Letting kids pick their own stuff is such a game changer. I used to think fancy toothbrushes were a waste, but honestly, if a $2 unicorn brush gets my son to actually brush, it’s money well spent. We did the sticker chart too, but I’ll admit—I started running out of prize ideas pretty quick. One thing that helped us on a tight budget: we turned brushing into a “race” to see who could finish all their teeth first (spoiler: he always “wins”). Not sure it’s dentist-approved, but hey, teeth are getting cleaned and nobody’s crying... that’s a win in my book.
Turning brushing into a race definitely sounds fun for kids, but I always get a bit nervous about the speed factor. I’ve seen some little ones get really into “winning” and end up giving their teeth a quick once-over instead of a good, thorough clean. It’s tough, because you want brushing to be positive, not a power struggle or something they dread.
I totally get the appeal of making it a game—anything to avoid tears and tantrums, right? Still, maybe instead of racing, you could try using a two-minute timer or even a favorite song. A lot of kids’ toothbrushing apps have built-in timers with silly animations, which keeps them engaged without the rush. I know it’s not as exciting as always “winning,” but I’ve watched some kids actually get excited just to see the timer run out or the animation finish.
The unicorn brush idea is great, by the way. Letting them pick their own stuff can make all the difference. But I’d say just keep an eye on the technique if you’re doing races—sometimes you have to slow things down even if it means losing that “game” feeling for a bit. It’s tricky to balance fun and effectiveness... honestly, I still worry about it with my own niece.
Not trying to rain on the parade—just sharing what I’ve seen go sideways sometimes. At the end of the day, if everyone’s teeth are clean and nobody’s crying, that’s already a huge win in my book too.
Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of parents go the “race” route and I get why—it’s so tempting when you’re desperate to avoid a meltdown. But yeah, it can backfire if kids start thinking faster is better. I’ve had little patients come in with plaque still hanging around because they were so focused on “winning” the game.
What seems to work better for a lot of families is making the timer itself the “challenge.” Like, can you keep brushing until the song ends? Or, can you brush every tooth before the silly dinosaur on the app finishes his dance? It’s less about speed and more about sticking with it, which is really what we want anyway.
Letting them pick their own brush or toothpaste—totally agree, that’s huge. My niece went through a phase where she’d only brush with her glittery purple brush. Whatever works, right? Sometimes I’ll even suggest parents brush alongside their kids; modeling good technique can make a bigger difference than any game.
At the end of the day, if brushing isn’t a battle and teeth are actually clean, that’s honestly all anyone can ask for.
Sometimes I’ll even suggest parents brush alongside their kids; modeling good technique can make a bigger difference than any game.
This totally worked for us. My daughter was super anxious about brushing, but when I brushed my teeth at the same time, she got way more into it. We even made silly faces in the mirror. The timer thing helps too—she loves picking a song. I do worry sometimes she’s just playing around and not really brushing, but at least it’s not a meltdown every night anymore.
Mirror brushing is a game-changer, right? My niece used to treat toothbrushes like they were torture devices, but once we started brushing together and making weird faces, it was suddenly the highlight of her bedtime routine. Not saying she’s ready for a dental hygiene commercial, but at least she’s not running away with the toothpaste anymore.
I totally get the worry about her just goofing off instead of actually brushing. My trick has been the “show me your sparkle” check at the end—she gets to show off her teeth, and I do a quick once-over. Sometimes I’ll spot a rogue bit of dinner and we’ll do a “bonus brush.” She thinks it’s hilarious when I pretend to find a “broccoli forest” stuck in her teeth.
The song timer is a solid move. We used to use the classic “Happy Birthday” twice, but she got bored fast. Now it’s all about picking a song on my phone. If she’s really in a silly mood, I’ll challenge her to brush until the chorus hits, or we’ll have a dance break mid-brush. Not exactly textbook technique, but it keeps her at the sink.
If you’re worried about technique slipping, maybe try the “Simon Says” approach? I’ll say, “Simon says brush your top teeth,” or “Simon says tiny circles.” She gets a kick out of catching me when I forget to say Simon. It’s goofy, but it helps her focus on the actual brushing part, not just the fun.
Honestly, as long as she’s not melting down, you’re winning. The rest—good habits, better technique—will come with time. At least that’s what I tell myself when I’m scraping toothpaste off the mirror for the third time this week...
