you know how to better motivate your child to brush their teeth, it's time to put these ideas into action! If you need more help with this, consider scheduling a dentist appointment for more ideas and tips. For more information, contact Larsen-Haslem Dental or a similar location.

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About Marcel and the Dentist

Hi, my name is Marcel. Welcome to my site! I started it to help others learn about children's dentistry. Most of us don't remember dentist trips from our early childhood. Maybe we didn't even really care about our teeth until we started losing baby teeth. In my case, I became interested in children's dentistry as a young father. When my kids were young, I was a student, and our insurance did not cover visits to the dentist. Although my wife and I tried to teach our kids good hygiene on our own, it was difficult. When we we finally able to take them to the dentist, my little girls were scared and didn't know what was going on. Luckily, they appreciate the dentist now that they are older, but their first experiences helped teach me more about the importance of children's dentistry. Hopefully you can learn from my experiences!

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