Tricks to get kids excited about brushing teeth

Totally agree with the sticker chart idea - it's simple but effective. Another thing I've noticed helps is letting kids pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste flavor. It sounds minor, but giving them a sense of control or ownership can really boost their enthusiasm. My niece hated brushing until she got to choose a sparkly unicorn brush and bubblegum-flavored toothpaste (which, honestly, sounds gross to me, but hey, whatever works...).

Also, timing matters. If you brush your teeth alongside them, it becomes more of a shared activity rather than a chore they're forced into alone. Kids love mimicking adults, so seeing you brush regularly sets a good example and makes it feel normal and routine. Plus, it gives you a chance to casually demonstrate proper technique without turning it into a lecture.

Charts and stickers are great motivators initially, but combining them with these little tweaks can help build lasting habits instead of just short-term compliance.

You're spot on about brushing alongside them - it really does make a difference. My son used to dread brushing his teeth until we started making it a family thing. Now he actually reminds me if I'm running late, haha. I also second the toothbrush choice idea; he picked out this dinosaur brush that roars (yes, it literally roars), and suddenly brushing became way cooler.

One other thing we've tried is playing a short song or video clip that's exactly two minutes long. It helps him understand how long he needs to brush without me nagging him about timing. Plus, it turns brushing into something fun rather than just another chore. Sticker charts were great at first, but I found that once the novelty wore off, these little tweaks - like choosing their own gear or brushing together - really helped cement the habit long-term.

"Sticker charts were great at first, but I found that once the novelty wore off..."

Haha, same here. Sticker charts lasted about a week in our house. Curious though, does the roaring toothbrush get annoying after a while? Considering it, but worried I'll regret it later...

We tried the roaring toothbrush too, and honestly, it wasn't as bad as I expected. At first, my daughter loved it - she'd giggle and brush longer just to hear the sound. But after a couple weeks, the novelty wore off, and it became just another toothbrush. Thankfully, the roaring wasn't overly loud or annoying, just mildly repetitive. I'd say it's worth a shot if you're struggling with brushing routines, but don't expect miracles long-term...

We had a similar experience, but honestly, I found the roaring sound a bit distracting after a while. We switched to using colorful sand timers instead - less gimmicky, but surprisingly effective at keeping my son engaged longer term. Might be worth considering if the novelty wears off...

We tried the roaring toothbrush too, and yeah, I get what you mean about the noise - it was cute at first but got old pretty fast. The sand timer idea sounds pretty neat though. We actually ended up using a sticker chart with my daughter. I know, sounds super basic, but honestly it worked wonders. She loved picking out stickers each night and seeing her progress visually seemed to motivate her way more than any fancy gadget we tried before. Plus, it's budget-friendly, which is always a bonus in my book.

But hey, whatever keeps them brushing regularly is a win in my opinion. Glad you found something that works for your son - sometimes simpler really is better!

We went through something similar with the noisy toothbrush - my son actually got a bit anxious about the sound after a few days. Sticker charts might seem basic, but honestly, sometimes the simplest solutions really do work best... Glad it's going well for you!

We tried sticker charts too, but my daughter quickly figured out how to negotiate extra stickers for minimal brushing effort... little hustler, haha. Eventually, we switched tactics and turned brushing into a mini dance party - picked her favorite song and brushed until it finished. Worked surprisingly well, plus the toothbrush noise got drowned out by the music. Sometimes keeping it simple (and fun) is the only way to go. Glad you found something that's working!

The music idea is quite clever - I've seen a lot of kids respond well to that approach. Sticker charts can definitely backfire once kids figure out the loopholes, haha. One thing I've recommended to parents is letting their child pick out their own toothbrush or toothpaste flavor at the store. It gives them a sense of control and ownership over brushing. Curious if anyone's tried this and noticed a difference in their kid's attitude toward brushing...

"One thing I've recommended to parents is letting their child pick out their own toothbrush or toothpaste flavor at the store."

We've done this too, and honestly, it worked pretty well at first. But after a while, the novelty wore off and we were back to square one. Has anyone found a way to keep the excitement going without constantly buying new toothbrushes or toothpaste flavors? Those character-themed brushes can get pricey after a while...

Have you tried turning brushing into a mini-game or challenge instead? We had the same issue -

"the novelty wore off and we were back to square one"

Haha, digital stickers - wish we'd had those back in my day! My parents used the good old-fashioned bribery method: a sticker chart taped to the fridge and the promise of ice cream if we filled it up. Worked like a charm...until my brother figured out he could sneak extra stickers when no one was looking. 🙄

Honestly though, the app idea sounds pretty clever. My grandkids visited last summer and we had a similar battle every night. I tried singing silly songs, but apparently my rendition of "Brush Your Teeth" isn't Grammy-worthy. Might have to give this animated timer thing a whirl next time they're here. If it saves me from another round of off-key singing and toothpaste splatter, I'm all in.

Digital stickers seem fun, but honestly, nothing beats good old-fashioned bribery. I remember trying everything to get my daughter to brush longer - songs, timers, even fancy toothbrushes that lit up. Nothing worked until I promised we'd read an extra bedtime story if she brushed properly. Worked great for a while...then she started bargaining - two stories for flossing too! Kids catch on quick, don't they? Anyway, that app timer sounds interesting, might help ease my anxiety about cavities next time the grandkids stay over.

Bribery definitely has its moments, haha. But honestly, I've found turning brushing into a family thing worked wonders for us. My son used to dread it until we started brushing together - making silly faces in the mirror, racing to see who could get the most bubbles... Suddenly it was less chore, more goofy bonding moment. Maybe try something like that with your grandkids next time they're over? Might ease your anxiety too if you're right there brushing alongside them.

We did something similar with our kids, though admittedly less creative, haha. When money was tight, we couldn't really justify fancy toothbrushes or special toothpastes, so we had to get a bit inventive. I remember one time we made up these goofy "tooth brushing Olympics" - timing each other to see who could brush the longest without laughing (spoiler: no one ever won that one!). It was silly, but it worked surprisingly well. Kids forgot they were doing something they hated and just enjoyed the game.

Your idea of brushing together is great though - wish we'd thought of that back then. Curious if anyone has found budget-friendly toothbrushes or toothpaste flavors their kids actually like? We've tried some cheaper fruity ones but they always taste kinda weird...

"I remember one time we made up these goofy 'tooth brushing Olympics' - timing each other to see who could brush the longest without laughing (spoiler: no one ever won that one!)."

Haha, love the tooth brushing Olympics idea. Reminds me of when my youngest went through a phase of absolutely refusing to brush unless we sang this ridiculous made-up song called "Brushy Brushy Monster." It was basically me growling lyrics about monsters attacking plaque and cavities... neighbors probably thought I'd lost it. But hey, whatever works, right?

As for budget-friendly toothpaste, we've had mixed luck too. Weird fruity flavors were always a miss here - kids said they tasted like medicine or candy gone wrong. Surprisingly, the cheap bubblegum flavor from our local dollar store ended up being a hit. Not sure if it's universally appealing or if my kids just have weird taste buds, but might be worth a shot if you haven't tried it yet.

And toothbrushes? Honestly, I just grab whatever's cheapest in bright colors and let them pick their favorite color. Somehow choosing their own color makes it feel special enough - at least that's worked so far...

Haha, these ideas are great. Wish I'd thought of something like that when my grandkids were younger... might've saved a lot of bedtime battles. Curious though, does the bubblegum toothpaste actually taste like bubblegum, or is it just sweet?

Wish I'd known about bubblegum toothpaste back then too... might've saved me some headaches with my own kids. But honestly, does tasting exactly like bubblegum even matter? I'd be more concerned if it's overly sweet - wouldn't that defeat the purpose of teaching them healthy habits? Also, does anyone know if these flavored toothpastes are as effective as regular ones? Always makes me a bit anxious thinking about cavities sneaking in...

Flavored toothpastes - bubblegum included - usually have the same fluoride content as regular toothpaste, so they're generally just as effective in preventing cavities. The sweetness you're concerned about typically comes from artificial sweeteners rather than sugar, so it doesn't contribute to decay. Still, I get your point about forming good habits early on... it makes sense to be cautious. But if bubblegum flavor helps kids brush regularly without a fuss, that's half the battle won already.

We've tried bubblegum toothpaste before, and honestly, it was a mixed bag. My daughter loved it at first - brushing went from a nightly struggle to her favorite part of bedtime. But after a while, she started treating it more like candy than toothpaste, wanting to brush multiple times a day (sounds great in theory, but...). Eventually, we switched back to mint just to reset expectations. So yeah, flavored toothpaste can help, but I'm curious if anyone else had issues with kids getting overly attached to the sweet stuff?