How can I handle ‘I brushed my teeth’ when the brush is dry? 

Parenting Perspective 

Toothbrushing is one of those daily routines where children sometimes tell a fib. They may insist, ‘I have brushed my teeth,’ when the toothbrush is clearly dry. Parents can feel frustrated in such moments, torn between correcting the lie and enforcing the habit, without wanting every bedtime to become a battle. The key is to address both the action (brushing) and the honesty (telling the truth) in a way that teaches responsibility without shaming them. 

Understand the Reason for the Fib 

A child may deny having brushed their teeth for several simple reasons. 

• Not wanting to stop playing. 

• Finding the task of brushing boring or unpleasant. 

• Testing boundaries to see whether you will notice. 

• Worrying about being scolded for forgetting. 

Recognising these common motives can help you to respond with gentle guidance instead of anger. 

Keep Your Response Calm and Light 

Instead of a harsh confrontation, keep your tone calm and matter-of-fact. You could say: ‘I can see your toothbrush is still dry, so it looks like you forgot this time. That is okay, let’s go and do it together now.’ This approach avoids turning the situation into a major conflict while still addressing the issue directly. 

Explain the Natural Consequences 

Briefly and calmly explain why brushing is important in a way they can understand. For example: ‘If we do not brush our teeth, they can get sore and hurt later on, just like a toy might break if we do not take good care of it.’ This helps them to see brushing as an important act of self-care, not just a rule. 

Build a Routine and Sense of Ownership 

You can make toothbrushing less of a battle by turning it into a predictable and even enjoyable part of their day. 

• Make it a consistent step in the bedtime routine. 

• Allow your child to choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste flavour to give them a sense of control. 

• Use a timer or a song to make the two minutes of brushing fun and structured. 

Encourage Honesty Over Perfection 

Make it clear to your child that their honesty is more important to you than their perfection. You could say: ‘It is always better to tell me the truth, even if you have forgotten to do something, than to say something that is not true. We can always fix a missed brushing, but it is much harder to fix trust when it is broken.’ 

Mini Dialogue Example 

Child: ‘I brushed my teeth already!’ 

Parent: ‘I can see the brush is still dry, so perhaps you just forgot this time. That is okay. Let’s go and brush together now. Next time, remember that telling the truth is always best, because then we can fix things quickly.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places a great emphasis on honesty, even in small matters, and also teaches us to care for our bodies as a trust (amanah) from Allah. Guiding your child with gentleness in this moment helps them to understand both of these important values. 

The Command to Speak the Truth 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hajj (22), Verse 30: 

‘…And abstain from making false statements.’ 

You can explain this to your child in a simple way: ‘Allah loves it when we say what is true, even about small things like brushing our teeth.’ 

Caring for the Body as a Trust 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 887, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Were it not that I might overburden my followers, I would have ordered them to use the siwak before every prayer.’ 

This hadith highlights the great importance of oral cleanliness in Islam. You can use this to explain to your child: ‘The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ cared so much about having clean teeth that he wanted us to brush them before every single prayer. Taking care of our mouths is a way of following his example (Sunnah) and looking after the body that Allah has given us.’ 

By linking the simple act of brushing teeth to the values of honesty and caring for our bodies, the routine becomes more meaningful. Your child learns that telling the truth builds trust with their parents and is pleasing to Allah, while self-care is also an important act of worship.