How to Make Toothbrushing Fun for Kids — Tips from Our Kids Dental Team
Getting children to brush their teeth is one of the small daily battles many parents know well. The good news is that with the right approach, toothbrushing can become something children look forward to rather than resist. Building that habit early can help support your child's long-term oral health.
At By The Lake Dental Kids, our dentists and dental team work with children and families every day across our dental offices in Ajax and Scarborough. Our kids dental team knows that habits formed in the earliest years can support a child's ongoing oral health, and we are here to support parents at every stage of that journey.
Why brushing habits formed early last a lifetime
The Oral Health Foundation highlights the important role of prevention in reducing tooth decay and avoidable dental treatment for children. Primary teeth play an important role in a child's early oral development and need regular care while they are in place. Learning to brush well in the early years can help children develop a regular oral-health routine. Regular brushing helps remove plaque and is an important part of reducing the risk of tooth decay and discomfort.
When to start and how much toothpaste to use
According to NHS guidance on taking care of children's teeth, you should start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. For children up to three years old, use only a smear of fluoride toothpaste. From age three to six, a pea-sized amount is appropriate. From age seven onwards, children can use the same amount as adults. Brush twice daily, including last thing at night, and supervise brushing until your child is confident enough to do it thoroughly on their own, which is usually around age seven.
How to make brushing something children look forward to
The Oral Health Foundation's supervised toothbrushing programme highlights how supervised brushing can help children develop positive oral-health habits from an early age. Brush alongside your child so they can copy your technique. Use a two-minute sand timer or a toothbrushing song to make the time feel like a game rather than a chore. Let younger children choose their own toothbrush in a colour or character they like. Some families may find a simple reward chart helpful for making regular brushing part of the daily routine. At By The Lake Dental Kids, our dental team is happy to show children the correct brushing technique during their hygiene visits, making the dental office a place where good habits are reinforced.
What supervised toothbrushing means and why it matters
NHS and Canadian guidance recommend supervising children's brushing while they develop the skills to clean their teeth thoroughly. Supervision does not mean brushing for your child indefinitely. It means watching, guiding and checking that all surfaces are being reached, including the back teeth. As your child's confidence grows, step back gradually and let them lead while you observe. If you are unsure whether your child is brushing well enough, our dentists and dental team can assess their technique at their next hygiene check-up and offer practical guidance.
Building good habits now can help support your child's oral health as they grow.
Contact By The Lake Dental Kids, your favourite dental office in Ajax and Scarborough, and book your appointment today.
Why choose By The Lake Dental:
✅ +15 years caring for our community’s oral health needs
✅ A Platinum+ Invisalign dental office
✅ Direct billing to benefit provider
✅ Cutting-edge technology
✅ Full service family care
✅ Concierge experience
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Call us today: Ajax 905-428-2111, Highland Creek 416-284-8282.
By The Lake Dental is your family’s one-stop dental office for everything your smile needs, including children’s dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, tooth extractions, oral hygiene, dental implants, orthodontics and Invisalign, mouthguards, root canal therapy, tooth restoration, temporomandibular disorder treatment, and more!
