How do you get your kids to actually brush their teeth?

Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the electric brushes. My son actually thought it was a toy at first and just waved it around, so we had to go back to manual for a bit. Out of curiosity, did you ever try those little hourglass timers? I feel like they helped us more than anything else - he loved racing the sand.

- Tried the hourglass thing, but my kid ended up flipping it over and over... pretty sure he spent more time watching the sand than brushing.
- We switched to a toothbrush app with a cartoon monster that “eats” the plaque. Now he’s obsessed. Tech for the win, I guess.
- Not gonna lie, manual brushing still feels like herding cats some days.
- If only there was a toothbrush that played Mario Kart music when you brushed long enough - maybe then we’d have a shot.

We tried the sand timer too - same problem here. My kid was way more interested in flipping it than actually brushing. The app idea sounds promising, though. Which one did you use? I’m curious if it works long-term or if the novelty wears off. Manual brushing is a struggle for us too... I’ve noticed if I brush with him, he’s more likely to stick with it, but it’s still hit or miss. Anyone else find that rewards work, or does that just turn into a negotiation every night?

We tried the rewards thing for a while - stickers, little prizes, you name it. Not gonna lie, it started out great, but after a couple of weeks, my daughter would just try to bargain for bigger “prizes” or flat-out refuse if she wasn’t in the mood. It honestly felt like we were negotiating a hostage situation every evening. I get the appeal of rewards, but I’m not convinced they help build the actual habit long-term... at least not for us.

I’ve actually found that making brushing into a “family challenge” works better than any app or timer we tried. We all brush together, and whoever does it the longest (without stopping or getting distracted) gets to pick the bedtime story. It’s silly, but it taps into that competitiveness kids have, plus it doesn’t cost anything or require extra gadgets. Of course, there are still nights where she’s just not having it and I have to do most of the work, but it feels less like a bribe and more like a routine.

As for apps, we tried one of those animated tooth-brushing apps (can’t remember the name - maybe “Brushy Time” or something similar). It was fun for about a week, then she got bored and went back to wanting to play her usual games instead. I think novelty wears off fast unless your kid is super into screens.

Manual brushing is just hard with little kids, no way around it. But honestly, I think modeling the behavior and making it less of a “chore” helps more than anything else we’ve tried. Sometimes I even let her brush my teeth while I brush hers - messy, but at least we’re both laughing instead of fighting.

Sometimes I even let her brush my teeth while I brush hers - messy, but at least we’re both laughing instead of fighting.

That cracked me up - my nephew tried to “floss” my teeth once and I think I’m still recovering. I hear you on the rewards thing. We did sticker charts for a bit, but it felt like we were just escalating the prizes every time. At some point, I wondered if I was teaching him to only do stuff for a reward, not because it’s just part of the routine.

The family challenge idea sounds way more sustainable. Do you notice it helps with other routines too, or is it mostly just brushing? I’m curious if that competitive streak works for things like getting dressed or cleaning up toys. Also, have you ever tried electric toothbrushes for your daughter? My dentist swears by them for kids who get bored easily, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the extra hassle (or money).

The sticker chart thing felt exactly the same for us - like the rewards just kept getting bigger and suddenly it was all about what prize came next, not the brushing itself. I do think making it a family challenge helps with other routines, but not always. My kid definitely gets more into picking up toys if we turn it into a race, but getting dressed is still a struggle no matter what. About electric toothbrushes, I was super hesitant at first (they seem noisy and kind of intense for little kids), but after our dentist insisted, we gave it a shot. It actually helped a bit - she likes the vibration and it’s over faster, which seems to help with her attention span. Still, I worry about relying too much on gadgets...

Totally get what you mean about sticker charts turning into a prize hunt. We had the same thing happen - my daughter would brush, but only if she knew there was a bigger reward in it for her. It started to feel like I was negotiating with a tiny lawyer every night.

I hesitated with electric toothbrushes too. The noise freaked my son out at first, but now he thinks it’s hilarious - he calls it his “buzz brush.” I do think they help if your kid is easily distracted or just wants to get it done fast. But yeah, I also wonder if we’re just swapping one crutch for another.

What’s worked for us lately is letting them pick their own toothpaste flavor (within reason). My youngest went through a watermelon phase and suddenly brushing wasn’t such a battle. Sometimes I’ll put on a silly song and we all brush together - it’s chaotic, but at least everyone’s doing it. Guess I’m still figuring it out too...

It started to feel like I was negotiating with a tiny lawyer every night.

That really hits home - my oldest could probably out-argue me about bedtime routines at this point. We tried the electric brush route too, and honestly, the built-in timer was a game changer. The buzzing took some getting used to, but now it’s almost like a race to see who can brush the longest. Also, the silly song trick? Underrated. Sometimes tech helps (apps with brushing games are surprisingly motivating), but I get what you mean about not wanting to swap one crutch for another. Still searching for that magic balance...

I get the appeal of the tech stuff - my youngest was obsessed with the brushing app for a while, and it definitely got him moving. But I started wondering if we were just trading one battle for another. Like, instead of arguing about brushing, we were arguing about screen time or which character he wanted on the app that night.

What’s actually worked for us is letting him have a little more control over the routine itself. We made a “brushing chart” together (nothing fancy, literally paper and stickers), and he gets to pick his sticker each night if he brushes well. The novelty hasn’t totally worn off after a few months, surprisingly. It’s not perfect - there are still nights with negotiations - but it feels less like a tech dependency and more like something he owns.

I guess every kid’s different, but sometimes going low-tech has made things simpler for us. And honestly, some nights I just have to accept that it won’t be perfect... as long as most days are decent, I’ll take it.

Yeah, I totally get what you mean about trading one battle for another with the tech stuff. My kid got super into those brushing apps too, but then it turned into a whole thing about which song to pick or if the iPad was charged... kind of missed the point. We did the sticker chart thing too and honestly, it’s been more chill. Some nights are still a mess (like, why is toothpaste on the mirror??), but it feels less stressful overall. I figure as long as most days are good, that’s a win in my book.

- Sticker charts work better at our house too - less drama than the iPad routine.
- We keep a backup stash of fun toothbrushes so there’s always a “new” one when motivation dips.
- I’ve just accepted toothpaste art on the mirror as part of the process... at least they’re brushing, right?
- Some nights are chaos, but if they’re getting most brushes in, that’s good enough for me.

- Love the idea of backup toothbrushes - smart way to keep things fresh.
- We’ve tried sticker charts too, and honestly, they’re way less hassle than tech rewards. My kids get sidetracked on the iPad and forget why they got it in the first place.
- Toothpaste art... yeah, that’s just part of the territory. I figure as long as the bristles are hitting teeth, it counts.
- Some nights, it’s a total circus here too. If you’re hitting most of the brushes, you’re definitely winning.

Toothpaste art... yeah, that’s just part of the territory. I figure as long as the bristles are hitting teeth, it counts.

Toothpaste art is the true sign of a creative kid - or at least a distracted one. I still find mysterious splatters on the mirror. Has anyone tried singing while brushing? My niece will brush for the whole chorus of “Let It Go,” but if you cut her off early, all bets are off...

I’ve definitely witnessed the “toothpaste Jackson Pollock” phase - my nephew once managed to get blue stripes on the ceiling. Singing works, but I swear he brushes longer if we use a timer shaped like a dinosaur. Sometimes he’ll race it, sometimes he just stares at it, but hey, at least the brush stays in his mouth. I’ve tried stickers as rewards too, but honestly, half the time it’s about picking battles... as long as most of the teeth get hit, I call it a win.

That dinosaur timer sounds like a game-changer. Honestly, it’s impressive you’re trying different things - sometimes just getting the brush in their mouth is half the battle. I’ve seen so many parents stress over “perfect” brushing, but you’re right: if most teeth get some attention, it’s a win in my book too. The messes will clean up, but those habits stick around. You’re doing great.

I get why folks say “as long as most teeth get some attention, it’s a win,” but I’m not so sure it’s enough. My dentist used to tell me that missing the same spots over and over is how you end up with trouble down the line. I’m not saying every brush has to be perfect - heaven knows I’ve had my share of rushed mornings - but those hard-to-reach places really do matter, especially for kids with tight teeth.

When my grandkids visit, I try to make a bit of a game out of it - like “let’s see if we can find the sneaky molar in the back.” They grumble, but it helps. Maybe it’s just me, but I wish someone had pushed me a bit more about those “forgotten” teeth when I was younger. Now I’ve got a mouth full of crowns to show for it... Guess what I’m saying is, habits are great, but technique counts too.

Totally hear you on the technique vs. just getting it done. My kiddo would happily skip half his mouth if I didn’t hover nearby. I keep wondering - do most parents actually watch their kids brush, or just trust them to do it right? I’ve tried letting mine use a little mirror so he can see those back teeth, but honestly, it’s hit or miss. Does anyone else feel like they’re fighting a losing battle with those sneaky molars?

Yeah, those molars are a pain - literally and figuratively. I have to supervise every time or my son just rushes through and misses the back teeth entirely. Tried the mirror trick too, but he mostly ends up making faces instead of focusing on brushing technique. I’ve noticed using an electric brush helps a bit since it does more of the work, but honestly, I still have to check. Not sure if any kid is thorough without some adult intervention...

I get what you mean about needing to supervise, but I’ve actually seen some kids get pretty independent with brushing - just not overnight. My daughter got super into this toothbrushing app that times her and gives little rewards, and honestly, it made a difference. She still misses spots sometimes, but she’s more motivated to do it herself now. Maybe it’s just about finding what clicks for each kid? Electric brushes help for sure, but I wouldn’t say adult intervention is always a must forever.

Maybe it’s just about finding what clicks for each kid? Electric brushes help for sure, but I wouldn’t say adult intervention is always a must forever.

Totally agree, it’s not one-size-fits-all. My youngest became obsessed with this silly singing toothbrush - literally a brush that blasts pop songs for two minutes. Now he’s in there dancing and brushing like he’s on stage. Still needs a quick “parent inspection” now and then, though, because he thinks brushing his tongue counts as a job well done.

I used to think I’d be supervising forever, but honestly, once they find their groove, you can back off a bit. Electric brushes are basically magic for lazy brushers...plus, way less nagging from me.

Still waiting for the day they invent a toothbrush that also picks up dirty socks off the bathroom floor. Now THAT would be revolutionary.