6 Tricks and Tips to Get Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Are you having difficulty when it comes to getting your kids to brush their teeth? Well as we know, kids learn by observing and copying their parents behavior. Here are a few tricks that you could do to help get your kids excited about brushing their teeth.

1. Lead by example

Make it a point to have your children see you brushing your teeth in the morning and at night. This may require that you alter the timing of your routine to accommodate their bed time. You could even let them help you brush your teeth, making it seem more like a game. Another trick is to show them a YouTube video of other kids enjoying brushing their teeth. Kids react strongly to what their peers are doing.

2. Make it story time

Telling a story while your kids brush their teeth can ensure that they brush an appropriate amount of time. You could also incorporate the toothbrush and the act of brushing into the story. The toothbrush could be a superhero who needs to fight off an army of goo monsters. The goo monsters are covering the city buildings (their teeth) and it is up to them to fight them off! Try to make it fun!

3. It’s electric! Go hi-tech

Electric toothbrushes are one of the greatest tools to get kids excited to brush their teeth. The vibrating and loud noise turns their ordinary toothbrush into a super hi-tech fun toy for your children. If they are into Star Wars, pretend that it is a lightsaber!

4. Kids love gross stuff, use that!

Kids get a kick out of gross nasty things, we don’t know why, but they do. Use this to your advantage by showing them pictures of a mouth filled with plaque. Visuals like this can give them a better understanding of what happens when your don’t brush your teeth.

5. Get some help from a puppet friend

If your children are too young to brush their own teeth, but are also resistant to having mommy or daddy help them, bring out a friend! Using a puppet can make brushing fun for children. You could make that character a dentist and have him teach your child the best way to brush their teeth. Bringing this familiar face to your child’s first visit to the dentist could also help reduce their fear of the dentist.

6. Let them take over

There comes s time where you must pass the brush along. By 5 or 6 years old, your children will be old enough to brush their own teeth. However, the ADA suggests that you should still spectate their activities until 7 or 8 years old to ensure they have gotten the hang of it and are fully safe. Make sure to remind them that brushing harder is not better and that they must b.rush lightly in small circular motions.

We hope that these tips and tricks will help make brushing your kid’s teeth easier! If you would like to set up an appointment for you or your kids, please give Signature Smile Dental in Brooklyn Heights a call. At Signature Smile, our dentists – Dr. Evelina Tolchinsky and Dr. Inna Trogan – have worked with children of all ages throughout Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and Dumbo and can ensure that they will feel comfortable and relaxed through out their visit! Give Signature Smile a call to set up an appointment today!