I’ve been through the electric vs. manual debate with my own kids, and honestly, the electric brush was cool for about a week. After that, it was back to the usual “Do I really have to brush?” routine. In my experience, just getting them to stick with it every day matters way more than which brush they use. Sometimes a sticker chart works better than any fancy gadget.
Totally agree that the novelty of an electric brush wears off fast. My youngest was obsessed with his “robot toothbrush” for maybe five days, and then it was back to the same old stalling tactics. I’ve tried both types, and honestly, if they’re just going to chew on the bristles or rush through it, it doesn’t matter how high-tech the brush is.
What’s made any difference at our house is routine—same time, every day, no exceptions. I used to get sucked into thinking a new gadget would magically make them want to brush, but nope. The sticker chart thing? It actually worked better than I expected. We even did little prizes for a full week of brushing without complaints... nothing fancy, just extra bedtime stories or picking dinner.
I will say, though, my oldest has braces now and the electric does seem to help him get around all the wires a bit better. But for most kids? Consistency beats gadgets every time.