Kids need to brush their teeth twice a day to maintain good oral health and reduce the risk of tooth decay. Baby teeth should be wiped or gently brushed as soon as they erupt and, from about 18 months,  they should be brushed twice a day. 

By age 3, your child will have their full set of 20 baby teeth. These aren’t permanent but they are important. Poor dental hygiene may mean your child loses their baby teeth earlier than they need to, which can sometimes cause problems with their teeth when they’re older. 

However, encouraging our kids to maintain good oral hygiene can be a challenge. As children grow up, teeth cleaning can feel like a chore or a way to assert some control – especially during the toddler years when your child’s favourite word seems to be ‘No!’ 

One way you can make teeth cleaning a little less of a chore is to incorporate fun and creative activities to make it an enjoyable part of their daily routine. 

Here are some great dental care games to get started with: 

1. Toothbrush treasure hunt 

• Set up clues around your house to different hiding spots. You could hide all the items needed for healthy brushing – like toothfloss and toothpaste. 
• Make the final clue lead to a new toothbrush – maybe in their favourite colour or with their favourite character on there. 
• Finish the treasure hunt with a clue which leads to the bathroom to brush their teeth. 

2. Brush dance party

• Make a playlist of their favourite songs and play them when brushing
  When the song changes, change the way you’re brushing (fast vs slow, top teeth vs bottom teeth). 
• You could create your own brush your teeth song together, or find one online to listen to. 

3. Brush like a superhero or princess 

• Create a list of the superpowers your child’s favourite characters have. For example,  Elsa might have super fast brushing powers, or Superman might have super strong brushing powers. 
• During their brushing routine, change who they’re pretending to be – “brush like Elsa” and now “brush like Olaf”. Let them come up with some of the superpowers to further include them in the game. 

4. Brushing relay 

• Get the whole family together for a brushing relay. 
• Find a spot near the bathroom to run to and from. 
• One person starts and runs to clean their teeth, and when they’re finished they pass the toothpaste baton to the next person.
• Cheer each other on while brushing! 

5. Sticker rewards 

• Give your child a sticker each time they clean their teeth. 
• Buy different stickers to make it exciting guessing which animal or person will be on the stickers next. 

6. Toothbrush art 

• Using some new toothbrushes, set up a painting station to practice brushing skills. 
• You could even draw some smiles to brush with paint or just practice the movement of brushing on a large canvas with beautiful colours. 

7. Mirror games 

• Using a whiteboard marker, draw some funny faces on the mirror to line up with your child’s face as they brush. 
• You could change the drawings throughout the brushing routine to keep them engaged and wondering what face will be next. 

Here are 12 other ways to make toothbrushing fun for kids. 

While it is fun to write teeth-brushing songs or create dental care games, it’s also important to remember why we’re doing it. Dental health is just as important as physical health for our kids. We check their growth and milestones, and we should also be checking their teeth. You can take your child to the dentist as soon as they get their first tooth, but aim to go before their second birthday. You may be eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) which can provide funds and cover costs of dental treatment. Find out more here.

Disclaimers:

All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. 1300Smiles can consult with you regarding your individual health needs.

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Dental health, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/health/dental-health, [Accessed 3 September 2024]
2. Teeth, Children 3 years and older, https://www.teeth.org.au/dental-care-for-kids#, [Accessed 3 September 2024]
3. Queensland Health, Your toddler’s first dental visit, https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/oral-health/visiting-the-dentist/your-childs-first-dental-visit#, [Accessed 12 August 2024.