First of all I started as early as possible when they were babies and didn’t even have teeth yet. First I brushed their teeth then they could brush my teeth and then their own teeth ( even when it was just chewing on the toothbrush) we made up a song singing it along. When they were a little older I searched on Youtube Kids songs and video’s about brushing teeth and when they were at the age of your kids I ordered a wee book “Karius & Bactus”. It’s about two trolls who live in a boys mouth who hates to brush his teeth and refuses to visit the dentist. Karius and Bactus are cheering when he eats white bread with syrup, which enables them to beat extra hard into his teeth….
https://thornews.com/2012/04/16/karius-and-bactus-the-two-trolls-that-revolutionized-norwegian-dental-health/
I also bought a digital timer which made it interesting for them to set the timer and brush for 2 minutes. A fancy electrical toothbrush (I bought it as a Christmas present) can help as well.
Sometimes over the years I’ve printed out a fact sheet about the effect of regularly skipping to brush your teeth and chatted about it with my kids. Also have it reinforced with the Dentist.

take them to the dentist and make sure they are brushing correctly

show them kids videos for brushing . this helps in learning as well as awareness as well.

well very simply- rewards chart but your kids are getting to that age where they like to be annoying like that and everything becomes a battle

I do a made up rap song and make a fool of myself lol

Let the child have a toothbrush as soon as they have teeth and let the use to chew then gently brush teeth with a little baby toothpaste. As child gets older let them do themselves, make iota fun habit. Don’t give juice, milk or sugary drinks before bed.

My daughter loves the Sesame Street brush your teeth song with Elmo and Bruno Mars. We just YouTube it. Only problem is she loves the song so much she cries when we take the tooth brush off her and the songs finished lol.

From pretty early on we have just had a bedtime routine, that once the kids got used to they simply continued. All we have to say now is…”TEETH, TOILET, CUDDLES, BED” and off they go.

Our children LOVE the musical toothbrushes that play a tune for 2 mins while they brush. Give them their own toothpaste (Dora, Spider-Man etc), to make it more special. Try a tooth chart also with a reward from the “tooth fairy” at the end of a week for cleaning their teeth.

ive had all sorts of tooth brushes – electric, light up, singing ones – they’ve all worked really wel in getting them to rush. But to actually get them to the bathroom, ive made it a part of our bedtime routine. at 7:25 a special alarm goes off on my phone, and they know to stop doing what eer it is they’re doing and brush their teeth. from there its bed. I cant even tell you why – but it worked wonders! they used to grumble and argue about doing their teeth before i started that!

My Mum brought my almost 3yo an electric toothbrush and we made up a toothbrush song which has helped

Show them how they look if you dont then breath on them garlic breath

Let them choose their own toothbrushes and the best thing for us was taking the kids to the dentist and letting the dentist explain the importance of it. The kids now do it willingly (mine are 7 and 5 too).

SHow them videos on you tube on brushing , may be some benefits of brushing teeth

I used a themed electric toothbrush, that did the trick.

I think they need to be interested in brushing their teeth. Maybe show them some pictures of rotten teeth and explain that is what happens when you don’t brush your teeth, might scare them a bit but could also get them brushing their teeth also, get some disclotabs from the chemist, they’re the pink tablets that dentist use and you can see how well they are brushing their teeth as it shows up all the plaque you could make it a game and reward them for nice, sparkling teeth

I bought my daughters electric toothbrushes, the older one decorated it herself the younger one has Barbie. We also get them to breathe on us after, sounds terrible but we make a big deal on how shiny they then are with fresh breath. It doesn’t always work my Miss 3 is a shocker.

Go toothbrush shopping with the kids for their own special novelty toothbrushes, cups and hand towels. We also used a family smiley face chart which was kept in the bathroom(in a plastic sleeve) and the kids and adults all received a small reward at the end of every week for brushing their teeth! Extremely motivating!

Lara Becker

Money box in bathroom,, yes its come to that , dental bill , or 50 or 20 cent a night lol