Getting your kids to brush can be like pulling teeth (see what I did there?). A friend of mine with 3 kids, all under the age of 8 told me she has to use “white lies” to encourage them to brush. These white lies range from telling one child that moss will grow on their teeth, to telling another that, “teeth trolls with hammers will break up your teeth if you don’t brush them out of there.”

So, besides telling white lies to get kids to brush, here are 5 other ways to help get those kids brushing and help you avoid pulling teeth… figuratively and literally.

1. Brush your teeth at the same time   

You are your child’s greatest teacher. Watching you brush your teeth with them will help set them up for a lifetime of good oral habits.

2. Make brushing a game

There are tons of games online as well as apps for your mobile devices that make brushing fun for kids. You can find a bunch of games by clicking here.

3. Let your kids watch a video

Use two-minute videos to help encourage you kids to brush for the proper amount of time. You want them to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. You can find two-minute videos for kids here.

4. Let your kids choose their toothpaste

There are many different kids of toothpaste made for little ones. They range in flavor from bubble gum to strawberry smash and feature characters like Disney Princesses, Transformers and Dora the Explorer. Getting kid excited about what toothpaste they use will make the nighttime chore all the more easier.

5. Let your kids choose their toothbrush

Now you still want to have them use an ADA approved toothbrush but still, there are tons of color and characters to choose from that will make brushing fun for youngsters.

Whichever way you use to get your kids to brush remember to encourage them to use the correct technique, which is a circular motion (not up and down) for two minutes each time. Do that twice a day and visit your dentist twice a year and your kids smile will be beaming bright.