I get what you mean about the light-up toothbrushes losing their magic fast. My nephew was obsessed for maybe three days, then went right back to trying to sneak out of brushing. And I totally get the concern about screens being distracting, but honestly, I’ve found a short video or app can sometimes help—at least for a little while. I know it’s not ideal, but when you’re desperate to get a kid through two minutes of brushing without a meltdown, sometimes you just need whatever works.
For me, growing up, my parents tried everything—songs, timers, even making up stories about “tooth monsters.” The only thing that really stuck was when they let me pick out my own toothpaste flavor. Once I got to choose (bubblegum, every time), I started looking forward to brushing. It didn’t make it fun forever, but it was enough of a change that it broke the cycle of fighting about it.
Now that I’m dealing with braces as an adult, I wish I’d been more into oral care as a kid. There’s only so much silly songs can do once you’re older and dealing with wires and rubber bands. Makes me wonder if all those “gimmicks” are really so bad if they help build better habits early on. Maybe it’s not about less or more—maybe it’s just about mixing things up when something stops working?
Anyway, every kid’s different. Some love the silly stuff, others need the novelty of gadgets or apps. Sometimes you just have to keep switching tactics... kind of like with adults and flossing (still working on that one myself).
Letting kids pick their own toothpaste was a game-changer for us too—my daughter went through a whole “strawberry sparkle” phase. I used to worry that all these gimmicks were just a waste of money, but honestly, the endless nagging and tantrums were way worse. We tried the light-up brushes (broke in a week), songs, even a sticker chart. Nothing lasted long, but every new thing bought us a few peaceful nights. It does add up cost-wise, though, so now we mostly stick to switching up flavors and using a kitchen timer. Not perfect, but I’ll take less drama where I can get it...
Strawberry sparkle toothpaste...that brings back memories. We definitely went through the “pick your own flavor” phase, and honestly, I’m with you—anything for a bit less drama at bedtime. Did you ever try letting her brush your teeth while you brushed hers? Weirdly, that worked for us for a while. I hear you on the cost, though. I still cringe when I see how many half-used tubes we’ve got under the sink. Do you think they actually get bored of flavors, or is it just the novelty wearing off?
I totally get the half-used tubes problem—my bathroom drawer is basically a graveyard for toothpaste flavors that were “the favorite” for about a week. Honestly, I think it’s a bit of both: they get bored of the taste, but also, the novelty of picking wears off fast. For a while, we tried making up silly brushing songs and turning it into a race (who can brush the longest without stopping), and that actually helped more than the flavors. Has anyone else noticed if routines or games work better than just switching up toothpaste?
That toothpaste graveyard sounds way too familiar—mine’s got every “unicorn sparkle” and “bubble blast” flavor under the sun. I’ve noticed the same thing with my own kiddos and with families I see: new flavors are fun for, like, a minute, but games or routines seem to keep them going longer. The brushing song thing is great—sometimes I’ll suggest parents use an app that plays silly music for two minutes, and it weirdly works better than any fancy toothpaste.
I do wonder, though, if it’s about giving kids some control over the process? Like, letting them pick out their own toothbrush or sticker chart. My youngest went through a phase where she’d only brush if her stuffed bunny “helped.” It was ridiculous but hey, whatever gets those teeth clean. Has anyone tried letting their kids brush your teeth as part of the routine? Messy, but it turns into a whole event...
