Make brushing time a family routine with IVORI

A favourite colour, a familiar song and a clear place in the day: family brushing time can have its own personality. IVORI One’s colours and IVORI One Kids’ Dino characters offer a playful starting point for a conversation about everyone’s preferences.

Then comes the practical part: agreeing when brushing happens, which adult is helping and what to do when the evening runs differently. Here are five ideas for putting that family plan together.

Give everyone a small choice

One person might like the blue of IVORI One in Glacier; another might be drawn to IVORI One Kids in Bubblegum Rex. Invite everyone to share the colour or character that catches their eye. You could also let your child choose a song to listen to or the story you will read at bedtime.

Keep the choices simple and enjoyable. A personal preference gives everyone something to talk about while the adults organise the care.

Choose two familiar moments

The NHS guidance on children’s teeth recommends brushing last thing before bed and on another occasion each day. A morning getting-ready routine is one possible place for that second occasion.

Decide where brushing sits in each sequence. In the morning, it might be part of getting washed and dressed. At night, changing into pyjamas can be the cue to head to the bathroom, with brushing kept as the last care step before sleep.

Make the adult role clear

Agree who is responsible for brushing, helping or supervising, according to your child’s needs and dental advice. NHS guidance calls for adults to brush young children’s teeth, supervise as children learn and continue checking how they brush as they become more independent.

If two adults share the routine, divide the jobs: one can focus on brushing support while the other sorts out the next part of bedtime. Say who is taking over rather than assuming the other person has already helped.

Keep one household top-up list alongside the plan. Before shopping, note each person’s usual item, any unopened spares and what is needed next. When checking spare toothpaste, read the printed expiry and storage information on that exact pack before counting it as ready to use. Copy confirmed product and part names, keeping IVORI One and IVORI One Kids clearly identified. One adult can combine the entries into the shopping list, so whoever shops has the same information.

Add a little fun

The NHS encourages making brushing enjoyable. Try a favourite song in the background, a silly Dino greeting before you begin or a bedtime story to look forward to afterwards.

Keep the atmosphere relaxed and give the adult time to provide the care and attention needed. Let music accompany brushing without using the end of a song as the signal to stop.

Have a plan for a different evening

A late journey or a change in working hours can shift the usual routine. The Delivering Better Oral Health guidance encourages finding workable times and planning around barriers. For a household, that can mean agreeing an adult handover in advance.

Here is a simple example to adapt:

Morning: Brushing is part of getting ready; Alex helps Sam before they leave home.
Evening: Brushing is the last care step before sleep; Jamie helps Sam, and Alex takes over if Jamie is out.

Start with those two moments and the helping adult for each. Add the colour conversation, music or story that suits your family, and you have a clear plan to return to on an ordinary day or a busy one.