What’s the Best Way to Teach My Child to Regularly Brush Their Teeth?

Getting kids to brush their own teeth consistently is one of the first big parenting battles many parents face. You know it’s important for your child’s health and independence, but just because it’s worth the struggle doesn’t mean it’s easy!

The good news is that there are lots of strategies you can use to overcome the resistance and instill good oral hygiene habits while your kids are still young. Start by trying these four tricks from our team.

1. Set a Good Example

Kids are more observant than you might think. If they hear you saying brushing is important but never see you doing it yourself, they won’t take your words seriously. They’ll follow your lead and brush inconsistently – if you can get them to brush at all.

Instead of coaxing them to brush with words, lead by example. Brush your own teeth in front of your child, even if you know you’ll need to do it again later. You’ll show them that brushing really is important and can even demonstrate what good technique looks like. Plus, kids love to copy adults’ behaviour. Wanting to feel like a grown-up might be enough motivation to get some kids to take their oral hygiene seriously.

2. Build a Consistent Routine

Kids thrive on routine. Incorporate brushing time into your child’s morning and bedtime routines, making sure to do it around the same time every day (ideally just after waking up and just before bed).

Doing this helps kids internalize that brushing is part of standard daily grooming, just like bathing and fixing their hair. Don’t let them skip brushing if they’re tired or frustrated, even if it means waking them up or risking a meltdown. It only takes two minutes and will reinforce the idea that this is a non-negotiable task.

3. Invest in Fun Oral Hygiene Products

Kids love fun flashy products, and oral hygiene companies know it. Get your child excited to brush with goodies like:

• Flavoured toothpastes (they come in everything from watermelon and strawberry to marshmallow and vanilla ice cream)
• Electric toothbrushes with their favourite cartoon characters on them
• Brushing timers that light up and play a few bars of music when two minutes have passed

There are also lots of colourful flavoured floss picks on the market if you’re working on getting your kids to floss. Don’t fret if they’re not ready for that yet, though. It’s better to get them brushing independently first before adding an extra step to their oral hygiene routine.

4. Implement a Rewards System

If you’re really having trouble getting brushing habits to stick, try tying brushing to a fun reward (one that doesn’t involve sugar, of course). For example, you might let your child read for an extra ten minutes before bed, place a sticker on a special habit tracking chart, or let them choose a small toy from a treasure box after a week of consistent brushing.

Try not to do this for more than a few months at most – you don’t want your child to see brushing as a transactional activity in the long run. In the early days, though, giving kids extra incentive to brush can break down some of their initial resistance. You have to start somewhere, and those early wins are crucial for establishing long-term habits.

Let’s Work on Your Child’s Oral Health Together

Getting kids to brush takes patience, time, and maybe a little trickery, but stick with it: you’ll get results eventually. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to start looking for a great dentist for your child’s cleanings and checkups.

Our staff at Coscarella Dentistry love working with kids and would be happy to see your youngster at our office. Contact us today to enroll your child as a patient and let us help you set them up for good oral health for life.