That’s a fair point—braces definitely up the stakes. I’ve seen kids turn brushing into a full-on foam party, but then miss half the metalwork. Sometimes I’ll suggest a “mirror check” game: whoever finds the most missed spots wins... nothing, but hey, bragging rights matter at that age. Reward charts can work, too, especially if you sneak in a lesson about technique. A little mess is fine, but you’re right—clean teeth beat clean counters every time.
Mirror check is genius, honestly. I tried something similar with my nephew—turned it into a “spy mission” where he had to spot any leftover gunk on his braces using a flashlight. He got super into it, and weirdly, started brushing better just because it felt like a game. I’ve noticed music helps too… set a timer with their favorite song, and suddenly two minutes doesn’t feel like forever. Messy sink? Eh, worth it if the teeth are actually clean.
I get the appeal of making it a game, but honestly, when my grandkids visit, I find the simpler the better. All those gadgets and tricks just made cleanup more of a headache for me. Sometimes, just brushing together and chatting works wonders—kids pick up more from watching than we realize.
That makes a lot of sense. I’ve noticed with my youngest, if I just brush my teeth alongside her and talk about our day, she gets more into it than when I try to make a big production out of it. Do your grandkids ever ask questions while you’re brushing together? Sometimes mine will just mimic what I’m doing without me even realizing. It’s funny how much they pick up just by watching us, isn’t it?
It’s wild how much they absorb just from watching, isn’t it? My oldest grandkid barely says a word during brushing, but every so often she’ll ask something totally unexpected—like why toothpaste is minty or if sharks brush their teeth. I’ve found the less I fuss over the routine, the more relaxed (and thorough) she gets. Sometimes I catch her checking her teeth in the mirror just like I do… makes me realize those little habits really stick. You’re definitely onto something with just making it part of your time together instead of a big event.
