Tried an electric one with a timer and she actually started brushing longer—plus she likes the buzzing noise (go figure).
Timers are a game changer for younger kids, honestly. I’ve seen the same thing—my daughter was just rushing through with a manual brush, but the electric one keeps her on track. That said, manual can work if the kid’s motivated and you’re willing to supervise... but I get it, that’s not always realistic. Technique really is everything, though—sometimes I have to do a quick “touch up” after they’re done just to make sure nothing’s missed.
- Totally agree about timers making a difference. My son just zones out with the buzzing and actually brushes longer.
- Manual brushes are fine, but he gets bored fast. I’ve tried singing songs to keep him brushing, but that only works if I’m standing right there… which isn’t always possible.
- I do think electric brushes help with technique, especially for younger kids who don’t have the best motor skills yet.
- Still have to do a quick check after—he somehow manages to miss the same back tooth every time. Kids, right?
Timers are handy, but I wonder—do your kids actually pay attention to the buzzing or just tune it out? My grandkids seem to ignore it after a while. I used to just tell them “top left, bottom right” and walk them through it, but they’d still rush. Anyone tried those apps that show where you’ve brushed? Do they actually help with the missed spots, or is it just another thing for parents to manage?
That’s a good point about timers—my nephew just zones out if it’s the same buzz every time. I’ve wondered if those brushing apps actually change behavior, or if it’s just novelty at first. Does the visual feedback really help them slow down and focus, or do they just swipe through it to finish? I’m curious if anyone’s seen lasting improvement with those tracking features, especially for younger kids who aren’t super motivated by tech yet.
I’ve wondered if those brushing apps actually change behavior, or if it’s just novelty at first. Does the visual feedback really help them slow down and focus, or do they just swipe through it to finish?
I hear you on the “novelty wears off” thing. We tried one of those apps with my daughter—she was obsessed for about a week, then started using it as an excuse to play with my phone instead of actually brushing her teeth. It turned into more of a battle than when we just handed her the regular toothbrush and sang the “Brush Your Teeth” song (off-key, but effective).
Honestly, I get why people like all the bells and whistles, but I’m not convinced the tech is a magic bullet for all kids. My kid’s more likely to stare at the cartoon dragon while absentmindedly chewing on the brush than actually cleaning anything. Maybe it works if your kid is super into screens, but mine treats it like background noise.
Timers are another one—if she hears the same beep every night, she tunes it out faster than I can say “cavity.” Sometimes I think we’re overcomplicating things. When we switched back to a plain old manual brush and made it a game (who can make the biggest toothpaste mustache?), suddenly she was brushing longer and actually enjoying it. No app required.
Not saying the tech stuff is useless for everyone—maybe some kids really do get motivated by seeing their “score” go up or whatever. But in our house, low-tech and goofy seems to win out over apps and trackers. Just my two cents... sometimes simple works better than flashy.
