Library · Brushing Teeth

A social story for brushing teeth

when the brush feels like too much.

The bristles, the taste of the toothpaste, the foam, a hand near the mouth at the end of a long day. Vivi turns bedtime brushing into a narrated, animated story your child stars in, one small section at a time.

Who it helps

Practicing brushing teeth in a story, as the main character.

For children who clamp their mouth shut, push the brush away or gag at the toothpaste, and for children for whom the feeling in the mouth is genuinely too strong. Many parents of autistic children and children with sensory differences use a social story like this to break brushing into pieces their child can manage.

The story treats the discomfort as real, not as being difficult.

  1. Time to brush

    The bedtime routine reaches the bathroom. The brush and the toothpaste are waiting.

  2. The feeling

    The bristles tickle, the taste is strong, and the body wants to stop. That is allowed.

  3. A small step

    Front teeth first, then a break. A parent helps, counts, or holds the mirror. One section is enough for now.

  4. Done for tonight

    A rinse, a spit, and a parent who is pleased with the try. Tomorrow, another section.

Yours, not ours. These are the moments a story like this usually walks through. You choose what goes into your child's, and read every page before it is animated.

Questions parents ask

About brushing teeth, in short.

  1. When should we watch it?

    Right before brushing, as part of the bedtime routine, every night until the steps feel familiar. A short story before the brush gives your child a picture of what is about to happen.

  2. Can I match our brush and toothpaste?

    Yes. Tell Vivi which brush you use, the flavor of the toothpaste, whether a parent brushes or your child does, and which section you start with. You read every page before it is animated and ask for changes in plain words.

  3. How do I help my autistic child with brushing teeth?

    Start smaller than feels useful, keep the order the same, and name the sensations before they happen. A social story with your child as the main character lets them see the whole routine before the brush touches a single tooth.

  4. How much does it cost?

    Your first story is free in your first 30 days. After that you buy credits: 3 for $9, 10 for $26 or 30 for $66. A story is 1 credit, and a Fully Animated story is 10 more. Your first routine, Choose-Along and plan are free, then 1 credit each. Bought credits never expire.

Make it about your child tonight.

Your first story is free. Set up your child, start from Brushing Teeth, and watch it together before bed.

More moments: Making Friends · Getting New Glasses · Going on Vacation · The Next Activity (Transitions) · Getting Ready in the Morning · all 30 stories →

Vivi Kids is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Carol Gray or Team Social Stories.