Brushing teeth is a necessary part of daily hygiene and health. It’s also something that most kids resist. The good news is that there are ways to make tooth brushing more fun for your children. Here are some tips:
1. Get creative with toothpaste art!
Kids love getting messy and using their imaginations — so why not combine those two qualities? Give them a fun set of brushes and let them paint their teeth as they would any other canvas! For added effect, use blue or purple food coloring in the toothpaste to create different shades of pretty colors on their pearly whites. Also, you can put toothpaste on the brush and let your child draw on the mirror or wall. This is a great way to make brushing teeth fun for kids and give them something to look forward to doing each morning.
2. Use a timer
This will help them get into the habit of brushing long enough to do a good job — which usually takes at least two minutes — while also teaching them how much time they need to spend on brushing each day. Then, give your child a toothbrush with a handle that’s easy for them to hold. Let them know you’ll be counting down from 60, and then when the timer goes off, it’s time for them to spit out the toothpaste and rinse their mouth. If they don’t like using the timer, try using an app on your phone or tablet instead. If they’re young, give them an overview of why this is important before starting out so they understand why it’s important for them to brush longer than usual.
3. Make it a game
Kids love to copy adults, so brush your teeth together and have them imitate you. Get your child involved in the process by making it into a game. Brushing teeth can be fun with the right attitude and approach. Brushing the upper and lower teeth at the same time is one way to make the activity fun. You could even make up your own song about brushing teeth that you sing every morning together.
4. Reward them each time they brush correctly
Create incentives for good behavior and follow through on them. If your child earns a sticker each time they brush, give them the sticker as soon as possible after brushing their teeth. This will help reinforce the behavior and make it more likely for it to continue. Give them a reward if they brush for two minutes instead of one minute or less. You can even give them a reward for brushing for more than two minutes every now and then! It really doesn’t matter how long they brush—just as long as it is longer than one minute!
5. Let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste from the store
There are many different types of toothbrushes and toothpaste for kids. Some have various animals on them, others have cartoon characters or even stickers that can be placed on the handle. You can find toothbrushes with different textures on them, including soft-bristle brushes or ones with rubber bristles instead of plastic ones that can be easier on sensitive gums. Some toothpaste comes in flavors such as bubble gum and fruit punch, while others are made with fluoride to help prevent cavities. If you’ve got a kid who’s old enough to understand the importance of brushing their teeth, try this trick: Let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste from the store. Not only does it make them feel more involved, but they’ll take better care of their brush if they’re invested in it. If your child has tooth problems and needs to see a dentist, it is safe to search online for ‘dentist near me‘ and schedule a consultation.
6. Go online and find fun videos of animals brushing their teeth
Go online and find fun videos of animals brushing their teeth. Use a tablet or smartphone to watch the videos as you brush your own teeth with your child. You can download them and save them on your computer or smartphone so that you can show them at any time (like when you are in the car). This will help them see that brushing isn’t so bad after all!
Whether it’s taking the plunge with an electric toothbrush, downloading some great brushing apps, or even putting a favorite movie on for the kids, there are plenty of ways to make brushing teeth fun. No matter what you choose to do, it’s important to come up with something so that your child will want to brush their teeth every day.