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"Toothbrushing time used to be a real problem in my house. My son's dentist told me that I should be brushing 2 minutes each time. But, with my active 4-year-old son, 2 minutes is a really long time to stand still. So I asked some friends for ideas on how they were able to brush their child’s teeth for that amount of time. Below is the advice they gave me. 

My friend Gerald watches videos with his two kids. He said they get excited about brushing when they see their favorite characters doing the same. I, too, found a couple of short videos about brushing to watch once in a while.

Note: Watching videos is not recommended for children under 18 months. And, limiting screen time for children of all ages is important. Always watch an online video in full before showing it to your young child to make sure you know what they are watching.

My cousin told me to read books about brushing teeth. She gave me a list of books she put together after she got the idea from her dentist.  I went to the library with the list and there really are so many books about brushing! Below are a few that we read in our house. I always give my son a dry toothbrush to hold as I read a book about brushing. That way, toothbrush practice can happen during reading time!

Brush, Brush, Brush! by Alicia Padron

This board book is perfect for little ones in preschool and kindergarten. It uses cute pictures to show the most important steps of toothbrushing!

I Know Why I Brush My Teeth by Kate Rowan

In this story, a child and his mother talk about the child’s teeth and their experiences. The story begins with child excitement of realizing their tooth is loose. The conversation continues as they ask lots of questions about their teeth and the care of them!

Ready, Set, Brush! by Che Rudku

This is a choice Sesame Street fans will adore over and over again. It uses many of the loveable characters from the popular show. The reader learns about using toothpaste, visiting the dentist, and more. Bonus: It’s a pop-up book.

Deeper Dive

Explore this collection of even more toothbrushing books! This list will help you find a book for your child’s age group.

Following my sister’s advice, I let my son pick out his own toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and floss. This helped make brushing more fun. I discovered there are many kids' toothbrushes with small heads and soft or very soft bristles. They come in all kinds of colors and designs! I made sure that the toothbrush was the correct size for him and that it had soft bristles. (I checked the toothbrush and toothpaste labels to see what age group they were for.) And, I made sure to choose a toothpaste with fluoride!

My neighbor Tola told me about a fun idea they do with their child. First, they color a picture together. While they are coloring, they make up a story about the picture. Then, my neighbor tapes the picture to the bathroom wall. While Tola brushes their child's teeth each day, they re-tell the story they talked about while coloring. The picture also adds something fun to look at during toothbrush time! They color a new picture each week to switch things up.

This advice was helpful to me as I practiced brushing my child’s teeth 2 minutes each time. For us, these tips worked to make it more fun and less boring. I hope it helps you, too!" -Naomi, mom of 1

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“One of the best things our dentist gave us was a 2-minute plastic hourglass timer.  Kids love watching the sand go down and try to keep brushing until it's all gone!” -Deni, parent of 3