Brushing Teeth

Purpose:
Most kids will do anything to get out of brushing their teeth, especially when there is always something more exciting to do. This activity will help motivate your child to brush, promoting good oral hygiene and making your nighttime routine much easier.

Activity Instructions:
Brushing teeth is enough of a struggle, but it can be even more difficult to get kids to brush for the appropriate amount of time. To keep your children from rushing through the process, turn it into a challenge.

Get an hourglass sand timer, turn it upside down, and challenge your child to brush his teeth until the sand empties. (As a general rule, the recommended duration is 1.5 minutes on the upper teeth and 1.5 minutes on bottom teeth.) Don't have a sand timer? Use a standard kitchen timer instead, or have your child hum a familiar song and brush his teeth until the entire song is over.

To add to the fun, print a fun, colorful tooth brushing chart. Each time your child brushes, have them color in a star, or check off the box. If you want, you can add points and set up a fun reward for them to obtain when they reach a set number of points. Track your points right on the chart, or use our free online point and reward system.

Materials:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Small hourglass/sand timer or kitchen timer
• Tooth Brushing Chart