Each week Michele Borba answers your parenting questions right here on her blog. If you have a parenting problem or question leave a comment on this post and you may have yours answered next week!

I know it's important for my child to brush his teeth, but it causes the biggest bathroom battle and he makes up the most outrageous excuses: “My toothbrush flew away,” and “There's a hole in the sink.” There has to be some kind of simple solution to get my kid to brush his teeth. Help!

Fifty percent of five and nine-year olds will have a cavity or filling. We know that oral health is important, but despite our best efforts nearly half of parents polled say they experience resistance from their kids to brush their teeth. Here are solutions to curb annoying bathroom battles, teach good oral hygiene habits and even make it fun.

• Set an example. Kids learn faster if you show the proper way to do a task, so don't overlook taking time to show your child proper oral hygiene habits. Then model good oral hygiene care yourself.


• Let your child choose. Seek floss and colorful, musical toothbrushes with playful designs tailored to your child's mouth size. Some kids are sensitive to tastes and smells so make sure the toothpaste passes his taste bud standards. If he still gags, try a tooth brushing powder.


• Show him how. Teach how to use only a pinky fingernail-size dab of toothpaste (too much makes kids gag). Battery-operated toothbrushes ensure kids brush in circular motions. A young kid can pretend his toothbrush is a train so he slides his brush over the “teeth” tracks while making fun train noises. If he still rushes, use a post-brush rinse product like Listerine Smart Rinse that can provide an extra dose of cavity-fighting fluoride. (It also tints any remaining particles in a child's mouth so that she'll see them when she spits in to the sink and realize she needs to do a better cleaning job the next time).


• Add time-keepers. Most kids don't brush the full dentist-recommended two minutes, so have your kid sing the Birthday Song three times, count backwards from 120 or set a timer for two minutes.


• Create a routine. Predictability helps kids form habits so have your son brush at the same time morning (like right after breakfast) and night (when he puts on his pajamas) so it becomes a ritual. Younger kids love plopping stickers on a chart (or bathroom mirror) each time they brushed.
  


• Be persistent.  Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic infectious diseases among American kids these days, so do insist your kid brushes. Remember, that though bottled water is a great alternative to sodas and fruit drinks, it doesn't have cavity-preventing fluoride like most tap water. And if your child still uses those toothbrush excuses, use the “Ancient Parent Test”: insist he give you a great big breath so you can check to see if he really did brush. If not, send him back to the bathroom.

Happy brushing!

Click here to read more of Michele Borba's Q&As, or leave a comment below with your own questions and it may be answered next week.

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Dr. Michele Borba is the author of Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essentail Virtues That Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing.