How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Brushing Their Teeth

One of your most important jobs as a parent is helping your kids develop healthy habits, including teaching them how to care for their teeth. From the moment that adorable first tooth pops up, dental care must be part of their daily routine to ensure a healthy smile.  

However, as any parent will tell you, getting kids to regularly brush their teeth is like, well, pulling teeth. In one parent survey from Delta Dental, almost half said that getting their kids to brush their teeth is one of the hardest things they have to do each day. In fact, it’s easier to get kids to eat their vegetables and take care of their chores than it is to get them to clean their teeth¹.  

Why Brushing Can Be a Struggle for Kids

There are many reasons kids don’t like this task. Many find it boring or don’t realize how important it is to stay healthy and avoid painful issues like cavities. Others may not like the feeling of the bristles on their teeth and gums or the flavor of the toothpaste or water that comes through the tap. Some might also find it painful or simply dislike the feeling of having something in their mouth. 

Even if your kids hate to brush, it’s an essential part of a daily routine. Research from the CDC associates poor oral health with a host of issues, including problems eating and speaking, lower grades, poor school attendance, and social isolation². You want to keep them healthy and happy, so if you’re having trouble getting your kids to make oral hygiene a habit, try these tips on how to get kids to brush their teeth every day. 

What You Can Do to Make Tooth Brushing Fun 

Getting your kids into a daily brushing routine that involves cleaning their pearly whites for two minutes and rinsing properly doesn’t have to be a battle. The earlier you start teaching them how to brush and the more fun you make it, the more likely they will carry the habits throughout their lives.  

Most kids need help, or at least supervision, until they are 10. Little ones cannot thoroughly clean their teeth independently, while older kids are more likely to miss spots or not brush long enough. You might not need to hold the brush for them, but you should stay close by to make sure they do it well.  

The key to avoiding arguments and tantrums from kids brushing their teeth is to make it a lighthearted experience. Avoid creating fear—like telling them that all their teeth will rot or fall out if they don’t brush—and make the experience positive. You can do this by:

• Letting them pick out their toothbrush.

• Using toothpaste with a kid-friendly flavor and texture; most adult formulas are too intense or “spicy” for small children.

• Playing music to help the two minutes pass faster. Many popular characters and kid-friendly artists have songs designed for this purpose. 

• Turning tooth brushing into a game. Challenge your kids to brush their top and bottom teeth and their tongue until a timer goes off. 

• Brushing your teeth at the same time. Modeling good oral hygiene is one of the best ways to help your kids develop healthy habits. 

• Creating a chart to track every time they brush and rewarding them at the end of the week if they brush every morning and evening.  

Being patient and making tooth brushing a positive experience are the keys to keeping kids on track with their dental care. The sooner you start, the more likely it is that brushing their teeth will be second nature. 

Keep Your Family’s Teeth Even Healthier With Clean Water 

Some kids resist brushing their teeth because the water coming from the tap doesn’t smell or taste good. The American Dental Association notes that water is the best thing you can drink for healthy teeth, but you could have an even harder time getting your kids to follow healthy oral hygiene habits if they don’t like the water that’s available to them³.  

Installing a faucet filter can help make brushing more pleasant and encourage your family to drink more water. Two-stage water filtration using both a carbon block and micro mesh helps reduce contaminants in the water, including the hydrogen sulfide that makes H20 smell and taste bad. Tested to exceed NSF 42 standards, the faucet water filter effectively reduces chlorine, odors, and contaminants as small as a single micron.

A device that also directs the waterspout upward, making it easier to sip and thoroughly rinse after brushing, also helps simplify the process for kids.

If daily brushing is a headache for your little ones, then you'll love what's next from Canopy. Make sure you're on our email list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to be among the first to know.

Sources

1. Delta Dental Survey Says Parents Have Harder Time Getting Kids to Brush than to Eat Vegetables. Delta Dental Massachusetts. Retrieved February 18, 2025, from https://deltadentalma.com/about-us/press-releases/2015/delta-dental-survey-says-parents-have-harder-time

2. Oral Health for Children and Adolescents: How Can You Help? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 18, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-schools/media/pdfs/P4HS_OralHealth_1.pdf

3. 4 Reasons Water Is the Best Beverage for Your Teeth. American Dental Association MouthHealthy. Retrieved February 18, 2025, from https://www.mouthhealthy.org/nutrition/water-best-beverage