In the scheme of caring for your child as a whole being, prioritizing personal and oral hygiene as non-negotiables can be challenging.

We know brushing teeth isn’t always a child’s favorite part of the day—but it can be! With a little imagination and a lot of encouragement, brushing can become a fun, positive part of your child’s routine. At Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry, we believe dental care should be engaging and empowering, for kids and parents. As part of our commitment to pediatric preventive dentistry in San Francisco, here are some gentle, playful ways to help your child build strong brushing habits that stick.

Turn Brushing into a Game: Little ones love a good challenge and brushing games are a great way to make dental care feel like playtime.

• Play Pretend
  Have your child lay back with their head in your lap. Let them hold a hand mirror and watch and you brush and floss their teeth. Challenge them to catch you “missing a spot” or work together to “find” and brush away sugar bugs.

• Brushing Bingo
  Make a colorful bingo card with fun brushing tasks (like “brushed with bubbles” or “brushed after dinner”). When your child completes a row, celebrate with a high-five or a small prize.

• Toothpaste Treasure Hunt
  Hide a small surprise near the bathroom and give brushing-related clues to help your child find it. This adds an element of excitement to an everyday task.

• Beat the Clock
  Use a timer or play their favorite two-minute song to turn brushing into a race. You can even take turns pretending to be the “Tooth Inspector.”

Let Technology Help Out: Technology can be a great tool when it comes to building positive routines.

• Brushing Apps
  There are plenty of kid-friendly apps that guide your child through each brushing session with songs, animations, and even virtual rewards.

• Electric Toothbrushes with Personality
  Choose a toothbrush with a fun character or built-in music. Many even have timers to help kids brush for the recommended two minutes.

Make a Brushing Storytime: Tapping into your child’s imagination can help them feel more excited and in control.

• Brush Like a Hero
  Create a short story where your child’s toothbrush becomes a magic wand that fights off sugar bugs and saves the day.

• Character Cameos
  Bring their favorite characters into the routine. Maybe their stuffed animal needs help brushing too—or maybe their superhero friend only brushes with sparkly toothpaste.

• Go Wild
  Have them practice opening big like a lion or dinosaur. See if you can guess and count how many teeth your little animal has while brushing.

Positively pass the time: Model confidence and positivity to normalize brushing as an every-day, body-positive habit.

• Tune in to Tooth Fun
  Sing your child’s favorite song or adapt a song for the brushing routine. Don’t know where to start? Dr. Erin sings brushing songs on her site, “Tooth Time with Dr. Erin”. Visit Dr. Erin's Tooth Time - YouTube for inspiration!

• Take Turns and Share
  Let your child take a turn or hold a toothbrush while you brush with a second toothbrush and brush.

• Smile
  Reassure with positive facial expressions and body language, and avoid apologizing. Caring for your child’s health and well-being is love!

• Emphasize the positive
  Encourage your child when you see behavior that is helpful. “I love how big you are opening!” or “Thank you for helping me get your teeth so clean”

Offer Non-Yes/No options: A pro tip that goes beyond brushing.

When you ask your child if they want to brush their teeth, it may not be surprising to hear a firm, “NO!” from your little one. Of course they would rather be playing, running around or doing just about anything else at that moment, and now you’ve set yourself up. Now going against that “no” presents a violation of trust, because you gave your child a false option. For tricky tasks and routines, offer alternatives that give them options while still achieving the desired result. And example could be, “would you like to brush your teeth while laying down on the bed or on my lap?” Would you like to brush with the green toothbrush today or the blue one? “Would you like to read this book or that book after we brush our teeth”

Celebrate the Wins: Small rewards and lots of encouragement go a long way toward building lifelong habits.

• Sticker Charts
  Let your child earn a sticker each time they brush. After they collect a certain number, plan a fun activity or let them choose a small reward.

• Bravery Jar
  Each time they brush, your child adds a token or bead to a jar. Once it’s full, they can trade it in for a special treat or outing.

We’re Here to Support Your Family

At Mission Bay Pediatric Dentistry, we know that great habits start at home—and we’re here to help. Dr. Erin Shah and our caring team are passionate about making dental care approachable and positive for every child and every stage.

If you’re looking for a trusted pediatric dentist in San Francisco, CA, we’d love to welcome your family to our dental home.

Call us at (415) 825-3323 to schedule a visit and let’s make brushing something your child looks forward to.