I get what you mean about engagement being key, but I actually think the tool still matters a bit more than we give it credit for. My youngest used to struggle with brushing properly, even when we turned it into a game. Once we switched to an electric brush with a pressure sensor, though, it was like night and day—she didn’t just play around with it. The feedback from the brush seemed to help her figure out how much pressure to use and where she was missing spots. Disclosing tablets are great, but for us, the tech nudges really did make a difference. Maybe it depends on the kid?
Interesting point. I actually tried an electric brush for my son but he just got distracted by the buzzing and lights, ended up rushing through it even more. For him, getting hands-on with a regular brush and some supervision worked out better. Guess every kid’s different.
For him, getting hands-on with a regular brush and some supervision worked out better.
That’s actually pretty common. Some kids just don’t like the sensory stuff with electric brushes. I’ve noticed with my niece, she started brushing better when we switched back to manual and made it a “game” with her. Technique matters more than the tool, honestly. Consistency and a little supervision seem to make the biggest difference, at least in my experience.
We tried an electric with my youngest because, you know, “faster and more fun!”—but she acted like it was a medieval torture device. Switched back to a manual brush and suddenly brushing wasn’t a wrestling match. I totally agree, the fancy gadgets are cool, but if your kiddo actually lets you brush their teeth with the plain old kind, that’s a win. Plus, way cheaper… which is always a bonus in my book.
I totally get where you’re coming from—if manual works, why mess with it? But I’ll admit, we had almost the opposite experience at my house. My oldest was super resistant to brushing, and I dreaded the nightly struggle. We tried a kid’s electric brush on a whim (one of those cheap ones with cartoon characters), and for whatever reason, the novelty actually helped. She thought the buzzing was hilarious and wanted to do it herself, which was a win for us.
I hear you on the price though. Some of those electric brushes are way over the top, especially if your kid hates them anyway. But sometimes you can find basic ones on sale that don’t break the bank—definitely not a must-have, but they can be handy if manual brushing turns into a daily meltdown.
Honestly, I think it just depends on the kid. If manual is working and everyone’s happy, I wouldn’t bother switching either... but for stubborn brushers, sometimes a gadget is worth a shot.
