Traditionally, dental professionals give tips and tricks for home care during dental visits. But wouldn’t it be nice to reinforce those same concepts at home in a way that’s engaging for kids?
That’s why I scoured lists of dental books, looking for ones that met the criteria below.
- Light-hearted and taught concepts in a fun, engaging way.
- Contained up-to-date information. One of the most common misconceptions is rinsing with water after brushing! Remember, fluoride in toothpaste needs 30 minutes of contact time to strengthen teeth, so it’s best to spit out the excess toothpaste and skip the rinse.
- Didn’t portray the dentist or dental office as scary (ie. crying children in the waiting room). I want kids to view dental visits positively to set them up for a successful experience!
- Avoided frightening imagery like blood or needles. Good dentists can often keep both out of sight.
Here are my top picks!
1. Peppa Pig’s Dentist Trip (Ages 2-5)
What I love about this book is that it features two siblings: Peppa, who has been to the dentist before, and George, who is going for the first time. Peppa is brave and shows his brother the ropes. Just like in this book, I also recommend bringing a bravery stuffed animal to the first visit. Dentists sometimes use it for modelling an exam and cleaning before working with the child.
2. Peppa Pig’s The Tooth Fairy (Ages 2-5)
In this book, Peppa Pig makes the tooth fairy adventure into a fun-filled experience, playfully embracing the moment her tooth falls out. A very natural process!
3. Sugarbug Doug: All about Cavities, Plaque and Teeth by Ben Malgeby (Ages 3-10)
There aren’t many books that get nerdy about dental concepts for kids, but this one does! A book that explains the cavity process helps kids understand why dentists make all these recommendations. And the analogy of dental plaque to a building is genius!
4. Open Wide: Tooth School Inside by Laurie Keller (Ages 4-9)
What a hilarious book! It’s packed with jokes to keep kids engaged, laughing and learning all at the same time. Laurie covers everything from why we need to clean teeth daily to different types of sugary foods to fun dental history facts. I especially appreciate the way Laurie gently addresses the pain that can come with cavities and the emotions kids might feel about them. Since the text is scattered creatively across the pages, I recommend this book for an older audience.
I’d love to hear about other amazing dental books you’ve come across. Please send them my way so I can share them with the community of parents looking for more great reads!
