• I let my kids have two or three types of toothpaste and a few toothbrushes—that way they get to choose each time.
• After my son brushes, we pretend to be blinded by his white teeth. The more ridiculous we act, the harder he brushes.
• We tell them that sugar bugs will eat their teeth if they don't brush their teeth!
• I tell my kids they can't have dessert if they don't brush—no brushing, no sugar.
• The only way I can get my 2-year-old to let me brush her teeth is to tell her I am looking for Elmo, Dora, Mickey, etc., in her mouth.
• We used some bad-teeth examples who we all saw in real life and said, "If you don't brush, you'll look like that." We hate to admit it, but it works.
• We have them brush first and then either mom or dad finishes up.
• We talk about "getting the bugs out."
• We sing the ABC song twice when we brush.
• We keep toothbrushes and kids' toothpaste in all of our bathrooms so there is never an excuse to not brush.
• My 4-year-old loves her musical Thomas the Tank Engine toothbrush. She also loves when I buy Sesame Street Solo cups.
• A pink egg timer and a flashing toothbrush always gets my kid to brush. That and the fact that the tooth fairy won't leave money for dirty teeth!!
• We had trouble getting my kids' front teeth clean until my brilliant husband told them to "say cheese." They smile so perfectly, and we can brush those front teeth well!
