That sounds a lot like what happens at my house. My daughter went through a phase where every brush head looked like it had survived a tornado—bristles splayed in every direction, sometimes bits actually missing. We tried both brands too, and honestly, I didn’t notice much difference in durability either. I’ve read that some kids just need time to get the hang of gentle brushing... Easier said than done, right? At least their teeth are getting cleaned, even if I feel like I’m constantly restocking brush heads.
At least their teeth are getting cleaned, even if I feel like I’m constantly restocking brush heads.
I get what you mean about the constant restocking, but honestly, I started worrying if all those destroyed brush heads meant my kid was brushing *too* hard. My ortho warned me that aggressive brushing can actually damage gums or push them back over time, especially with braces (which my daughter just got). I used to think “well, at least her teeth are clean,” but now I’m way more anxious about technique than I was before.
We switched to Sonicare for Kids because it has a pressure sensor—supposedly it buzzes if they press too hard. It’s not perfect, but it’s helped her realize when she’s scrubbing like she’s cleaning grout. The heads still get a bit wild after a month or so, but not nearly as bad as before. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid, but after seeing some gum recession myself, I’d rather replace heads than risk long-term issues. Anyone else worry about this stuff? Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one stressing over every little thing...
I used to think “well, at least her teeth are clean,” but now I’m way more anxious about technique than I was before.
Honestly, I totally relate to this. I’m always second-guessing if my kid is brushing right or just going through the motions. The pressure sensor thing sounds helpful—does it actually make a difference, or do they just ignore the buzzing after a while? I keep wondering if I should be supervising every brush session, or if that’s just me being overbearing. Is anyone else standing over their kid’s shoulder for the full two minutes?
I get where you’re coming from—sometimes I feel like a toothbrush referee. My youngest just zones out if I’m not there, but the pressure sensor did help at first. After a few weeks, though, she kinda stopped noticing it unless I reminded her. I still end up hovering more than I’d like, but I figure it’s better than cavities down the line...
I still end up hovering more than I’d like, but I figure it’s better than cavities down the line...
I totally get the impulse to hover, but sometimes I wonder if we’re actually making it harder for them to take responsibility. My oldest started brushing better when I backed off a bit (not easy for me, honestly). We switched from Sonicare to Oral-B Junior because the round brush head seemed less overwhelming for her, and she liked the timer music. She got more into it when she felt like it was her “thing,” not mine. Maybe different approaches work for different kids, but letting go a bit actually helped us in the long run.
