5 Tips to Make Brushing Teeth Fun for Kids

It’s so important to get your kids in the habit of taking good care of their teeth as soon as they are old enough to brush so that it carries on throughout their lives. We only get one set of teeth after all!

That said, getting your kids excited about brushing their teeth can be easier said than done. Telling them about plaque and acid erosion would likely go in one ear and out the other. It has to be approached in a kid-friendly way to be more effective (and easier on you as a parent in the morning and at bedtime).

Here’s 5 tips to make brushing teeth fun for kids:

1. Let them pick out their own toothbrush. There are so many options nowadays with superheroes and various other characters, that a plain one just doesn’t cut it. If they love Spiderman, they’re sure to love their Spiderman toothbrush. Also, get an extra soft battery-operated electric one! This makes it even more exciting, and will be much more effective in getting rid of that pesky plaque as compared to a manual one.

2. Let them pick out their own toothpaste. A package that appeals to kids will be much more effective than a regular tube targeted to adults. Plus, it will be milder, taste better, and maybe even have sparkles in it! Toothpaste companies hire marketing companies for a reason…it sells their product!

3. Children love to imitate adults. If you get in the habit of brushing your teeth at the same time as your kids, it can be seen more of as a fun activity that you are doing together that turns into a routine vs. nagging at them to go brush their teeth. Plus, you are setting a good example at the same time!

4. Photocopy a calendar page each month. Get a special stamp for morning and night to use each time they brush. At the end of the month, reward them with something special or an activity they want to do. It will give them incentive and something to look forward to.

5. Buy a cute egg timer. It’s not enough that they are just brushing their teeth. You want them to brush for 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes at night. This will enable them to keep track of how long to brush.

In addition to all of these great tips, remember to give them positive reinforcement each time they brush. Telling kids what a great job they did and how proud you are of them goes a LONG way!

You can make going to the dentist a fun experience too by bringing them to our Surrey kids dentist.  Call us to book an appointment today!