5 Tips To Get Kids To Brush Their Teeth

Getting your kids to brush their teeth can be a daily battle. How many times have you asked for proof by smelling your child’s breath after they’ve run back to you in less than a minute of being asked to brush their teeth? Too many. Helping kids understand the importance of brushing their teeth will create lifelong dental hygiene habits to prevent tooth decay and cavities. Here are a few tips we have found to be helpful:

1. “Monkey See Monkey Do” Children learn from imitating their parents. Try standing in front of the mirror with them and brush your teeth at the same time they do. Try to express the movement with your own brush and talk the best you can throughout the task. It may not be a thorough cleaning but it is a good starting point.
   
   
2. “Check to see if they got it all!” After you let them brush their teeth, pretend to “check” for what you ate for dinner, for zoo animals, for colors, etc. “I see a spaghetti noodle in the back, let me get it for you!” “Woah! Open wide I see an elephant back there!
   
   
3. Make it fun! Play songs, set a timer or hum “happy birthday” twice to establish the proper brushing time of two minutes.
   
   
4. Record and Reward! Make a chart that has morning and night time brushing. When they are completed successfully, reward your child with an extra book at night, their choice of a daily activity, their favorite mid day snack, or a weekend activity after a full week of brushing!  Rewards are your friend when establishing habits!
   
   
5. Get the right tools! There are many products on the market so be sure to read labels and choose what is best for you! We suggest a toothbrush of their favorite color or character (if you are fine with plastic options!). Taste can be a big factor in convincing your child to brush their teeth. We suggest our Decadent Cacao Toothpaste because it tastes like chocolate and it’s fun to say you are brushing with Dirt! 

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