That’s hilarious about the “every other day” pitch—my daughter once tried to argue that her teeth would “clean themselves” if she just swished enough water around. Kids are so creative when they want out of something, right? I totally get what you mean about the techy brushes helping out. We tried one with a timer and it did make things a bit smoother, but there are still those days where it feels like I’m negotiating a peace treaty just to get her to brush.
I guess it comes in waves—some weeks she’s all about the lights and music, other times it’s back to dragging her feet. I try not to stress too much when it’s tough, since I figure as long as we keep at it, the habit will stick eventually. It’s nice hearing that other parents go through these little battles too. Do you ever feel like you’re repeating yourself a thousand times? Sometimes I wonder if she even hears me... but then she’ll suddenly recite the brushing rules back to me, so maybe it’s sinking in after all.
My son once tried to convince me that “chewing gum counts as brushing.” Gotta admire the creativity, right? I totally get the feeling of repeating myself on loop—sometimes I swear I’m just background noise. We went low-budget and made a sticker chart, which actually worked for a while. Not perfect, but hey, it’s cheaper than another fancy toothbrush. Some days it’s a battle, other days he’s the toothbrushing police... go figure.
Ha, the sticker chart thing brings back memories—my daughter loved it until she just started sticking the stickers on her toys instead. Have you ever tried letting your son pick out his own toothpaste? Sometimes the novelty factor helps, at least for a week or two.
Have you ever tried letting your son pick out his own toothpaste? Sometimes the novelty factor helps, at least for a week or two.
That toothpaste trick is gold, but I totally get the “for a week or two” part. My son was obsessed with anything blue, so we let him pick this wild-looking bubblegum flavor. He was excited... until he realized it didn’t taste like actual gum. Back to square one.
Here’s what worked for us—step by step:
1. We started brushing together, almost like a game (sometimes with music).
2. Let him “brush” my teeth (which mostly meant poking me in the cheek), then swapped roles.
3. Gave him a choice between two toothbrushes. Somehow, picking the “dino brush” made it more fun.
I’ll admit, sticker charts didn’t last long either—he ended up decorating his closet door. Honestly, some days are just a battle and I try not to stress too much if we miss a perfect brush here and there. As long as he’s getting the habit most days, I call that a win.
Honestly, some days are just a battle and I try not to stress too much if we miss a perfect brush here and there. As long as he’s getting the habit most days, I call that a win.
I get where you’re coming from, but after dealing with braces as a teen, I wish my parents had pushed a little harder. Missing even a few days here and there led to way more plaque than I realized. Sometimes consistency matters more than making it “fun.”