Building good oral hygiene for your kids starts at home, but helping your child develop healthy brushing habits doesn’t have to feel like a chore. With a few creative ideas, you can turn brushing teeth into a fun part of your family’s daily routine.
At Lone Star Pediatric Dental & Braces, our team of pediatric dental experts near you share practical ways to make tooth brushing fun for kids and encourage healthy smiles for years to come.
Become a Tooth Brushing DJ
Music can make brushing teeth more enjoyable for kids of all ages. Try playing a two-minute song your child loves during brushing time — it helps them brush for the recommended time without having to watch the clock.
Dancing along or brushing together in front of the mirror can add extra fun and keep kids engaged. It’s a simple way to make oral hygiene for kids feel like a daily highlight instead of a hassle.
Create a Tooth Brushing Game
Looking for a tooth brushing game? Games help kids focus and make building strong kids’ oral hygiene habits feel exciting.
Make up a story about a superhero who must battle the cavity monsters with help from their toothbrush-sword. Or, if creating fairytale stories isn’t for you, bring the family together for a tooth brushing contest, testing who can brush for the full two minutes – the options are as endless as your imagination.
Use a Reward System
A little encouragement goes a long way in making brushing teeth fun and routine. Utilizing a reward system gives your child incentives to practice good oral hygiene habits.
Whether it’s stickers on a chart, or getting to pick the bedtime story, rewards can help make brushing feel like something to look forward to. A reward system doesn’t need to be complicated — choose incentives that fit your child’s age and what excites them.
Download a Kid-Friendly Brushing App
If you’re running out of ideas, try a free brushing app. For those looking to create a dance floor in their children’s bathroom, consider the BrushDJ app. Created by a dentist to help kids brush for two minutes, the app allows you to pick from a curated list of kid-friendly songs.
The Toothsavers App is perfect for kids who love to immerse themselves in story time. Your child enters a fairytale kingdom that an evil witch has cursed with cavities. With help from princesses and battles with pirates along the way, kids are awarded points for completing tooth brushing challenges.
Make Your Kid’s Oral Hygiene a Family Activity
You don’t have to stand by while your child brushes — brush together! Kids often learn by watching their parents, and making tooth brushing a family event helps them see it as part of daily life.
When the whole family practices good dental care together, it sets kids up for success and can help everyone stay on track.
Give Your Child Control Over Their Tooth Brushing Experience
Giving your child some control makes brushing more fun. Let them pick out a colorful toothbrush or a toothpaste flavor they love. You can also help them practice brushing on a stuffed animal or even on you (with supervision) to build their confidence.
Kids who feel involved are more likely to keep up good oral hygiene habits on their own.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Dental Visit
Discover more ways to make brushing teeth fun by scheduling an appointment with Lone Star Pediatric Dental & Braces today. Our team believes dental cleanings for kids in Austin, TX, are essential to building a healthy smile, and brushing your teeth can be a fun and engaging experience – both in the office and at home.
