How To Make Brushing Teeth Fun for Kids

Hey there parents! Oh yes, we know exactly why you’re here. Don’t worry; we know there’s no better place to figure out how to make tooth brushing fun for kids than with the best pediatric dentist Roanoke residents have available. 

Children are not fans of doing exactly what they’re told, especially when it’s a routine thing they would rather avoid to continue with their shenanigans and eating sweets.

Fortunately, as pediatric dentists, the specialists at Parkway Pediatric Dentistry know exactly how to make oral and dental care a fun activity that every child can focus on.

Let’s go ahead and review the importance of dental care in children with a good oral hygiene routine and everything you can do as a parent to help them develop the healthy habits of a good oral care routine.

How Do You Get a Toddler to Brush Their Teeth?

It’s not an exact science, as each child will respond differently to their parent’s instructions regarding dental care. Sure enough, a child might respond better to another figure of authority, such as a dental health expert in a professional setting, but there’s still a lot you can and should do to help your kid.

Create a Healthy Routine and Stick To It

Repetition is the mother of learning,” says popular wisdom. Encourage your child to join you during nighttime and daytime tooth brushing times to teach them how important it is in your lives.

Children learn a lot by following your example, so if you make brushing your teeth second nature, they will soon learn what to do and what to avoid. 

Please avoid letting your kid brush their teeth on their own after a long day at school or out of schedule during their vacation time. Instead, teach your kid to make toothbrushing an essential part of their routine as they start and finish their day for at least two minutes. Help them see that tooth brushing makes other things happen and not that such a critical activity is at the mercy of other things in their lives.

Make Brushing Kids’ Teeth Fun

So, you know how we talk about brushing kids’ teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time? Why don’t we make those 4 minutes of every day 4 minutes of fun?

Don’t just limit the activity to a timer and make the wait unbearable. We’re not talking about the eternal 1-minute planks here. Instead, we want to help children see what little time they spend brushing their teeth as a fun time.

Does your kid have a favorite song? Bring out the speakers and make your tooth brushing time turn into a dance party. There are several videos you can play during the oral hygiene activity and let time fly by as your kid follows along with fun instructions. The American Dental Association (ADA) has a list of several videos to choose from.

You could also make this a fun story-time. Use all your best voices to bring stories to life, get creative, and have your child involved in the story-telling time. Make up a story and turn your child into the main character of a fun adventure involving toothbrushing.

Reward Your Child’s Success

Set milestones, and reward your kid with healthy activities or snacks for the following day. Give them a sticker or let them pick a movie for the next family activity. Expressing your pride in their attention to oral care is always a great idea. 

A few words of encouragement can go a long way in developing healthy relationships with your children and reassure them of their worth in your eyes. Give them a huge high five and never be afraid to join them when they start brushing their teeth.

When Should You Start Brushing Your Child’s Teeth?

Young babies don’t have a need for toothbrushing, so you can just clean their gums with a damp cloth and some clean or sterile water. As soon as you notice some teeth erupting from your baby’s gum line, you should start brushing their teeth.

Please, make sure you get a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid any irritation. Clean teeth surfaces and gums twice a day

At this stage, you could limit the oral care routine to brushing the kid’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush or damp cloth twice a day. But whatever you do, don’t use any fluoride toothpaste yet. 

Which Toothbrush Should My Child Use?

Start with one designed for children as the small heads and soft bristles will thoroughly clean all surfaces without damaging the kid’s softer tissues. You could also check some electric toothbrushes with special heads for kids, and they may find it funny to use these devices instead of the traditional ones.

Replace the toothbrush every 3-4 months or when the bristles become frayed. And please, always clean the toothbrush after your child’s oral hygiene routine by rinding the bristles under abundant water and letting it air dry.

Is It Ok To Use the Same Toothbrush as Your Child Sometimes?

No. Please avoid sharing toothbrushes with your child. It’s very easy for bacteria to hitchhike a ride on your toothbrush and reach your child’s mouth. Please avoid exposing your kid to any additional risk factors for gum disease, dental caries, and overall poor dental health.

Should I Use Fluoride Toothpaste on My Baby’s Teeth?

The thing here is not if fluoride is bad for baby teeth or not. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps strengthen the enamel layer protecting your child’s teeth. Your child can get fluoride from the local grid distributing tap water, many foods and drinks, professional applications of fluoride, and fluoride toothpaste.

The concern we have as pediatric dentists in Roanoke is that, when a child hasn’t learned to spit (yes, it may seem like a trivial thing), they will swallow the toothpaste and ingest the fluoride therein. 

When a child ingests too much fluoride they’re at risk of a condition called fluorosis. Fluorosis is, primarily, a cosmetic condition resulting from overexposure to fluoride during the first few years of life. As permanent teeth replace baby teeth, they will erupt and look mildly discolored, with lacy white markings, dark brown or yellow stains, and marked pits and grooves.

If you’re worried about your child’s teeth discoloration, you can read more about why your kid has yellow teeth here.

Reach Out to a Professional Roanoke Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Ryan and Dr. Scott have nothing but your kid’s best interests at heart. We want to help parents get actively involved in their children’s oral health care and we know how challenging that can be. 

Trust us. We’ve spent several years combined trying to understand why children have a rough time focusing on their oral care. We hope these recommendations help you a lot, and you can always trust that our team will help out in any way we can to complement your oral hygiene routine at home.

Give us a call or set an appointment right here for the next step in your kid’s dental care.