We all know how important it is for little ones to brush their teeth but many children really resist having their teeth brushed.  Here's fifteen things that can help make it more enjoyable for little ones (and parents!).

1. Get an assortment of fun toothbrushes in all different colors and put out a basket of them to choose from.  You can often find packs of five or more at dollar stores and there are also ones with characters and other gimmicks. 
2. Let your child brush your teeth while you brush his.  Take turns doing 30 seconds at a time and go back and forth brushing each other's teeth.
3. Use a puppet to brush her teeth.  Have an assortment of puppets and let her pick who gets the job.
4. Enlist your child in finding a good tasting toothpaste.  The taste of toothpaste is often one of the reasons kids resist brushing their teeth.  Young children are much more sensitive to strong tastes than we are and flavors like mint can feel like they burn, while other flavors can just plain taste bad.  A child who has a say in picking out the toothpaste and experimenting with flavors is much more likely to get on board.
5. Try an electric toothbrush.  Many kids love these.
6. Pretend the toothbrush is a superhero chasing bad guy germs in your child's mouth.  Be silly and exciting and over the top, crazy voices and all.
7. For the holidays, consider presents like Plak Posse Palz, stuffed animals with real looking teeth for kids to brush and even floss, that come with toothbrushes and timers.
8. Give your child a toothbrush just for chewing on during the day.  Some kids love to chew on things and this can be an easy way to get the teeth really clean during the day.
9. Try a toothbrush like the Firefly brand that flashes or plays a song for one minute.  These are widely available and very affordable.  Tooth Tunes also play music (generally pop songs).  They play for 2 minutes but only while the toothbrush is pushed against the teeth.
10. Purchase some plaque disclosing tablets like these.  Children brush their teeth and then chew the tablets, swish them around and then spit, revealing all of the areas they missed while brushing.  They can then brush again and get any spots they missed.  Challenge kids to brush so well that there are no pink spots.  It's harder than they think!
11. Play with your child at sites like this and this from Colgate that have dental games and coloring pages for kids of all ages.  They even have a tooth brushing chart to print out and color in to keep you on your toes.
12. Let your child bite the toothbrush and pretend to be a ferocious animal.  Some toddlers love to do this as you move the toothbrush around in their mouths.  Growl and say he's oh so tough and then move it to a different spot to chomp.
13. Rinse the toothbrush often with fresh water and let her suck on it.  Since the flavor of toothpaste bothers many kids, the fresh water can be a welcome relief.  If you do the first 30 seconds with toothpaste you can brush after that with water and many kids will enjoy it.
14. Ask your child what would make it easier.  Often, if we involve kids in the process they become amazingly helpful -- and have some pretty great ideas!
15. Read books and watch videos together that talk about brushing teeth.  Click on the video below to watch a fun one.