Giving kids a fun place to store a toothbrush may prompt them to use it more often.
Dental health is extremely important to a growing child's education. Kids need to learn good habits to enjoy decades of good dental health, or risk a lifetime or cavities and procedures. Getting kids interested in dental health can be as simple as making dental-themed crafts that remind them of the basics, like brushing every day.
Toothbrush Holder
Kids of any age may be more likely to brush if they have a fun place to keep their toothbrushes. Making a decorative toothbrush holder for the bathroom can be as simple as pasting cut paper or small objects onto an existing holder. Older kids can make their own toothbrush holders from plastic cups, glass jars or any other cylindrical container. Decorating the toothbrush container can also take on special significance by adding images of the tooth fairy or a picture of a gleaming smile. Because a toothbrush holder is likely to get wet, make sure to spray or paint the surface of the holder with a sealant or waterproof glue to make it more durable.
Tooth Case
Many children lose their baby teeth to the tooth fairy and get a reward in exchange. But keeping a tooth safe until bedtime can be a challenge. Making a tooth case can solve this problem. Ask kids to cut two pieces of white felt in the shape of a tooth, then have an adult sew them together leaving a small opening for inserting teeth. Kids can decorate tooth holders by adding their names in marker, or writing a note to the tooth fairy to include along with the tooth itself.
Brushing Clock
Anyone can forget to brush on occasion. To get kids into the habit of brushing twice a day, have them construct a brushing clock. Start with a circular object that resembles the face of a clock, such as a jar lid. Punch a hole in the center and insert a small piece of dowel to act as the hub of the clock. Cut hands out of paper and glue them to the dowel. Then mark the top of the clock with "Morning" and the bottom of the clock with "Bedtime." Kids can decorate the rest of the clock and install it in the bathroom, adjusting the hands each day to mark the last time they brushed.
Baby Tooth Chart
Losing baby teeth is exciting, especially once kids get past the worries that sometimes come with the first loose tooth. To help your child track the progress of her mouth, make a baby tooth chart. Give each child a sheet of construction paper and ask them to draw their open mouth, without any teeth. Kids can use paint, pasted paper or markers to draw the mouth. Give each child 20 dried, white beans to represent their baby teeth. Have them attach ten teeth to the top of the mouth, and ten to the bottom with white glue. Each time a child loses a tooth, he can snap off the corresponding bean until the baby tooth chart shows a mouth with no more baby teeth.
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