Half of New York Kids Are Faking Brushing Their Teeth, Survey Finds

If you’ve ever stood in the hallway yelling, “Let me smell your breath — did you actually brush?”… you are not crazy. A new national survey says kids everywhere are pulling the same tricks.

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According to Risas Kids Dental, over half (51%) of U.S. children admit they fake brushing or skip it altogether. Some pretend they brush (25%), some don’t even use toothpaste (13%), and almost half only brush for a few seconds before calling it good.

Bad Brushing Is Leading to More Than Just Cavities

The survey also found that poor brushing isn’t just affecting kids’ teeth it’s hurting their confidence too. One in four kids (26%) have been teased about their teeth, and that number jumps even higher in two-child families.

Even more troubling is that 16% of kids have missed school, and 17% have skipped meals because their teeth hurt or they were embarrassed to eat in front of others.

The Tooth Fairy Is Still Showing Up and Spending More Than Ever

Despite all the brushing problems, the Tooth Fairy is more generous than ever. The average payout is now $6.55 per tooth, which is double what most parents left a decade ago. Some are even leaving more than $20!

What Dentists Want Parents to Know

Dr. Elizabeth Walton from Risas Kids Dental says that parents are still the biggest influence when it comes to healthy brushing habits. Here are her suggestions: Supervise brushing until kids can do it properly on their own. Make sure they brush twice a day for two minutes and limit sugary snacks. She also thinks that dental hygiene should be taught in schools, and 87% of parents agree with her.

The Bottom Line

Kids are skipping, faking, and rushing their brushing more than we think. But with consistency (and maybe a surprise toothbrush inspection now and then), we can turn things around. So if the nightly brushing battle is still going strong at your house… you are not alone.