How to Teach Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Teaching your child to brush his or her teeth is very important. Regular and thorough brushing is essential for preventing tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, and even bad breath. While good habits and proper techniques are essential, when it comes to teaching kids how to brush, try to make the whole task fun and not a chore!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Habit of Healthy Teeth

  1. Start cleaning your child’s gums even before he or she has any teeth. [1] It will help keep his/her mouth and gums healthy and it sets a pattern of oral care for both of you.
    • Use a damp, soft cloth or gauze pad, or buy an infant gum brush/massager, and gently wipe the gumline. [2]
    • Begin brushing as soon as a tooth appears. Use a soft brush; many experts advise using a rice grain-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, but you can at least start by just wetting the brush. You can also get a special flavored toothpaste that is meant for babies.
  2. You will have many other opportunities to use the “Do as I say, not as I do” method of parenting. Practice good oral health care yourself and let your child know this is important for everyone.
    • Brush your teeth with your child. Let your child feel like he or she is helping to keep you on the right track as well.
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  3. It is recommended that a child visit the dentist by age 1 or within 6 months of the first tooth appearance, whichever comes first. [3]
    • Bring your child to 1 of your appointments, or that of an older sibling, cousin, or friend. [4] Ask the dentist to let your child observe what happens at a dental checkup. Your child may be more receptive to hearing why healthy teeth are so important from the person in the white coat with all the fancy tooth gadgets.
    • Find books or videos about visiting the dentist. Help them be more familiar and less frightened.
  4. Have your child brush his/her teeth at the same times each day. Attach it to other normal tasks -- for instance, brushing right before pajamas come off in the morning and as soon as they go on in the evening. Make it seem very ordinary (yet important).
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Teaching the Right Way to Brush

  1. The accepted goal for tooth-brushing, for both children and adults, is 2 times daily for 2 minutes each time. [5]
    • The odds are probably good that even if you do brush your own teeth twice daily, you don’t do it for 2 minutes each time. Remember that what’s good for kids’ teeth is good for yours as well -- and you don’t get a replacement set! [6]
    • Try singing a fun time each time you brush your child’s teeth to help them brush for the correct amount of time.
  2. A rice grain sized amount of toothpaste is recommended for children under 3, and a pea-sized amount for kids ages 3-6. While you should emphasize the need to spit out toothpaste, swallowing this small amount is harmless.
    • There are fluoride toothpastes formulated specifically for infants and toddlers. The often have fruit flavors (and cartoon characters on the packaging) that appeal to kids.
  3. Show them how to start the brush at a 45-degree angle against the gum line, then clean the front (and back) of each tooth with short, round strokes. Brush the biting/chewing surface of each tooth with short, sweeping strokes. [7]
    • Don’t expect miracles when it comes to a kid’s brushing technique, but do emphasize the importance of cleaning all surfaces of each tooth, as well as the gumline. It is also good practice to brush the tongue to remove germs and improve bad breath.
    • Also, stress the importance of spitting out the remaining toothpaste when finished. Tell them that even though the paste still tastes fruity-yummy, it is now yucky from cleaning off the teeth and needs to go down the drain.
    • Demonstrate on a doll or stuffed animal with teeth that can be “brushed” utilizing the correct methods.
    • You can also read your child books or show them videos on proper brushing technique. Try checking on Youtube.
  4. Most kids love to show how “big” they are by trying to do things all by themselves. When you feel comfortable putting the brush in your child’s hands, do so but supervise carefully. Hold your hand over his/hers to start if that helps.
    • If you are concerned about the quality of your child’s brushing, try taking turns -- he or she brushes all by herself in the morning, you do the work at night, for instance. [8]
  5. Yes, your child will likely squeeze toothpaste everywhere and make a big mess repeatedly. Focus on instilling the right habits and demonstrating the right techniques, and allow time for your child to develop the skill and dedication to brush correctly and regularly. Really, it’s just like anything else you try to teach a child -- patience is a virtue!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making Brushing Fun

  1. Store shelves are full of kids’ toothbrushes, toothpaste, rinse cups, etc., with princesses, race cars, and the like plastered on them. Take kids shopping and allow them to pick their favorites. If it helps them enjoy brushing a little more, a branded toothbrush is worth the extra cost versus a generic 1.
    • It is recommended that kids’ toothbrushes be replaced every 3-4 months (or sooner, if the bristles are frayed), [9] so you will have many opportunities to shop for supplies.
  2. Sing or play a song that takes about 2 minutes so they know how long to brush. Songs made specifically for kids’ tooth-brushing can be found online, and there are gadgets available that play music, blow bubbles, and do various other things to pass the 2 minutes. An old-fashioned egg timer works in a pinch as well.
  3. Most kids like a good competition, and especially winning, and most especially besting Mom or Dad. Take their minds off the drudgery of brushing.
    • Have a brushing competition between you and your child. Count the brush strokes and see who can do the most in 2 minutes.
    • See who can make the foamiest mouth out of that pea-sized amount of toothpaste. This is liable to end up making a messy sink, so also have a clean-up contest afterward.
    • Say a sentence while brushing your teeth. Your opponent must guess what you are saying.
  4. There are numerous websites dedicated to helping kids brush better, and they often offer games, video clips, printable charts to keep track of tooth-brushing, and other resources. Some of them make use of favorite kids’ characters as well.
    • For instance, if your toddler likes Sesame Street, there is a “Healthy Teeth Toolkit” site that would appeal to him/her.
  5. Let’s face it, kids like being rewarded. And the promise of the reward of a lifetime of healthy teeth probably won’t cut it. Some call it bribery, but most parents end up calling it a necessity.
    • Print out or draw up a weekly chart, with 2 spots for each day to be filled in when the child brushes. Write an agreed-upon reward on the chart, to be earned if each space is filled in successfully. Give the kid a visual representation of the goal and his/her progress toward it.
    • Let the Tooth Fairy help you out. Tell your child that the Tooth Fairy only brings rewards for healthy, clean teeth that have fallen out -- or at least that the rewards are better for pearly whites.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I get a young child to brush their teeth longer?
    Tu Anh Vu, DMD
    Board Certified Dentist
    Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
    Tu Anh Vu, DMD
    Board Certified Dentist
    Expert Answer
    One thing you can do is pick a fun song that your child loves and play it for at least two minutes while they brush. This way, you can set a kind of fun timer for them to brush their teeth. Also, make sure you're supervising them while they brush. Sometimes a little accountability and encouragement is all you need!
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      References

      1. ↑ Alina Lane, DDS. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-care-for-your-babys-gums-and-emerging-teeth_126.bc
      3. ↑ Alina Lane, DDS. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.
      4. ↑ http://2min2x.org/kids-healthy-mouths/
      5. ↑ Alina Lane, DDS. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.
      6. ↑ http://2min2x.org/kids-healthy-mouths/
      7. ↑ http://orajel.com/en/Resource-Center/Learning-to-Brush/Brushing-Correctly
      8. ↑ http://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler-health/learning-to-brush-teeth.aspx
      9. ↑ http://2min2x.org/kids-healthy-mouths/

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