How to make brushing teeth fun for kids
Match the game to the part of brushing that goes wrong, and keep a few in reserve for when the first one gets old.
Quick answer
Match the game to the part that goes wrong: opening wide, reaching the back teeth, lasting two minutes, or starting without a fight. The AAP lists brushing along to a favourite song, taking turns brushing each other's teeth and using a children's brushing app among its ideas. Give your child a small job, like picking the song or running the timer, and keep a few games in reserve, because every one of them wears off.
"Make it fun" is easy advice to give and hard to follow at the end of a long day. It helps to match the game to the thing that goes wrong. Some children won't open wide, some skip the back teeth, some give up after a few seconds, and some fight before the brush is out of the cup. Each needs a different game, and none of the ones below needs anything bought.
Be ready for the letdown, too. No game works for every child, every game wears off, and some only work once. That's normal.
Games that cost nothing
The NHS says not to let children run around with a brush in their mouth. So for every game, keep the brush out until they're at the sink or sitting down, and keep it there. The ages below are rough, and children vary.
| Game | Ages it suits | What it helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Hop to the sink like a frog, brush goes in when you get there | 2 to 5 | Starting without a fight. |
| Brush a teddy's teeth first | 2 to 5 | Starting without a fight. The child sees what's coming and is in charge of it for a bit. |
| Roar like a lion, then brush | 2 to 6 | Opening wide. |
| Swap turns, you brush theirs and they brush yours | 3 to 7 | Starting without a fight (the AAP lists taking turns). |
| Brush along to a favourite song | 2 and up | Lasting two minutes (the AAP lists songs). |
| Brush your own teeth side by side | 2 to 8 | Starting without a fight, and lasting two minutes. |
| A four-chapter story, one chapter for each part of the mouth | 3 to 8 | Lasting two minutes, and reaching the back teeth. |
| Bumpy road, drive the brush along the chewing surfaces | 3 to 7 | Back teeth. |
| Mirror detective, the child says where the brush is | 4 to 8 | Back teeth, and seeing where the brush is (the NHS suggests a mirror). |
| Beat the timer, top teeth done by the halfway mark | 5 to 10 | Lasting two minutes. |
For the four-chapter story, make up one short chapter for each part of the mouth and move on when that half-minute is up. The guide on how long kids should brush explains the four-part split. For the lion roar, roar first and let your child copy you, with the brush ready for when their mouth is open. For the bumpy road, the tops of the back teeth are the road and the brush is the car that has to drive the whole length of it.
For mirror detective, your child holds the mirror and calls out where the brush is, and you guess wrong now and then so they can correct you. A child who is busy correcting a grown-up tends to stay at the sink.
Give your child a job
A child with a job has less reason to treat brushing as something being done to them. Let them pick the song, run the timer, call the halfway point or decide which part goes first. Many fights start before the brush comes out, so give the choice at the door, like song first or timer first, with both options ending at the sink.
Choosing the brush is another job. The ADA says to use a soft brush and to replace it every 3 to 4 months or when the bristles fray, so offer two soft ones and let them choose.
A job goes alongside your help. The AAP says most children need help until about age 8, and the NHS has children aged 3 to 6 brushing while you supervise. So a child can be the brusher and the timer-keeper, and you do the checking. If they insist on doing it all themselves, let them go first and take a turn after.
Rotate, because novelty wears off
Expect each idea to carry you for a few nights, and some for one. That doesn't mean the idea was bad or that you used it wrong. What helps is having the next one ready before the current one flops.
A rotation that takes a few minutes to set up looks like this.
- Write down three or four games from the table on a sticky note inside the bathroom cabinet, picking ones that fit what goes wrong for your child.
- Use the first until the eye-rolling starts or they ask to skip it.
- Swap to the next one without announcing it. Start it as if it had always been there.
- Bring an old game back after a break, because it can feel new again.
- Keep the basics the same underneath, with the same time, place and order each night.
A children's brushing app is on the AAP's list too, and it can be one more thing in the rotation.
Germ Chase is a brushing game for iPhone, for kids aged 3 to 10. The front camera follows your child while they brush, germs on a cartoon mouth pop as they brush the part the game calls out, and every brush ends in the Prize Park.
When to talk to your dentist
Talk to your dentist if your child seems to be in pain or has a sore spot or bleeding gums. The same goes for spots, dark or discoloured teeth, a damaged tooth or an injury. And talk to them if games and routines get nowhere because your child can't tolerate brushing at all.
Questions parents ask
Do I need a new game every night?
No. One that still works is enough. Rotate only when it goes flat.
What if the game gets silly and the brushing stops?
Go back to the basics for the night, with the child at the sink or sitting down, the brush in and the timer on. The game can come back tomorrow.
Can my child brush on their own once it's fun?
The NHS says that from 3 to 6 the child brushes while you supervise. From 7 they can brush on their own, with you watching that they brush properly for about 2 minutes. A game doesn't change who does the checking. For children under 3, the NHS has the parent doing the brushing, and our guide for toddlers who refuse covers that stage.
Sources
Germ Chase shares general information, not medical advice. For questions about your child's teeth, talk to your dentist.
