Brushing teeth throughouly is hard. Brushing someone else’s teeth – while they cry, wiggle, and whine is even harder! Oral hygeine is so important for your child’s overall health, yet it can be so difficult to take care of them properly when your child wants nothing to do with it. Luckily, this ultimate roundup of tooth brushing tips for children is packed full of games, crafts and products designed to make this task much easier.
I tried to introduce brushing teeth fairly earlier to my kids (under a year). And although it’s started out as fairly easy, it quickly became a nightmare when entering the toddler years. My son would fight, wiggle, cry, scream and runaway just to avoid the toothbrush. There were even a few times we had to hold him down to do it (Which felt so disrespectful!). Luckily, we’ve made use of quite a few of the ideas below and toothbrushing time is so much easier now (no screaming!).
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Tooth Brushing Tips for Children
Brushing
Actually getting a toothbrush into a toddler or young child’s mouth is often the most difficult part of the process. Getting my toddler to open his mouth can sometimes feel like (excuse the pun), pulling teeth! Making teeth brushing fun with these games and activities can make the whole process a lot easier for both of you.
- How to Make Teeth Brushing Fun for Toddlers
- How to Brush Your Child’s Teeth Without the Annoying Tantrum
- Toddler Trick to Brush Their Teeth
- Animal Hunt Game
- Number One Trick for Getting My Toddler to Brush Her Teeth4 Comments on My Number One Trick for Getting My Toddler to Brush Her Teeth
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Sometimes have a toothbrush in a fun color or shape can make all the difference! For toothpaste, minty flavors can be strong and harsh on tiny tastebuds, choose a fun fruit flavor instead! Here are some of our top picks for toothbrushes and toothpaste.
- SmileFrida the Tooth Hugger
- Radius TOTZ Toothbrush
- Preserve Recycled Toothbrush
- Wowe Kids Natural Organic Bamboo Toothbrush
- Jordan Step 1 Baby Toothbrush
- Natural Bamboo Toothbrush with Charcoal Bristles
- Dr. Brown’s Elephant Toothbrush
- The Brushies Toddler Toothbrush & Story Set
- Green Sprouts Silicon Toothbrush
- Jack N’ Jill Silicon Toothbrush
- Tom’s of Maine Toddler Toothbrush Set
- Tom’s of Maine Strawberry Toothpaste with Flouride
- Earth’s Best Strawberry Banana Toddler Toothpaste
- Jack N’ Jill Flouride Free Toothpaste
- Hello Apple Toddler Training Toothpaste
- Babyganics Strawberry Toothpaste – Flouride Free
- DIY Kid Friendly Strawberry Toothpaste
- DIY Kid Friendly Creamsicle Toothpaste
Bathroom Accessories
A few changes that allow your toddler independance in the bathroom can make a huge difference! Try:
- Teeth Brushing Chart for Kids
- DIY Glitter Toothbrush Times
- Battat Mint Wooden Stepstool
- Faucet Extenders
Learning & Games
Take brushing teeth out of the bathroom and share the importance of dental health with these fun games.
- Tooth Brushing Sensory Play Craft
- Toothbrush Water Play
- Flossing Activity for Preschoolers
- Brush Away Alphabet Teeth
- Looking After Our Teeth
- Toothpaste Slime
- Dental Health Sensory Play
It may not always be easy, but brushing your child’s teeth is vital to their overall health. These tooth brushing tips for children is just the beginning though. What did you find worked for you and your child?
