Getting kids to brush their teeth can be really hard work, in fact two thirds of children across the UK regularly refuse to brush their teeth*, and parents now spend on average nine minutes a day having to nag children to be better brushers*. With 70% admitting that getting children to pick up a toothbrush is the most stressful element of parenting today*, it’s time for things to change.
We’re on a mission to improve children’s oral health by supporting parents across the UK with expert advice and tips on how to make brushing fun, so even the smallest brushers can’t resist getting in on the action! 46% of children in the UK have already had a filling or a cavity as a result of tooth decay*, and implementing a good oral care routine at home can help prevent tooth decay in children as well as any future dental disasters.
As part of our #StrongTeethStrongKids campaign, we want families across the UK to put their brushing to the test and take part in our #BedtimeBrushChallenge, which aims to support parents in educating children from a young age about the importance of oral health by making brushing fun.
Taking part in the challenge is simple, all you need to do is put one of our top tips below to the test, or share with us your own way of making brushing fun before bedtime. Upload a picture or video to Instagram using the hashtag #BedtimeBrushChallenge and tag @oralb_uk - you’ll automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a brushing bundle for the whole family. We’ll pick a new winner every week and announce them over on our Instagram page.
Brushing our teeth needn’t be a chore, so let’s make it fun and less of a bore!
ORAL-B Top Tips To Make Brushing Fun
TIP 1: ROLE PLAY WITH A STORY
Get creative and make up a story that puts brushing at the heart of the action! Maybe aliens have invaded planet teeth and the only way to save it is to defend it by brushing. Perhaps each tooth is a car that needs cleaning, or what if evil dragons have invaded the teeth kingdom and only brushing can fight them off?
TIP 2: DOWNLOAD THE ORAL-B DISNEY MAGIC TIMER APP
Get the free Disney Magic Timer App by Oral-B on your smartphone or tablet. Kids are encouraged to brush for a whole two minutes by their favourite Disney, Star Wars, and Pixar characters whilst earning stickers and exclusive virtual experiences.
TIP 3: HAVE A BATHROOM DANCE PARTY
Create a playlist of your kids’ favourite songs and turn brush time into a brushing dance party that happens twice a day. Pick any song and brush away as it plays for two minutes, everyone can dance along!
TIP 4: PICK YOUR OWN TOOTHBRUSH
Let your child pick their favourite toothbrush to use during brush time, discover the Oral-B Kids product range which consists of a variety of manual and power toothbrushes featuring favourite Disney characters. From Star Wars to Frozen to Cars, there’s a kid’s electric toothbrush to help up their brushing game.
TIP 5: TURN THE BATHROOM INTO THE DENTIST
Use your imagination and turn the bathroom into a dentist where your kid has an appointment every morning and evening. Make them stay in the ‘waiting room’ until the dentist is ready to see them, then resume the role of the dentist, inspecting your kid’s teeth and overseeing the brushing process. Use this to turn brushing into a game, all whilst making kids excited for their next trip to the dentist!
TIP 6: FAMILIES THAT BRUSH TOGETHER, SMILE TOGETHER
Turn brushing time into a group activity that the whole family can do together. Make it into a ‘no-miss’ daily event that everyone (including parents and guardians!) looks forward to taking part in each day.
TIP 7: BRUSHING SING ALONG
Replace some of the words to a well-known song that you can sing to whilst brushing. For example, ‘Let them glow’ sung to the Frozen tune.
TIP 8: MAKE A REWARDS CHART
Get crafty and design a home-made star chart, every day your kid completes brushing - they earn a sticker for the chart. When they earn a certain number of stickers they win a prize!
TIP 9: ROLE PLAY WITH A FAVOURITE TOY
Make sure your kids favourite cuddly toy or doll also has its own toothbrush and joins in on brush time every day. Using the toy will explain why it’s so important to look after teeth, and help show children what to do. When kids see their beloved toy having their teeth brushed, it will motivate them to do the same.
TIP 10: PULL A SILLY FACE
Bring a bit of joy to brush time by pulling silly faces when your kid finishes brushing each quadrant of the mouth. The silly faces only appear when they have brushed that area properly, and once they are done you can pull a silly face together and take a silly selfie to celebrate!
TIP 11: INCENTIVISE BRUSHING
Reward good brushing behaviour with a joint activity, for example, watching an episode of a favourite programme together after time
TIP 12: GET DRESSED UP
Keep a dress up box in, or outside the bathroom full of dress up items like a variety of hats, scarves or colourful jackets that kids only get to wear when they are in the bathroom brushing their teeth. Invent new characters that they can re-visit time and time again.
Follow the campaign and get involved on Instagram via #StrongTeethStrongKids #BedtimeBrushChallenge and @oralb_uk
