Flavored toothpaste definitely helps—seen it plenty of times in the clinic. Mint can be a bit strong for toddlers, so fruity flavors usually go down easier. My daughter went through a bubblegum phase, then randomly decided she hated it one day...kids, right?
The monster hunt idea is cute, but I've found that sometimes simpler is better. We used to just set a timer and see if my son could brush until the music stopped. Worked well enough without him worrying about monsters under the bed later, haha.
You're spot on about habits though. Technique matters eventually, but at this age, consistency and positive associations are key. If brushing becomes a battle every night, they'll resist even more. Keep it relaxed and fun—technique can always be fine-tuned later once they're on board with the routine.
Totally agree on flavored toothpaste—my youngest hated mint too, said it was "spicy," lol. We cycled through strawberry, watermelon, and even some weird cotton candy one she insisted on trying (it smelled awful, but hey, whatever works...). Eventually, she settled back on strawberry, thankfully.
I get your point about keeping things simple, but honestly, the monster hunt thing worked wonders for us. My son loved feeling like he was protecting his teeth from "sugar monsters," and it turned brushing into a mini-adventure rather than a chore. But yeah, I guess it depends on the kid—some might get scared or overthink it later at bedtime.
You're definitely right about consistency though. We noticed that brushing alongside our kids helped a lot. They tend to mimic everything anyway, so seeing us brush regularly made them more willing to join in without fuss. Technique-wise, we're still working on not swallowing toothpaste...but baby steps, right?
"Technique-wise, we're still working on not swallowing toothpaste...but baby steps, right?"
Haha, totally normal! Honestly, the swallowing thing is something most parents stress about, but as long as you're using a tiny smear or pea-sized amount, it's really not a huge deal. Love your creativity with the "sugar monsters"—anything that makes brushing fun is a win in my book. Kids are so different, and you're clearly tuned into what works best for yours. Keep doing what you're doing...sounds like you're on the right track.
Haha, we've definitely been there with the toothpaste swallowing. One thing that helped us was switching to a fluoride-free toothpaste until our little one got the hang of spitting it out. It eased my mind about the swallowing issue, and honestly, I think it made brushing less stressful for both of us. But like you said...
"baby steps, right?"
You're doing great—every kid gets there at their own pace.
Switching to fluoride-free can definitely ease the stress, especially at first. Another thing that worked for us was making a game out of spitting—sounds silly, but it helped our toddler get the hang of it quicker. And honestly, even if they swallow a tiny bit now and then, it's usually not a big deal. Like you said, every kid figures it out eventually...you're doing just fine!
