In celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, we’ve partnered with our friends from the statewide program From the First Tooth to share with you a doctor-recommended book list about oral hygiene that children are sure to love!

Reading aloud and oral hygiene go hand-in-hand, especially at night when you’re getting your child ready for bed. Remember the 3 Bs:

Brush, Book, Bed.

1. Help your child brush their teeth each night.
2. Read a book (or two!) aloud.
3. Wind down for bedtime at a regular time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Brush, Book, Bed campaign encourages parents to establish healthy routines and habits, starting from the very beginning. Starting your routine every night at the same time, about half an hour before bedtime, is recommended by pediatricians and pediatric dentists.

“As a pediatrician, I am excited to promote setting up a routine of healthy habits: brushing teeth for 2 minutes, reading a book with your child and having a routine bedtime.  These activities are good for a child’s physical and emotional health and are important lifelong habits.”

Jennifer Dubail, Maine Pediatrician

“Even though kids gain more independence as they grow, a parent or caregiver should be helping with brushing until the age of 8 or 9 to make sure all the important areas are cleaned! Brush, Book, Bed provides a great nighttime routine to build good oral health habits for children of all ages!”

Rachel King, DDS, MPH, Maine Pediatric Dentist

In keeping with the celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, here are some doctor-recommended books about oral health you can share with your little one!

Tooth
By: Leslie Patricelli
Ages: 1-3 Years

In this brightly illustrated board book, Baby gets its first tooth! From discovering what’s good to bite to learning how to use a toothbrush, this book gives teething children (and their parents) a story they can relate to.

How To Brush Your Teeth With Snappy Croc
By: Jane Clarke and Georgie Birkett
Ages: 2-4 Years

A little girl takes Snappy the Crocodile through each tooth-brushing step. They squeeze out the toothpaste and brush round and round. This delightful book will have you and your child smiling at the end!

First Time Dentist
By: Child’s Play Publishing and Jess Stockham
Ages: 2-5 Years

Your child may have a lot of questions about going to the dentist. This conversational text encourages you to talk about going to the dentist with your child. In the back, there’s even a glossary of terms you and your child might hear at the dentist office.

Maisy, Charley, and the Wobbly Tooth
By: Lucy Cousins
Ages: 2-5 Years

On his first trip to the dentist, wobbly-toothed Charley has plenty of support from Maisy and friends as they discover the dentist’s office together. Soon, his worries are eased once he experiences the bustling waiting room, a twirly dentist chair, and a proper tooth-brushing demonstration.

To discover more about these books, visit your local bookstore, public library, or favorite online retailer.

Additional Resources

How to Structure your Child’s Nighttime Routine (printout)

Additional Oral Health, Early Literacy, and Healthy Sleep Resources