How to Lengthen Kids' Toothbrushing Time

Dampening the toothbrush, making a quick pass over her teeth -- kids have plenty of tricks to get out of really brushing their teeth. If your child is cutting short her tooth-brushing time, she misses out on the chance to clean her teeth properly. Brushing is a key way to maintain oral health. Lecturing likely won't get her to brush her teeth any longer. Using creative and child-friendly ways to encourage her brushing habits just may make her next trip to the dentist cavity-free.

Things You'll Need

  • Character toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Timer
  • Stickers

Instructions

    • 1

      Gear up for exciting brushing. A plain toothbrush won't do anything to get her excited about dental care. Let her pick out a toothbrush in her favorite color or with her favorite character on it. Toothbrushes that spin or light up also are available. While you're at the store, let her choose toothpaste in her favorite flavor so she actually wants to use it.

    • 2

      Supervise your child's teeth brushing so you see exactly how long and how well she brushes. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends parents supervise children until they reach about 7 to 8 years of age. Offer pointers as she brushes, and remind her to keep going if she tries to stop early.

    • 3

      Brush your own teeth since you're already in the bathroom. Your child may find it exciting to brush next to her parent. Model proper brushing and show her how long she should brush; when you stop, she can stop.

    • 4

      Set a time for two minutes if your child doesn't know how long to brush. That's the minimum time the American Dental Association recommends brushing. The timer tells her when she's done.

    • 5

      Hang a sticker chart in the bathroom if that's the sort of thing that motivates your child. Let her place a sticker on the chart each time she brushes her teeth for two minutes or longer.

    • 6

      Talk to your child about why she needs to brush for longer. Let her know she needs to brush thoroughly on all surfaces of her teeth to remove all of the plaque and food residue.

    • 7

      Ask her dentist to show her how to brush her teeth properly on the next visit. Ask him to emphasize the importance of how long she brushes. Hearing it from a professional helps back up your instructions.

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