Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. My kid was way more interested in the lights and buzz of the electric brush than actually brushing, so it kinda turned into a toy, too. I tried timing her with a regular one and didn’t see much difference in how well she brushed—still had to supervise the whole process either way.
I read somewhere that electric brushes can help if your kid has trouble with the motion or gets bored fast, but technique still seems to matter most. Like, if they’re just chewing on it or waving it around, doesn’t matter if it’s electric or manual, right?
Has anyone tried those apps that go with some electric brushes? Do they actually help kids brush better, or is it just more screen time? I’m not sure if it’s worth adding another gadget to our routine...
We actually tried one of those app-connected brushes last year when my son was going through a phase where he’d barely brush at all—he just wanted to get back to his Legos. The app had little games and rewards for brushing each section of his mouth, and honestly, it did help him stay focused for the full two minutes. But after a few weeks, the novelty wore off, and it was just another thing to nag about... plus, I wasn’t thrilled with adding more screen time right before bed.
Technique is still the biggest thing, like you said. No brush or gadget really replaces having to supervise and remind them not to just chomp on the bristles. The electric brush does seem to get a bit more plaque off when he uses it properly, but that’s a big “if.” For us, mixing it up—a few days with the electric, some with manual—keeps things interesting without too much tech overhead. At this age, any brush is only as good as the kid’s willingness (and my patience).
Mixing it up is pretty much what’s working for us, too. My daughter got obsessed with her spinning brush when she first got it—she’d show off to anyone who’d watch, but after a month, it was just another step in the bedtime routine she wanted to rush through. I totally get your point about screen time right before bed. We tried one of those timer apps once and it actually made her more wired instead of winding down.
Honestly, I’ve noticed that on nights when I’m tired and just let her go at it unsupervised, she’ll “brush” for about 30 seconds and call it good. But if I hang around and make a game out of it (sometimes we pretend she’s a dentist cleaning my teeth after), she’s way more thorough—doesn’t really matter if it’s manual or electric.
Do you ever feel like half the battle is just convincing them it’s not the most boring two minutes of their day? I keep hoping one day she’ll care as much about clean teeth as I do, but for now, patience and variety seem to be the only things keeping us afloat.
That’s so real—my parents basically had to drag me to the sink when I was a kid, and now that I’m deep in braces-land, I wish I’d cared more back then. Electric brushes are supposed to be better, but honestly, if the kid’s just waving it around for half a minute, it doesn’t matter. I’ve found that making it a weird contest (like “who can make the most foam?”) gets my little brother actually brushing longer. Still, convincing them it’s not just another boring chore is a daily struggle...
if the kid’s just waving it around for half a minute, it doesn’t matter
This is so true. I used to just go through the motions as a kid, too. Turning brushing into a goofy game definitely helps. Even now, sometimes I set a timer or play music just to keep myself honest. It’s a daily grind, but you’re making progress—little wins count.
