Sponsored by Burg Pediatric Dentistry.

Anyone else’s kids think brushing is a sprint to see who can finish first? There are times when I have sent them up to brush their teeth and they come out of the bathroom claiming to be done by the time I get to the top of the stairs. Nice try. My job is to not only get them to be a bit more thorough in their dental care, but make it less of a job for both of us.

I set out to find some things to make brushing and flossing more appealing and dare I say fun? Here are the top five things that have helped in our house.

1. Choose a fun toothbrush in their favorite color or character. There are tons of options that cost a couple bucks or less. We’ve had the superhero pack shown on the right and they were $1 a brush. I love the ones with the suction cups that stick to the counter.

2. Use tasty toothpaste. I asked a dentist what toothpaste was best and he said the most important thing is not the brand of toothpaste, but brushing for two minutes. So, let them choose a flavor or color they are excited about.

3. Use a timer. It will show kiddos how long to brush without having to nag them. They’ll feel in control, but get in the two minutes of brushing they need. I love this tooth timer. Is it not the cutest? We got a similar one during our checkup at Burg Pediatric Dentistry. The kids love it.

4. Use flossers. Sometimes normal floss is overwhelming for little hands. Get fun colors or character flossers that they can use by themselves. We got Angry Birds flossers at the dollar store.They even have flavored flossers available.

5. Positive reinforcement is key. Get a fun toothbrushing chart or use little awards like this free tooth award printable to recognize improvements and special efforts.

What things help make brushing fun at your house?

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post. All ideas and opinions are my own.