Tricks to get kids excited about brushing teeth

It’s kind of funny how much they notice, even when you think they’re not paying attention. My youngest used to just stare at me brushing, and I never thought much of it. Then one day, he asked if he could “make his teeth shiny” like mine. I’ve tried a few tricks, but honestly, what’s worked best is just making it a low-pressure thing - no timers or songs every single night (though we do those sometimes for fun).

One step that’s helped: I let him pick out his own toothbrush and toothpaste. He went for the weirdest flavor possible, but hey, he brushes without a fuss now. If he asks off-the-wall questions - like why toothpaste foams up - I’ll do my best to answer, but mostly I just let those moments happen. It seems like the less I make it a “battle,” the more willing he is.

I used to worry about whether he was doing it right every time, but now I figure consistency matters more than perfection. Kids really do mirror what they see...even if you think they're not listening half the time.

Letting them pick their own toothbrush is genius - my kid picked a neon green one with a dinosaur on it, and now he acts like he’s brushing with a magic wand. I used to get all stressed about technique too, but honestly, I’ve realized as long as we’re getting the basics in, it’s a win. I tried those fancy “toothbrushing apps” for a while, but after the third time my phone nearly dove into the sink, I called it quits.

I hear you on the weird toothpaste flavors - mine grabbed “bubblegum explosion” and I couldn’t even be mad because hey, at least he’s not fighting me about it. I’m also on a tight budget, so I just keep an eye out for sales and stock up when I can.

It’s funny how sometimes the less you push, the more they want to do it. I figure if he’s brushing in the morning and before bed most days, we’re ahead of where I was at his age...and my mom still has stories about chasing me around with a toothbrush.

Letting kids pick their own toothbrush really does work wonders. My youngest went for one with a glittery handle and unicorns - suddenly brushing was her “special time.” I used to stress about the perfect brushing technique, but honestly, just getting her to do it willingly felt like a win. I’ve actually never had much luck with those apps either...they just became another thing to argue over. At the end of the day, if she’s brushing without a meltdown, I count that as progress.

Letting them pick their own toothbrush is a game-changer, I agree. My daughter went through a phase where she’d only brush if her toothbrush had dinosaurs on it - didn’t matter how “good” the brush was, just that it had T-Rexes. I used to get hung up on technique too, but honestly, if they’re brushing without a battle, that’s half the battle won. Those apps never worked for us either...they just made things more complicated than they needed to be. Sometimes you’ve just got to pick your battles and celebrate the small wins.

I get where you’re coming from about picking your battles, but I sometimes wonder if letting kids call all the shots with brushing is the right way to go. When my grandkids visit, they love picking out the wildest brushes - unicorns, superheroes, you name it - but I’ve noticed they’ll still try to rush through brushing, or just chew on the bristles and call it done. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t help worrying that if we focus too much on making it “fun,” we might be missing the point about actually cleaning their teeth properly.

Back when my own kids were little, we didn’t have all these apps or fancy brushes. We used to make up silly songs and brush together. It wasn’t perfect, but at least I could keep an eye on their technique. I know it’s tempting to let things slide for the sake of peace, but sometimes I think a little supervision goes a long way - even if it means a few more arguments here and there. Anyone else feel like we’re letting convenience win out over good habits?

if we focus too much on making it “fun,” we might be missing the point about actually cleaning their teeth properly.

Totally get what you mean. I’ve noticed with my niece, she’ll pick the sparkliest brush but still barely does a real cleaning. I’m in braces now and honestly, technique matters way more than the novelty factor. Do you think the apps and timers actually help, or just add another distraction? I kinda miss the days when parents just watched and corrected us.

I kinda miss the days when parents just watched and corrected us.

Right? It was a lot more straightforward back then. My kids always wanted those brushes with cartoon characters, but honestly, half the time they’d just chew on them or wave them around. Even now, as someone who’s had dentures and all sorts of dental work, I can tell you - fancy gadgets don’t mean much if you’re not actually getting in there and brushing properly.

I’ve seen those apps and timers. Maybe they help some families, but I feel like they just add another thing for kids to fuss over. I tried one with my granddaughter, and she was more interested in getting a high score than cleaning her teeth. Maybe I’m old school, but nothing beats just being there and showing them how it’s done. Technique is everything, especially if you want to avoid all the dental drama I’ve had over the years. Sometimes the “fun” part gets in the way of actually learning the right way to brush… but maybe that’s just me being a bit skeptical.

Sometimes the “fun” part gets in the way of actually learning the right way to brush…

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, if a cheap timer or a silly brush keeps my kids from fighting me every night, I’m all for it. Technique matters, sure - but getting them to actually start brushing without a meltdown is half the battle. I’d rather have them engaged, even if it means a little extra fuss now and then.

I totally get wanting to make brushing fun, but I do wonder if sometimes the “fun” stuff distracts my kids more than it helps. Like, my youngest just wants to play with the musical toothbrush and ends up brushing her nose half the time. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I kinda wish there was a middle ground - something engaging that doesn’t turn toothbrushing into a circus act every night. Anyone else’s kids just want to eat the toothpaste instead of actually brushing? It’s like a nightly comedy routine over here...

You’re definitely not alone - my grandkids used to get so wound up with those flashy toothbrushes, half the time they’d forget why they were in the bathroom in the first place. I do think some of the “fun” stuff can backfire, especially when it turns into more play than brushing. What worked for us was doing a silly song together, but still keeping the toothbrush pretty basic. And yes, that toothpaste-eating phase... seems like every kid goes through it, no matter how many times you explain it’s for cleaning, not snacking. I guess finding that balance just takes some trial and error.

That's interesting about the flashy toothbrushes actually causing more chaos than helping - I'd kind of assumed all the lights and characters would make kids more compliant, but maybe it just distracts them. The silly song idea sounds like a good compromise. Has anyone tried using those brushing apps with timers and rewards? I'm curious if the gamification helps, or if it just becomes another distraction like the flashy brushes.

We tried a brushing app with our youngest - one that had little games and gave out stars for brushing longer. At first, it was a hit, but honestly, it turned into a battle to get him to focus on the actual brushing instead of just watching the screen. The timer part was helpful, though. I think the simpler, the better... too many bells and whistles just made things more chaotic for us.

That sounds a lot like what happened at our place. We downloaded this “super fun” brushing app, and my son got so into collecting stars that he’d just stand there, toothbrush barely moving, eyes glued to the phone. I swear, he could’ve been brushing a potato for all the attention he paid to his teeth. The timer was the only part that actually made sense for us - at least we knew he was in there for two minutes.

We went back to basics after that. Now, we just play his favorite song for two minutes and do a silly dance while brushing (I look ridiculous, but hey, whatever works). It’s not high-tech, but at least he’s brushing and not staring at a screen.

Has anyone tried those toothbrushes that light up or play music? I’m kind of curious if those are less distracting than an app, or if it’s just more chaos...

Has anyone tried those toothbrushes that light up or play music? I’m kind of curious if those are less distracting than an app, or if it’s just more chaos...

We actually gave the light-up toothbrush a shot after the app thing flopped for us too. My kid was obsessed with the lights at first, but honestly, it didn’t distract him as much as the screen did. The novelty wore off after a week or two, but it helped get him interested in brushing again. The music ones are hit-or-miss - ours played some generic tune and he found it kind of annoying, but I’ve heard other parents say their kids love them.

I totally relate to the “silly dance” approach. It feels goofy but it works way better for us than any gadget. Sometimes I think all the tech just adds another layer of distraction. Going low-tech with a favorite song is simple and keeps them focused on brushing instead of whatever’s happening on a screen or toy.

If you do try one of those brushes, maybe just treat it as a short-term motivator rather than a long-term fix. At least that’s what worked in our house.

The light-up toothbrush was a brief hit at our place too - my daughter thought it was magical for about a week, then it became “just a toothbrush” again. I agree, screens are way more distracting. We ended up sticking with silly songs and making faces in the mirror... less fancy, but it works. Sometimes less is more, right?

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...