Three Ways to Get Your Kids to Brush at Bedtime

Parents, the struggle is real, even for us dentists. After a long day of work, play, grocery shopping, perhaps school, and even a few meltdowns, it can be a battle to get our kids to brush their chompers. 

Picture this, my 3 year old is tired, cranky and the last thing she wants to do is to brush her teeth. I might be chasing after her with a toothbrush, and doing my best to keep my cool so by some miracle we’ll have a positive experience. Sound familiar? Of course it does. 

Without geeking out too much on oral biology, it turns out proper and routine brushing in the first few years of life is crucial for ideal oral health into adulthood. Dealing with this issue is one of the most common consult requests I get from moms, and dads, in my clinic and at birthday parties alike. 

Allow me to share three quick and effective tips you can use to get your kids to brush before bedtime. 

Keep a simple routine, like this one, Bath, Book, Brush, Bed! In the Shahangian residence, our night time routine is called Bath, Book, Brush, Bed. With kids, you have to set the expectations, and make every task exciting. 

We don’t simply say.”it’s bedtime”. Our routing becomes a fun event that the entire family partakes in. It works because the whole family understands the lingo, “it’s time for Bath Book Brush Bed”. 

This order of events helps our girls slow down and get into a positive mood as we transition into bed (and reading, and brushing).  The name gives them a clear understanding of what’s expected and helps empower them to some degree, which is so important for kids as they grow.

With a routine, A child that knows what to expect tends to respond better and may not force their will as much. You know what sequence works best for your family. You want that sequence named and carried out minimizing variation. So, the order or even which parent does what part of the sequence should be kept routine as much as possible.

Take it to them. On the more difficult nights, this tip has saved my wife and I from a lot of arguments with our kids. When the girls fall asleep in the car, one of them is sick, or simply not having a great day, I literally bring the toothbrush and floss to her bedside. 

We do our best to keep our brushing and flossing routine the same, but instead of brushing in the bathroom, we use a small amount of toothpaste with a paper towel for them to spit into afterwards. I basically brush them as they are already laying down in bed. 

The lighting may not be so good, but when you brush their teeth laying down you actually get a better vantage point and control of that unwilling or tired head. This way, you can get in, get scrubbing, and get out in no time. 

The good news is, you’ll be leaving a coat of toothpaste over their enamel since they won’t be rinsing and spitting. There you go, meltdown intercepted, with a little flexibility on my part. 

Hang a Calendar. Keeping a brushing calendar in your child’s room or bathroom can make a big impact. With a quick Google search you’ll find plenty of free printables — we use this one in our house. Brush calendars provide kids with a visual cue, help them to see their progress toward a goal or reward. Not to mention that placing a sticker on the calendar after brushing gives the little ones a sense of empowerment.

There you have it, three ways to help your kids, and you, have a peaceful and positive bedtime brushing experience. 

Which will you start incorporating tonight? J. Shahangian, DDS, MS, is a breastfeeding advocate, board certified pediatric dentist, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Oral Health. He practices in his hometown of San Diego at Scripps Pediatric Dentistry (SPD) and is an associate professor in pediatric dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Shahanigan is also on staff at Rady Children’s Hospital and is a proud father of three girls. Follow SPD on Instagram @scrippspediatricdemtistry and check out his Blog.​


177 Comments

  1. Nia218 says:

    Join our affiliate program and watch your earnings skyrocket—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/ASXri

    Reply
  2. Alfredo4663 says:

    Get paid for every referral—enroll in our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/7fLkK

    Reply
  3. Dina4186 says:

    Apply now and receive dedicated support for affiliates! https://shorturl.fm/XxXWQ

    Reply
  4. Brantley4009 says:

    Unlock exclusive rewards with every referral—enroll now! https://shorturl.fm/MSTLR

    Reply
  5. Miley2428 says:

    Earn passive income this month—become an affiliate partner and get paid! https://shorturl.fm/7kWGT

    Reply
  6. Andres2067 says:

    Boost your profits with our affiliate program—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/DSg18

    Reply
  7. Isabel3752 says:

    Promote our products and earn real money—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/O32Kb

    Reply
  8. Sylvia226 says:

    Monetize your traffic instantly—enroll in our affiliate network! https://shorturl.fm/sZrJm

    Reply
  9. Elise2020 says:

    Earn recurring commissions with each referral—enroll today! https://shorturl.fm/1pLja

    Reply
  10. Austin2696 says:

    Boost your income—enroll in our affiliate program today! https://shorturl.fm/B8oBf

    Reply
  11. Breanna3464 says:

    Drive sales, earn commissions—apply now! https://shorturl.fm/LEhE8

    Reply
  12. Julie2021 says:

    Become our affiliate—tap into unlimited earning potential! https://shorturl.fm/51lMT

    Reply
  13. Ralph307 says:

    Earn passive income this month—become an affiliate partner and get paid! https://shorturl.fm/T8rWs

    Reply
  14. Adelyn1713 says:

    Share your unique link and cash in—join now! https://shorturl.fm/rMEk0

    Reply
  15. Harlan2646 says:

    Join our affiliate community and maximize your profits—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/pGwoF

    Reply
  16. June2972 says:

    Share our products, earn up to 40% per sale—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/y7PGQ

    Reply
  17. Bentley2672 says:

    Join our affiliate program and start earning commissions today—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/n7DM7

    Reply
  18. Noah1772 says:

    Refer friends, collect commissions—sign up now! https://shorturl.fm/fmnEx

    Reply
  19. Erica3708 says:

    Sign up and turn your connections into cash—join our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/NjWNH

    Reply
  20. Elsa952 says:

    Share your link, earn rewards—sign up for our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/06hSt

    Reply
  21. Calvin4606 says:

    Share your link and rake in rewards—join our affiliate team! https://shorturl.fm/pN1ef

    Reply
  22. Sylvia4395 says:

    Turn your traffic into cash—join our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/5sR4O

    Reply
  23. Shawn2954 says:

    Share our offers and watch your wallet grow—become an affiliate! https://shorturl.fm/g5h3w

    Reply
  24. Aylin2907 says:

    Join forces with us and profit from every click! https://shorturl.fm/KlqXC

    Reply
  25. Beatrice412 says:

    Your influence, your income—join our affiliate network today! https://shorturl.fm/Mo59J

    Reply
  26. Sebastian3120 says:

    Drive sales, earn commissions—apply now! https://shorturl.fm/8KN4U

    Reply
  27. Flora4125 says:

    Apply now and receive dedicated support for affiliates! https://shorturl.fm/aslVc

    Reply
  28. Payton3601 says:

    Become our affiliate—tap into unlimited earning potential! https://shorturl.fm/0VJUQ

    Reply
  29. Janelle1620 says:

    Start earning passive income—become our affiliate partner! https://shorturl.fm/dDEmw

    Reply
  30. Lillian463 says:

    Share your link and rake in rewards—join our affiliate team! https://shorturl.fm/XkHcE

    Reply
  31. Imelda511 says:

    Partner with us for generous payouts—sign up today! https://shorturl.fm/ojanI

    Reply
  32. Coraline2274 says:

    Join our affiliate community and maximize your profits! https://shorturl.fm/SottY

    Reply
  33. Kevin3812 says:

    Start earning passive income—join our affiliate network today! https://shorturl.fm/Jjl1k

    Reply
  34. Braxton3048 says:

    Unlock exclusive affiliate perks—register now! https://shorturl.fm/ycD4e

    Reply
  35. Theresa1989 says:

    Drive sales, earn big—enroll in our affiliate program! https://shorturl.fm/15bBO

    Reply
  36. Jane865 says:

    Join our affiliate community and earn more—register now! https://shorturl.fm/aLIgr

    Reply
  37. Norma473 says:

    Monetize your influence—become an affiliate today! https://shorturl.fm/jP0DU

    Reply
  38. Neal3667 says:

    Tap into unlimited earning potential—become our affiliate partner! https://shorturl.fm/dOySM

    Reply
  39. Reed3195 says:

    Join our affiliate program today and earn generous commissions! https://shorturl.fm/h7rFB

    Reply
  40. Carly4856 says:

    Boost your profits with our affiliate program—apply today! https://shorturl.fm/cfLua

    Reply

Leave a Comment to Katie2918

Powered by WordPress | Deadline Theme : An AWESEM design