Toothy tips to get your kids brushing

This story was written for our sponsor, North Carolina Dental Society.

If getting your toddler or elementary school-aged child to brush every day is a struggle, you're not alone.

Many parents and caregivers experience resistance, tantrums and flat out refusal from their children when it comes to the task. You know that brushing is fundamental to your child's overall health and hygiene, however, it can be like pulling teeth.

Here are five tips to help your kids better embrace brushing their teeth:

1. Turn Brush Time into Game Time

The benefits of a healthy hygiene routine are beyond a child's understanding at this stage. Rather, children tend to be motivated by fun and entertainment. The solution? Turn teeth brushing into a game.

Play a game of copycat and brush your teeth with your children, asking her to mimic what you do.

Another option is to sing songs about brushing or make up stories while your child brushes. Your child will come to look forward to hearing about the "foam monster" or to singing funny tunes about "brushing their teeth to keep them white and brushing their teeth so their smile is bright."

2. Let Your Child Brush Themselves (When Possible)

When a child is resistant, it can be intuitive to take over and brush your child's teeth for her. When possible, allow your child to take the lead when it comes to brushing her teeth.

"Children at this age are trying to assert their independence and want to do everything themselves," said Dr. Kerry Dove, a pediatric dentist in Concord, N.C. "Supervised brushing, when possible, is a great way to let your child brush her teeth more independently. This will help her feel like the task is her choice and responsibility, and get her into the routine of doing it herself."

Allowing your child to brush by herself may also lessen the discomfort that can occur when someone else is brushing another person's teeth. You cannot feel what your child feels, and any gum or tooth tenderness children experience when parents brush for them could be a reason for their aversion to tooth brushing time.

3. Create a Rewards System

Depending on your parental preferences, institute a reward system for when your child brushes her teeth for a certain number of days.

For instance, you can create a calendar chart where your child receives a sticker for each day that she brushes (bonus points if the stickers are dental-themed!). If your child earns 10 stickers, for example, they can receive an award like an extra bedtime story or a trip to the dollar store to pick out a prize.

The details of the reward system are up to your discretion, but turning teeth brushing time into a goal a child understands will help her get into the habit of good oral hygiene – hopefully without the tears and tantrums.

4. Get Them a Fun Toothbrush

It doesn't work for every child, but sometimes the key to successful brush time is as simple as having a fun toothbrush your child looks forward to using.

Whether your child is into action figures, Disney Princesses or even Legos, there's a toothbrush out there to suit your child's fancy. Even electric toothbrush companies like Philips Sonicare have child-themed toothbrushes.

5. Turn the Toothbrush into a Toy

Let your child play with her toothbrush. Have your child practice brushing on one of her stuffed animals or dolls, and then ask her to do the same on her own teeth.

Another way to turn the toothbrush into play is to help your child create and craft a fun toothbrush holder. Your child will view the toothbrush as a fun accessory to her toothbrush holder creation and look forward to using it each morning and night.

"At the end of the day, your child's oral health and hygiene is just as important as your own. Getting your child to brush his or her teeth can be a challenge, but it is important to get them into healthy habits early," Dove said. "Brushing helps fight cavities and prevents a whole host of other oral health issues. Hopefully, these tips will help make teeth brushing time better for the entire family."

This story was written for our sponsor, North Carolina Dental Society