Getting toddlers to do anything they don’t want to do isn’t easy. Making teeth brushing engaging and fun can help. Here are some suggestions:
Animal Fun. Most toddlers love mimicking animals and making animal noises. This can come in handy when it’s time to brush their teeth. Have them roar and bare their teeth like a lion. This might make it more fun for them and can help you reach their back teeth. If your toddler dislikes your help brushing, distract them by giving them a stuffed toy and another toothbrush that they can use to brush the stuffed animal’s teeth.
Mr. Toothbrush to the Rescue! Make the toothbrush a helpful friend working hard to prevent cavities. Have your child give it a name or pretend it’s a superhero that comes in to fight plaque and save the day.
The bottom line with toddlers is to encourage good oral hygiene habits and make brushing seem like fun so they will want to do it.
Older preschoolers may appreciate crafts to encourage teeth brushing. Here are some fun dental activities for preschoolers:
Lego flossing. While pediatric dentists encourage parents to start early with flossing, little hands might not be the best at it, and you might need to step in. Lego flossing can help your toddler understand what flossing is, so they won’t be apprehensive about letting you floss for them. A couple of large Lego blocks can be teeth, and playdough can be the “plaque germs” that you put in the building blocks' prongs to mimic bits of food and debris that get stuck in teeth grooves). Use yarn (floss) to remove those pieces of playdough, demonstrating how floss can do the same thing in your child’s mouth.
Eraser brushing. Show your child how to brush correctly by drawing a smile with teeth and using erasable crayons or pencil to draw spots on the teeth. Have your child use an eraser to “brush” away the spots. Explain how brushing with toothpaste acts like the eraser to remove food and stains from teeth and plaque germs that they might not be able to see.
Once your child is an elementary student, they will most likely be able to brush their teeth independently. However, according to Stanford Children’s Health, your child might need help flossing until they’re 8-10 years old. It's also an excellent time to talk about diet and how different foods can impact oral health. Some dental education activities you can try are:
Eat this, not that. Cut out different pictures of food from magazines. Invite your child to pick the healthy foods out of the bunch, and then explain why foods like candy or soda are bad for their teeth. Alternatively, you can give your child pictures of broccoli and cauliflower florets, carrot coins, slices of apples, and nuts, and invite them to create happy faces with the food. After they’ve finished their creation, snap photos of these “happy foods” as a reminder of what foods are good for oral health and create happy teeth.
Waiting for the tooth fairy. Waiting for your child’s baby teeth to fall out can be frustrating for both you and your child, but you can make it fun by creating a personalized tooth fairy carrier for each time your child loses a tooth. Your child can even write a note to the tooth fairy and then place it in the carrier along with the fallen tooth. You can also write back as the tooth fairy, leaving encouraging notes to tell them they are doing a good job and to keep taking care of their teeth. This can be an activity you do until your child loses their last baby tooth. Explain to your child why taking care of their primary teeth by brushing and flossing is still essential, even though they eventually fall out.
School-age kids and tweens might not want to be reminded how and when to brush, but you can still make brushing and flossing fun for them. Surprise them with toothbrushes that have their favorite character on them or encourage them to brush by giving them fruit-flavored toothpaste. Powered toothbrushes can make it easier and more fun for them to brush such as the Colgate Kids Minecraft Battery Toothbrush.
Get in the Groove! Groove while you brush and get food out of teeth grooves. Play a favorite song that lasts two minutes and tell your child they can’t stop until it finishes. Not only will it make brushing more fun, but it will also help develop the habit of brushing for the recommended length of time.
YouTube for the Win: For older kids try playing a YouTube clip to entertain them and tell them to brush until it finishes. You can also share educational videos or time lapses of what sugar or cola does to teeth to make more of an impact.
Dental education activities can be fun for the entire family and can be a way to bond with your child. It’s normal for kids not to want to brush or floss, but some of these activities can help evoke some excitement and interest in their oral health and set them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth!
At what age should children start brushing their teeth?
Children should brush their teeth as soon as they are able to hold a toothbrush, provided an adult supervises them. Parents should brush their baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts and before that time should use a finger brush or massager to wipe the baby's gums.
At what age should a child have their first dental visit?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends the first visit should be by the time the first tooth is in the mouth or by one year of age.
What is the best way to brush my toddler’s teeth?
Use a small, soft-bristled brush and circular motions on all tooth surfaces, especially where their teeth meet their gumline. Use a smear or rice sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and encourage your child to spit it out.
At what age should a child use fluoride?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using fluoridated toothpaste in small amounts (size of a rice grain or a smear) as soon as the child’s first tooth erupts and a pea size amount at the age of 3. This is updated from previous guidelines which recommended not using fluoride before the age of 2. If you are unsure, you may want to try Colgate® Kids My First® Fluoride-free Toothpaste without fluoride, artificial colors, or sodium lauryl sulfate that is harmless if swallowed. Ask your pediatric dentist what they recommend.
Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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