I have partnered with Tom’s of Maine for this blog post, and received products and compensation for my participation. As always, the opinions expressed are 100% honest and based on my personal experiences.

Parenting has taught me a lot about myself. I have learned I will do just about anything to get my kids to brush their teeth. I’ll sing, I’ll dance, I’ll even hand out cash bribes when things get desperate. Brushing teeth can be a daily battle at my house. Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Natural Toothpaste is my not-so-secret weapon.

I can honestly say that one of the BEST things that has ever happened in the history of my kids brushing teeth is Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Natural Toothpaste. This kids toothpaste is a game changer. We finally found a toothpaste flavor that does not make my kids cry, “It’s too spicy, Mom!” (My kids say “spicy” when they really mean “minty.”)

My son loves to brush his teeth with Silly Strawberry natural toothpaste. This toothpaste gets its mild strawberry taste from real strawberry juice and natural flavors. It uses no artificial flavors, dyes or sweeteners. Plus, no animal testing or animal ingredients.

FUN FACT: Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste, the #1 natural kids toothpaste, is celebrating 25 years in 2017! Silly Strawberry was created by two moms (Pam, a Tom’s of Maine product developer and Kate, company co-founder) to be a great tasting natural toothpaste children would actually want to use.

Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste Tubes Then (Middle Tube) and Now

I hope Tom’s of Maine never ever stops making Silly Strawberry Toothpaste. My youngest child flat out refuses to brush his teeth unless we have it. I actually started keeping a stash of back-up tubes so we never run out. Like I said, I will do whatever it takes to get my kids to brush their teeth!

Silly Strawberry natural toothpaste is made for kids ages 2-6. It is available in both fluoride and fluoride-free.  Another Fun Fact: Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry is the first and only natural kids toothpaste to receive the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

I recently found another great way to encourage my younger kids to brush their teeth. We sing along to “The Silly Brushing Song” by legendary children’s singer/songwriter Laurie Berkner. I am a longtime fan of Laurie’s music! I am so excited Laurie Berkner and Tom’s of Maine teamed up for “The Silly Brushing (Brush ‘Em Up)” song.

Laurie’s song makes brushing time so much more fun for kids. They sing, they dance, and they brush their teeth for two whole minutes. By the time the song is done, kids are ready to rinse and spit. The next time your child needs to brush their teeth, play the “The Silly Brushing Song” music video.

My kids use Silly Strawberry toothpaste, which leaves us with empty toothpaste tubes to recycle or upcycle. This time around, we are going to upcycle the empty tube to turn it into a toothbrush holder for kids. We put a suction cup on the bottom to make sure the DIY toothbrush holder stays in place on the bathroom counter.

This Silly Upcycled Craft is kid-friendly with a little bit of parent guidance and supervision. Plus, it involves paint. My son is always on board for a craft that lets him do a little bit of painting! See how we did it, and how you can make one, too.

DIY Toothbrush Holder Craft For Kids

Time Needed: 15 minutes or less, not counting paint dry time

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Empty Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste Tube
• White Spray Paint
• Craft Paints (your choice of colors)
• Cotton Swabs (Q-Tips)
• Double-Sided Suction Cup (30mm size suction cup)
• Craft Adhesive (E6000 or a similar glue)
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Wash the Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste Tube until it is clean inside and out. Dry completely.
2. Remove the cap from the toothpaste tube and set aside. Spray paint the outside of the toothpaste tube white. Allow paint to dry completely. Put cap back on the toothpaste tube.
3. Dip the tip of a cotton swab into craft paint. Use the cotton swab to paint dots on the outside of the toothpaste tube and cap. We used five different craft paint colors (Pink, Blue, Green, Yellow and Purple.) Allow paint to try completely.
4. Use scissors to trim the end of the toothpaste tube and create a rounded opening on one end.
5. Attach one side of the double-sided suction cup to the toothpaste tube cap. Use a strong craft adhesive like E6000 glue to attach the suction cup so it stays in place permanently. 
6. Use the other side of the suction cup to stand the toothbrush holder upright on the bathroom counter. Place your toothbrush inside the holder for storage in between brush times.

Did you notice the kid size toothbrush? Tom’s of Maine toothbrushes are a great choice for eco conscious families. Toothbrushes are made from renewable plants and BPA-free #7 plastic, recyclable through TerraCycle.

[Tweet “See how to turn an empty toothpaste tube into a DIY toothbrush holder! @momfindsout @tomsofmaine”]

 

If you love creative upcycling ideas, check out my Self-Watering Planter made from a plastic bottle.

What are your favorite tips and tricks for getting kids to brush their teeth? Does your child brush with Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste?