I get where you’re coming from about the batteries—my youngest managed to run one dead halfway through brushing once, and it turned into a whole ordeal. But honestly, I’ve noticed the electric brushes seem to do a more thorough job, especially for kids who rush or don’t have the dexterity yet. The vibration kind of forces them to slow down, at least in my house.
That said, I do worry they’re missing out on learning the right hand motion like you mentioned. My oldest still does circles with a manual brush, but with electric he just sort of holds it there and lets it do the work... not sure that’s ideal in the long run. I guess it’s a trade-off between making brushing less of a fight and teaching proper technique. For now, we switch it up—manual on weekends, electric during the week. Not perfect, but it keeps things interesting and covers both bases.
That’s actually a smart way to mix things up—manual on weekends, electric during the week. I’ve noticed with mine, the electric definitely helps get spots they’d usually miss, but I still have to remind them not to just “park” the brush in one place. Ever tried those plaque disclosing tablets? They made a big difference for us in showing where the kids need to pay more attention, no matter which brush they use. Batteries dying mid-brush are such a pain though... do you keep spares handy or just deal with it as it happens?
I’ve always wondered if electric brushes are *really* worth the extra cost, especially for kids who, let’s be honest, barely remember to brush at all half the time. We tried going all-in with electrics last year—got the ones on sale, nothing fancy—and it did help my youngest get a bit more thorough (at least according to the dentist). But the battery thing drove me nuts. I swear, those things die at the most inconvenient moments. One kid’s halfway through brushing and suddenly it sounds like a dying robot... and then you’re scrambling around for batteries while toothpaste drips everywhere. I started keeping a stash in the bathroom drawer, but it feels like just one more thing to buy.
Honestly, when you add up batteries every month, replacement heads, and the initial cost of the brush itself… I’m not convinced it’s that much better than a regular manual. My oldest actually prefers the old-fashioned kind because he says it “feels like he’s actually doing something.” Hard to argue with that logic.
We did try those plaque disclosing tablets once—huge hit with my kids because they thought it was hilarious seeing their mouths turn purple. It definitely made them more aware of where they were missing spots, but after a while they lost interest (and I got tired of scrubbing purple spit out of the sink). Maybe I just need to stick with them longer.
At the end of the day, I feel like if you can get your kids to brush *well*—with whatever brush—they’ll be fine. Electric is cool, but for families watching their budget, manual is perfectly decent. Sometimes simpler really is better... or maybe I’m just cheap?
At the end of the day, I feel like if you can get your kids to brush *well*—with whatever brush—they’ll be fine. Electric is cool, but for families watching their budget, manual is perfectly decent. Sometimes simpler really is better... or maybe I’m just cheap?
Is it really just about “brushing well,” though? I used to think the same, but our dentist actually showed me how much my daughter was missing with a regular brush—even when I thought she was doing a good job. The electric one (we got a rechargeable so no batteries, which helped my sanity) seemed to make a difference, at least for her. Maybe it’s the timer or the buzzing that keeps her focused longer? She’s definitely more thorough now.
I get the cost thing, though. Replacement heads aren’t cheap, and I’ve definitely grumbled about that in the Target aisle. But I wonder if it saves us in the long run with fewer cavities or dentist visits? Hard to say, but I’d rather pay a little more up front than deal with fillings later.
That said, my son still uses a manual because he’s stubborn and likes “doing it himself.” Honestly, as long as they’re actually brushing and not just pretending, I’ll take it.
You nailed it with the “as long as they’re actually brushing” part. I’ve seen kids who could win Oscars for pretending to brush. The electric ones do help some kids focus—timers, buzzes, it’s like a mini game. But manual can work just fine if they’re actually reaching all the spots (easier said than done, right?). Cost is real, but so is tooth drama if cavities start showing up... I’d rather hear grumbling about the Target aisle than about fillings.