I have a six-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. My problem is I have to fight with my son to get him to brush his teeth after breakfast and dinner. He always starts by saying he does not want to brush his teeth. I also have to watch him the whole time he is brushing to ensure he is doing it.

My daughter has no problem brushing her teeth but sees my son acting up when he has to. If I let this continue, she may feel like she does not have to brush either. Sorry to say, but my husband is not helping in this matter.

He tells my son that if his teeth rot, he will not pay for fixing them. He is too young to understand what my husband is saying to him. Advise on how to get him to want to brush would be helpful.

Reply: Getting children to brush their teeth can be challenging, but you can try a few things to make it more appealing for them. First, make brushing your teeth a fun activity. You can play their favorite song or create a game out of brushing. You can also let them choose their toothbrush and toothpaste, making them more excited to brush. Additionally, you can brush your teeth with them, so they see that it’s a regular activity everyone does. Lastly, you can reward them for brushing their teeth by giving them a sticker or allowing them to pick out a bedtime story. With creativity, you can make teeth brushing fun and encourage your child to develop healthy dental hygiene habits.