Dental care discussions and local services.
Discussion options
Toothpaste or mouthwash: which one do your kids actually use?
Trying to keep my 6-year-old’s teeth in good shape is, honestly, kind of a circus. She’ll brush her teeth (with some prodding), but I’m always second-guessing if she’s actually getting them clean or just eating the toothpaste. Lately, I’m seeing a lot of ads for kids’ mouthwashes that claim to help prevent cavities, and now I’m wondering if that’s worth adding to our routine.
I grew up with just brushing and flossing, no fancy rinses or anything, and my teeth turned out… okayish? Had a few fillings as a kid, not gonna lie. But these days it feels like there’s a product for everything. My daughter actually seems more excited about using a fun-tasting mouthwash than brushing sometimes (she calls it “magic swish”), but is that really doing anything if she’s not brushing well? Or is it just making her breath smell like bubblegum?
Would you stick with focusing on better brushing habits, or add in the mouthwash even if her brushing isn’t 100%? I don’t want to overcomplicate things or give her a false sense of security, but maybe the extra step helps? Curious what’s worked for your kids - do they actually use mouthwash regularly, or is it one of those things that just sits in the bathroom cabinet?
Join the conversation
Share your experience or ask a follow-up question.
20 replies
I totally get the “circus” feeling - same here with my 7-year-old. I’ve noticed that if I let him just swish and skip brushing, his teeth don’t feel clean at all.
In my experience, mouthwash is more like a bonus, not a replacement. We focus on brushing, but sometimes the “magic swish” helps motivate him to get through the whole routine. I wouldn’t rely on it alone, but it doesn’t hurt as an extra step.“is that really doing anything if she’s not brushing well? Or is it just making her breath smell like bubblegum?”
I actually have a bit of a different take - my daughter’s more likely to go through the motions with her brush but really puts effort into the mouthwash part. I know you said,
but for us, it’s been a bit of a gateway. Once she got into the habit of swishing, she seemed more open to brushing “the right way” instead of just half-hearted scrubbing. Maybe it’s the novelty? Either way, I agree brushing is key, but sometimes the order we do things in shakes up the routine just enough to make it work.“mouthwash is more like a bonus, not a replacement,”
That’s actually interesting - I’ve always wondered if switching up the order would help my son, who’s not a fan of brushing either. But doesn’t mouthwash just cover up the real issue if they’re not getting the brushing right? I get the novelty factor, but I worry he’d just rely on the “easy” part. Did you notice your daughter’s brushing actually improved long-term, or is it still hit-or-miss some days?
But doesn’t mouthwash just cover up the real issue if they’re not getting the brushing right?
It’s definitely hit-or-miss for us, honestly. My kid gets a kick out of mouthwash, but I agree - nothing really replaces a solid brushing. We tried letting her “swish” first as a motivator, but it didn’t magically make her more thorough with the brush. If anything, I have to watch that she doesn’t think mouthwash is a shortcut. Still, if it gets her in the bathroom and thinking about teeth, I count that as a tiny win.
If anything, I have to watch that she doesn’t think mouthwash is a shortcut.
That’s such a real concern. My nephew tried to convince us that “swishing” was enough - he thought it was like a magic eraser for teeth. Did you ever find a trick that made brushing seem less like a chore?
We tried a sticker chart for a while - every time my daughter brushed without complaining, she’d earn a sticker, and after a week she got to pick a small treat. Didn’t last forever, but it made brushing less of a battle for a bit. Ever notice if flavors make a difference? My kid hates mint but loves bubblegum toothpaste...
Ever notice if flavors make a difference? My kid hates mint but loves bubblegum toothpaste...
Totally get this - flavors seem to be a huge deal. I was always super anxious as a kid about brushing just because I hated the taste of mint toothpaste. Bubblegum or even the fruity ones were way less stressful for me. My niece is the same, and honestly, she’ll only use mouthwash if it’s grape flavored. Sticker charts didn’t last long for us either, but maybe it’s just about finding the right combo of flavor and routine? Still figuring it out...
Yeah, flavors are a big deal in our house too. My oldest flat out refuses anything minty - she says it “burns.” We went through a phase where she’d only use strawberry toothpaste, and honestly, if that’s what gets her to brush, I’m not complaining. I used to think mouthwash was the answer for my youngest, but turns out he just liked the novelty and stopped after a week. Have you noticed if your kid sticks with one flavor for a while or keeps wanting to switch it up? I’ve wondered if letting them pick their own at the store helps, or if it just adds to the drama.
Honestly, I’m not sure there’s a perfect routine. Some nights it feels like a win just getting them to brush at all, flavor or not. It’s kind of trial and error around here. You’re definitely not alone in figuring this out...
That’s so relatable - my youngest went through a watermelon toothpaste phase and now suddenly it’s “too sweet.” I let them pick at the store once, but it turned into this whole negotiation about flavors and characters on the box, which honestly made things trickier. Does anyone else’s kid flat-out refuse to brush if it’s the “wrong” flavor, or am I just lucky like that? Some nights I just cross my fingers and hope for the best...
My kid went through a bubblegum toothpaste obsession, then suddenly decided it was “gross” and would only use mint. We had a mini meltdown in the toothpaste aisle over a Paw Patrol tube once… Honestly, some nights I just give in if it means they’ll brush at all.
We had a similar saga with my oldest - first it was only the sparkly blue toothpaste, then suddenly that was “for babies” and he’d only tolerate anything that looked like what adults used. I get the meltdown thing... it’s wild how much power a cartoon character on a tube can have over your evening routine. Honestly, I’ve learned to pick my battles. If it takes letting him pick the flavor or even just using water some nights, I’ll do it. At least he’s brushing, you know?
Mouthwash is a total nonstarter here. Too “spicy,” apparently - even the ones labeled kid-friendly. I tried sneaking in those little fluoride rinses but got caught immediately. Sometimes you just gotta roll with what works and not stress if it’s not picture-perfect every night. Consistency matters more than the perfect product, at least in my experience.
Mouthwash is a total nonstarter here. Too “spicy,” apparently - even the ones labeled kid-friendly.
- Same here - mouthwash is like liquid fire to my youngest. Even the “bubblegum” ones are a no-go.
- Toothpaste is hit or miss, but if it’s got a robot or a dinosaur on it, it’s suddenly “the best ever.”
- Tried to gamify brushing with a timer app. Worked for a week, then back to negotiations.
- At this point, I just want them to brush. If that means “plain water night,” so be it. Dental hygiene shouldn’t feel like defusing a bomb... but sometimes, wow.
Dental hygiene shouldn’t feel like defusing a bomb... but sometimes, wow.
That line made me laugh - because honestly, it *does* feel like that some nights. I totally get the frustration when even the “kid-friendly” mouthwashes are a hard no. My own kid acted like I was trying to poison him with the watermelon one. I’ve come to terms with the fact that if toothpaste is dinosaur-branded and they’re actually brushing (even if it’s more about the dino than the fluoride), that’s still a win.
I wouldn’t stress too much about mouthwash at this age, especially if brushing is already a battle. Toothpaste and a decent brush job matter way more for kids. If it’s “plain water night,” that’s still better than nothing. Sometimes it’s just about picking your battles, right? In my experience, those little wins add up over time… even if you feel like you’re negotiating with a tiny, toothpaste-covered hostage negotiator half the week.
even if you feel like you’re negotiating with a tiny, toothpaste-covered hostage negotiator half the week.
That line is too real. My niece will literally clamp her mouth shut and run laps around the kitchen if she even *sees* the mouthwash bottle. I used to stress about it, but honestly, getting any paste on her teeth (dino or unicorn flavor) feels like a miracle at this point. You’re right - those little wins matter way more than we give ourselves credit for.
Getting my nephew to brush is like trying to wrangle a greased pig - he’s mastered the art of hiding behind doors and “forgetting” his toothbrush. Mouthwash? Not even in the realm of possibility. I used to get all worked up, worried his teeth would fall out or something, but lately I just count it as a win if he lets me do a quick swipe with the dino paste. Sometimes I wonder if the struggle is universal or if we just got extra stubborn kids... Either way, I’m learning to celebrate those tiny victories.
Toothpaste is the only thing my son will tolerate, and even that’s a stretch. Mouthwash? Not a chance - he says it “burns his tongue” even with the mildest kid flavors. I read somewhere that brushing does way more for plaque than mouthwash anyway, so I just focus on making brushing less of a battle. We’ve got toothbrushes with lights, timers, even one that plays music... It’s all about making it fun, but honestly, some days it’s just a quick swipe and we call it good. I figure consistency matters more than perfection at this age.
Toothpaste is the only thing my daughter will go near, too. She acts like mouthwash is some sort of medieval torture device - one whiff and she’s dramatically clutching her throat. I’ve tried those “gentle” kid rinses, but apparently they’re still too spicy for her. At this point, if we get two minutes of brushing without a meltdown, I’m calling it a win. I keep telling myself that as long as we’re doing it every day, eventually she’ll get used to it... or at least stop hiding the toothbrush behind the toilet.
Mouthwash always felt like liquid fire to me too, even as an adult. I still have to brace myself before using it, and I’ll admit there are days I just skip it altogether. My grandkids are the same - one sniff and they’re off running. Toothpaste is about all we manage around here, and even then, it’s a bit of a production. I figure as long as she’s brushing every day, you’re doing better than most. Kids have a sixth sense for finding the grossest spot to stash a toothbrush, don’t they?
Kids have a sixth sense for finding the grossest spot to stash a toothbrush, don’t they?
Tell me about it... I swear my youngest once hid hers behind the toilet tank. About mouthwash, have you tried the alcohol-free kind? It’s way milder and doesn’t burn. We switched and now it’s not such a battle, plus it’s cheaper in bulk. Does anyone else notice the regular stuff just dries your mouth out anyway?