How I survived the teething stage (and kept my sanity)

I get the guilt about screen time too, but sometimes you just need to make it through the bedtime routine in one piece.

Honestly, I think you nailed it. We all worry about doing things “right,” but survival mode is real, especially with teething kids. If a little pretend tooth-brushing or phone time keeps everyone sane, that’s a win in my book. Plus, getting a kid obsessed with flossing? That’s practically a parenting trophy.

If a little pretend tooth-brushing or phone time keeps everyone sane, that’s a win in my book.

I’m with you on this. Honestly, if I could’ve distracted my kid with a YouTube video about flossing, I’d have done it twice. My orthodontist always says “whatever gets the job done,” and I think that applies to parenting too. Step one: survive. Step two: brush what you can. Step three: celebrate if anyone even touches floss.

Step one: survive. Step two: brush what you can. Step three: celebrate if anyone even touches floss.

That’s honestly the most realistic checklist I’ve seen. I used to stress about “perfect” brushing, but getting a toddler to even open their mouth some days felt like a win. Progress over perfection, right?

I get the whole “progress over perfection” thing, but does anyone else worry that if you let things slide too much, it just becomes the new normal? I mean, my parents were kind of chill about brushing and now I’m paying for it with braces and fillings. Maybe a little more structure isn’t always a bad thing, even if it’s tough with toddlers.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I was pretty lax about my own dental routine when I was younger (my folks didn’t really push it, either), and now I’ve got a mouthful of crowns to show for it. With my grandkids, what’s worked is making brushing non-negotiable - same time every day, no matter how tired or cranky they are. It’s not always perfect, but having that structure does seem to help them expect it, rather than fight it every night. I think a little consistency early on saves a lot of hassle (and expense) later... at least, that’s been my experience.