I hear you on the stickers—reward charts sound great in theory, but I could never keep up with them either. Half the time I’d forget where I even put the stickers, let alone actually hand them out. Timers worked better for us too. My youngest loved racing the sand timer... it became a game to see if she could brush “just right” before it ran out.
Funny you mention flavors. My kids are obsessed with that blue raspberry toothpaste, which honestly smells like candy. At first, I thought it was a bad idea—like, shouldn’t they know toothpaste isn’t a treat? But honestly, if it gets them brushing without a fuss, who cares. The only thing is, I started worrying they’d eat it like dessert, so now I have to keep an eye out.
The foam thing is real. My son will come out of the bathroom looking like he just lost a pie-eating contest, and somehow there’s still a big spot he missed in the back. I started using those little disclosing tablets once in a while (the ones that turn plaque pink). It’s kind of gross, but he thinks it’s hilarious to see his teeth turn colors. It definitely helps him see where he needs to brush better.
Has anyone else tried electric toothbrushes with their kids? Mine are kind of obsessed with the buzzing. I feel like it helps, but sometimes I wonder if they’re just playing around instead of actually brushing. Do you think it really makes a difference, or is it just another gadget?
Electric toothbrushes are honestly a bit of a double-edged sword in my house. My kid thinks the buzzing is hilarious—like, he’ll turn it on and just let it vibrate in his mouth while he makes monster noises. I’m not convinced he’s getting any actual cleaning done half the time, but at least he’s not fighting me to brush. I guess that’s progress?
I got braces as an adult (which, by the way, is a whole different level of fun), and my orthodontist basically insisted on an electric brush. I do think it helps get in all the weird angles, especially with brackets and wires, but for kids... eh, depends on the kid. If they’re just using it as a toy, probably not much benefit. But if you can get them to slow down and actually use it like a brush instead of a lightsaber, I think it does make a difference.
And those disclosing tablets? Genius. My son looked like he’d eaten a pack of pink highlighters the first time, but at least now he gets why brushing matters. It’s gross but effective—kind of sums up parenting in general.
The disclosing tablets are a game changer, but man, the mess they make... my daughter looked like she’d lost a battle with a magenta marker. We’ve tried electric and manual brushes—she’s more into the electric for the novelty, but half the time she’s just giggling at the noise and not actually brushing. What’s worked best for us is breaking it down: first, we brush together (monkey see, monkey do), then I let her “check” my teeth for missed spots. It kind of turns it into a team effort instead of a twice-a-day argument. Not sure it’ll last forever, but for now, less drama at bedtime.
That team approach really does make a difference—kids pick up so much just by watching us. I’ve seen parents use a little sand timer or play a short song to keep brushing on track, which helps with focus when the novelty wears off. The mess from those tablets is real, though... I usually just let it slide as long as they’re actually brushing.
The mess from those tablets is real, though... I usually just let it slide as long as they’re actually brushing.
I hear you about those tablets—my grandkids used them once and it looked like a crime scene in the bathroom. I get the “let it slide” approach, but I found that making a bit of a game out of cleaning up together after brushing actually helped keep them interested. Plus, it taught them responsibility for their own mess. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it worked for us and made things a little less chaotic.