The fun & easy way to teach kids to brush teeth effectively

Your toddler or preschooler brushes their teeth, but on their own it’s not good enought, Right? Here is one super easy, but crazy way to get your kids to effectively brush their teeth. And I promise, it’s an off the wall solution to a common problem in young homes.

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After countless stomach bugs in a month or two, I found myself witha  huge, and I do mean HUGE bag of loose activated charcoal because it helps settle the stomach.

And then I realized I had no idea how else to use it and I had a lot.

I found an article about using it to whiten your own teeth and it got me thinking about applying the same concept to kids brushing their teeth. But instead of whitening, using it as a means to help them understand how well they’re brushing their teeth and tongue.

Use activated charcoal to help your kids learn to brush their teeth better

Supplies

• old or cheap toothbrush
• activated charcoal
• easy-to-clean surface
• hand mirror
• toothpaste
• clean second toothbrush

This method coats the entire mouth whether clean or dirty to help teach how to brush rather than disclose how poorly a child might have brushed in the past.

First and foremost, you’re going to need your own activated charcoal and a surface that’s easy to clean. Loose or also in a capsule is fine because you can break one open.

Wet a toothbraush and dip it into a bowl of loose activated charcoal or dump a broken capsule on top of the brush.

Because it’s black and can get everywhere if not too careful, you’ll want to make sure you have cleaning supplies ready and a dark colored wet washcloth

Have them brush their teeth all black!

Once done, use the handheld mirror to let your child see their black teeth, gums and tongue.

Immediately give them a prepped toothbrush with toothpaste and tell them to brush their very best. 

When they are finished they can spit it in the toilet, a cup or, some other deisgnated area to try to contain the black.

Give them the mirror back and let them see how well they did. Most noteably, did they get their entire tongue?

Use this as a conversation starter about better brushing and how we might not be able to see plaque, but it’s there just like the black charcoal was if we don’t brush it all away.

Need more help getting your kids to brush better?

Toys to learn and explore teeth
Books about oral hygiene