Teeth Brushing

General Strategies and Tips

Take Turns Brushing: 

• You brush, then they brush. You help them, then they try it! This makes it a team effort. 

First-Then Language: 

• First Teeth brush, Then treat/play.

Pretend Play: 

• Incorporate teeth brushing into general play, having your child practice brushing the teeth of their favourite toys. This helps to build a positive association with brushing teeth!

Social Story: 

• Simple story that includes the child in the story! This includes expectations for brushing and makes it fun and positive. Read throughout day or before brushing. An example could be a story about brushing the “sugar bugs” off of your teeth. 

Sticker Charts (positive reinforcement): 

• You can have a visual schedule for the bedtime routine, and have stickers that can be added for each completed task! You can even help make the sticker rewards. Use paint to make finger print BEE’s that can be placed next to the completed tasks! Can add other reinforcements, such as a small treat to reward brushing, which can slowly be faded as regular brushing occurs. 

Teeth Brushing Strategies

Try a Vibrating Toothbrush: 

• Some children enjoy mouthing and chewing on objects, and may receive sensory feedback from a vibrating toothbrush which will be enjoyable for them. 

Visual Schedule: 

• Add tooth brushing to a visual schedule, and have a picture for this event that is included each day and reviewed the child. This can help reduce stress and anxiety during teeth brushing by providing clear expectations of what’s going to come next. It also helps to reduce the auditory input for following directions, helping the child focus on the task at hand!

Brushing Teeth in Front of a Mirror: 

• Try having your child positioned in front a mirror while you are supporting them with brushing or if they are brushing their teeth themselves. Pair making funny faces in the mirror after completing brushing teeth routine

Other Strategies: 

Visual Timer: 

• This helps take fear of the unknown out of the picture, and helps your child see that here is a clear end in sight.

Sing a Song or use other High Intensity Sensory Input: 

• If a timer causes too much stress or becomes an object of fixation, sing a song or count to 10 for each side of mouth, top and bottom. This can be any song she loves! It helps her know that teeth! When the song is done, so is brushing his teeth

Flavoured Toothpaste: 

• Change the flavour, as the same flavour all the time can become ‘boring’ to the child and they will resist using it. Hello brand has a Watermelon flavour which children love! Trial different flavours to determine if taste may be a barrier to brushing or can be used as a motivator.

Mouthwash That Shows Plaque: 

• There are different products now for kids that show plaque, like Listerine Smart Rinse. This makes it a game to clean all the “JUNK” off their teeth and in their mouth.