From what I’ve seen with my own kids, the electric brush timer does help them stick it out a bit longer, but it’s not a magic fix. If I’m not watching, they’ll still try to sneak off early or just mess around with it. I haven’t noticed fewer cavities just because of the brush type—seems like supervision and making it a habit matter way more. Honestly, if they’re just chewing on it, neither kind is really doing much.
That’s exactly what I see at home too—if I’m not hovering, my youngest will try to “brush” with the handle or just wave the thing around like a magic wand. The timer’s nice in theory, but if they’re zoning out or just chomping on the bristles, it doesn’t matter if it’s electric, manual, or powered by fairy dust. Have you ever tried turning brushing into a race? Sometimes that works... until someone cheats.
My kid thinks the toothbrush is a lightsaber half the time, so I get the magic wand thing. The race idea backfired for us—mine just started "winning" by skipping brushing altogether. Honestly, I’m not convinced electric brushes are any more magical unless you stand there and supervise anyway. Does anyone’s kid actually brush better with the fancy ones, or is it just a pricier distraction?
Honestly, I’m not convinced electric brushes are any more magical unless you stand there and supervise anyway.
I get where you’re coming from—honestly, a lot of parents expect the electric brush to be a fix-all, but it’s not always that simple. I do see some kids do better with them, especially if they struggle with manual dexterity or just get bored fast. But yeah, the “magical” part only works if someone’s actually watching to make sure they’re brushing, which is tough after a long day. Sometimes the novelty wears off too, and then it’s just another gadget sitting on the sink. For some families, though, the built-in timers help more than anything else we’ve tried... but it’s rarely perfect.
I remember when my grandkids got their first electric brushes—thought it was going to be the answer to all our prayers. Fast forward a week, and I’m still finding toothpaste splatters on the mirror and someone’s always “done” in about thirty seconds. The timer is great, but only if they don’t just stand there daydreaming while it buzzes away. At their age, I think the real magic is an adult peeking in every now and then... or bribing them with stickers.
