Children love to play, but most don’t like to clean. Getting a child to bathe or brush their teeth can be frustratingly difficult for many parents. If you have kids who don't want to brush their teeth, you're not alone. Plenty of parents are in the same boat.
Kids who don’t brush their teeth run the risk of developing bothersome dental issues, including early childhood cavities and problems with their bite. So, what do you do if you have kids who won’t brush their teeth? First, you have to understand why.
It's easy to get kids to brush their teeth once you pinpoint the reason they're not doing it. Most of the time, kids who don't brush are simply not into the habit and need encouragement. While this is relatively common, there are other, more serious reasons why kids won't brush their teeth.
Small children shouldn't brush with adult toothbrushes. Adult toothbrushes are rigid and may cause injury to your child’s growing teeth and developing gums. In addition, small tears in the gums can allow bacteria to breach the gum line. These bacteria can then multiply, resulting in gum inflammation and bleeding.
When left untreated, this condition can develop into gum disease. The U.S. Department of Health's Head Start program recommends using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on a soft-bristle toothbrush to reduce this risk.
If your child complains of pain when eating cold or hot foods, they might have tooth sensitivity. This can cause discomfort when they are brushing or flossing their teeth. The most common cause of tooth sensitivity is early-stage tooth decay — or cavities.
A cavity is caused by plaque buildup on the surface of your child’s tooth. Harmful bacteria breed on the surface, ingesting plaque and secreting acids. If not brushed away, these acids eat into the tooth's enamel, causing discoloration and pain. Other causes of tooth sensitivity are an injury to the tooth and bruxism (tooth grinding). Children with an open bite from thumb sucking have an increased risk of developing bruxism, as do children with other forms of tooth misalignment.
If you ask a pediatric dentist how to get your kid to brush their teeth, they might recommend using a soft toothbrush — especially if your child is still growing permanent teeth. When permanent teeth are erupting, your child will develop tender gums and find it painful to brush. This process will continue until your child grows all 32 of their adult teeth, usually by age thirteen.
Are your kids brushing their teeth with a grimace? It may be that your child doesn't like the taste of their toothpaste. Strong mint toothpaste may taste bitter or overpowering to children with a developing palate.
If you’ve been up researching “how to get kids to brush their teeth," you might have seen all kinds of suggestions, everything from giving them treats to using sweetened toothpaste. But, using sugar or other sweeteners to get them to brush can accelerate tooth decay.
Sugary drinks and sweets account for most childhood caries, which currently affect one in two children between the ages of 6 and 8. There are more effective ways to encourage kids who don’t brush their teeth to start brushing.
Kids who don’t brush their teeth risk malocclusion (tooth misalignment) and tooth decay. This can result in early tooth loss and painful cavities. Reduce your child’s risk by rewarding them for brushing. Offer gifts when they reach a milestone like brushing three days in a row or brushing for an entire week.
If your child has painful gums due to adult teeth growing in, minimize the pain by rubbing an over-the-counter oral numbing agent on their gums. This will block the pain, allowing your child to brush their teeth without discomfort.
The American Dental Association recommends getting kids to brush their teeth with two minutes of fun twice a day. Each time your child brushes their teeth, play their favorite song for two minutes or read them a story in a funny narrator’s voice.
Are your kids brushing their teeth regularly? Although it can be tempting to give your child a break by allowing them to skip brushing after they’ve had a busy day, keep them on schedule. Encouraging a regular daily brushing routine will keep them on track. Letting them skip too many days or too many sessions of brushing could cause them to develop poor dental hygiene.
Fun cartoon sing-alongs about brushing teeth may be just what you need for a kid who doesn't brush their teeth. Cartoons like "Sesame Street" feature videos that encourage children to brush. Turn this on while your child is brushing to encourage them through the two minutes.
Make up an exciting story about kids brushing their teeth. One way to get children to brush their teeth is by making them the star of their own story. The hero brushes their teeth, and then they're transported to an exciting place. Allow your child to choose the ending if they like.
Brushing your teeth together can inspire your child to stick to a schedule. Make it a family affair. Mouth Healthy — a part of the American Dental Association — states that a family who brushes together has even more reason to smile.
Are your kids brushing their teeth with the right toothpaste? Fluoride toothpaste for kids may be a better option for those who don’t like to brush. These toothpastes are flavored, so they’re more palatable to children.
There's no foolproof way to get kids to brush their teeth. The best place to start is by talking to your children.
Ask them why they don’t like brushing their teeth and work together to find the best resolution. If you have kids who don't brush their teeth twice a day, explain why it is so important.
Finally, if your child complains of any sensitivity or pain when brushing, take them to see a pediatric dentist. Tooth decay in children isn’t always easy to see. A dentist can use radiographic imaging — X-rays — to look for signs. In its early stages, appropriate treatment for childhood tooth decay is regular dental visits along with brushing and flossing twice a day. The dentist will discuss further interventions like fluoride treatments if necessary. They can also help you discover how to get your kids to brush their teeth if they continuously refuse.
