We had a similar situation with my granddaughter—her mouthguard seemed to have a mind of its own. One time we found it tucked inside a shoe... no idea how it got there. Anyway, routine definitely made a difference for us too, but honestly, she needed a bit of extra motivation at first. We tried rewards like stickers and small treats initially, which worked wonders for a few weeks. But after a while, she just naturally adapted and didn't need the incentives anymore. I think sometimes kids just need that initial push to form good habits, and then it becomes second nature. Every kid's different though, so what worked for us might not be the same for everyone else. Glad to hear your routine approach helped—it's reassuring to know we're not alone in this mouthguard mystery business!
Interesting you mention rewards—I tried that with my son, but honestly it backfired a bit. He started expecting treats for every little thing... brushing teeth, homework, even tidying toys. Eventually, we had to phase it out and stick strictly to routine. Guess every kid really is different.
"He started expecting treats for every little thing... brushing teeth, homework, even tidying toys."
Haha, sounds familiar. Wondering though—did phasing out rewards help him become more responsible about dental habits, or did you have to find another trick? I'm still figuring out my own motivation sometimes...
Haha, I feel this one. We tried the whole reward thing too, and it backfired spectacularly—my kid started negotiating like a seasoned lawyer every night before brushing teeth. Eventually, we phased out treats and switched to a sticker chart (cheaper and less sugary, win-win). It worked for a while, but honestly, the novelty wore off pretty quick.
Now we're just relying on good old-fashioned nagging and reminders about cavities and dentist drills... seems to be working better than expected. But I'm curious—has anyone found a trick that actually sticks long-term? Or are we all doomed to nightly negotiations until they're teenagers?
We've been through something similar at our house. My daughter was a master negotiator too—honestly, I was impressed by her creativity. Eventually, we shifted the focus from rewards to making dental care feel more grown-up and independent. Letting her pick out her own toothbrush and toothpaste flavors helped a lot. It gave her a sense of control, and now she actually looks forward to brushing (most nights, anyway...). Might be worth a try if you haven't already.
