Making brushing fun: What silly games keep your kids interested?

We went through a phase with a fancy app that played songs and had animated toothbrushes cheering them on - worked for about two weeks before the kids started skipping the “boring” parts. Honestly, I think the novelty of any gadget wears off quick. Routine’s not flashy, but it’s reliable... and at least I don’t have to keep replacing batteries.

Routine’s not flashy, but it’s reliable... and at least I don’t have to keep replacing batteries.

That’s kind of what I’m worried about too - like, what happens when the “fun” stuff stops working? I get anxious thinking I’ll mess up the routine if I rely too much on gadgets. I’ve read a few things about making brushing into a step-by-step game instead of using electronics. For example, we tried pretending the toothbrush was a superhero fighting “sugar bugs.” First, we’d “search for villains” in each corner of the mouth, then do a countdown for each side. It’s silly but it kept my niece interested longer than any app.

I’m still not sure if it’s enough though. Sometimes she just wants to skip straight to rinsing. Is it normal for kids to get bored even with games? Or maybe I’m overthinking it... I just don’t want her to end up like me, terrified of the dentist because brushing felt like a chore. Anyone else feel weirdly stressed about getting this right?

That’s totally normal - kids get bored of everything, even games. I remember my nephew went through a phase where he’d only brush if we sang a silly song about “tooth pirates.” It worked for maybe two weeks, then he was over it. I think the key is not stressing too much when they lose interest. Sometimes routine is just... routine, you know? I used to freak out about doing it “right” too, but honestly, as long as she’s brushing most days, you’re already ahead of the game. The dentist fear thing is real though - I had it bad as a kid because brushing always felt like punishment. Trying to keep it light is already a win in my book.

Tooth pirates - now that’s a game I wish I’d thought of when my niece was little. We ended up with “Brush Like a Dinosaur,” which was mostly her stomping around the bathroom with a toothbrush clamped between her teeth. Not exactly dentist-approved technique, but hey, she got the job done (sort of). I totally get what you mean about not stressing when the novelty wears off. It’s like, one day they’re obsessed with the sparkly toothpaste, next day it’s enemy number one.

I do wonder, though - has anyone managed to stretch out the “game” phase longer than a couple weeks? Or is it just the nature of kids to get bored and move on? Part of me wants to invent a new game every month, but honestly, I’m running low on creativity after “Toothbrush Ninja” and “Plaque Attack.” Curious if anyone’s found something that sticks for more than a hot minute or if we’re all just cycling through silly ideas until they hit that age where brushing is just... another thing they do.

Yeah, the “game phase” is like a flash in the pan - one minute you’re the hero of Plaque Attack, next thing you know, they’re hiding the toothbrush behind the toilet. I’ve tried everything short of hiring a marching band to keep my nephew interested. Here’s what sort of worked (for a while):

Step 1: Change up the soundtrack. We’d pick a new “brushing anthem” every week - sometimes it was Disney, sometimes it was just me humming off-key. It’s silly, but it bought us a few extra days of excitement.

Step 2: Brushing competitions. Not about who finished first, but who could make the most bubbles. Turns out, kids are weirdly competitive about foam.

Step 3: Sticker charts. I know, classic move, but with some wild rewards - like “choose what’s for dinner” or “pick mom’s socks tomorrow.”

But honestly, even with all that, the novelty fades. I figure as long as their teeth get reasonably clean and nobody’s sprouting moss, we’re winning. Kids just...move on fast, and maybe that’s fine.

I figure as long as their teeth get reasonably clean and nobody’s sprouting moss, we’re winning.

That made me laugh - pretty much sums up my approach. My daughter went through a phase where she’d only brush if I pretended to be “the Tooth Troll” and tried to steal her toothbrush. It worked for about two weeks, then suddenly she was “too old” for trolls (she was five). I tried those fancy musical toothbrushes but honestly, they’re pricey and the batteries never last. At this point, if she gets through two minutes without wandering off, I call it a success.

That “Tooth Troll” game sounds hilarious - kids are so weirdly specific about what they’ll go along with, right? Mine went through a phase where she’d only brush if we did “spy time,” which basically meant I had to narrate her brushing as a secret mission. That lasted maybe a month before it was suddenly “too babyish.” I think you’re onto something with just rolling with whatever works for a little while and then switching it up when they get bored.

And yeah, those musical brushes - totally with you on the price. I got one on sale and the thing chewed through batteries like crazy. Plus, the song got so annoying after about three days that I started hiding it. Now we just use a regular brush and sometimes I set a timer on my phone with some silly sound effect. It’s not fancy, but it works most of the time.

Honestly, some nights it’s more like a negotiation than anything else. If she gets through the two minutes, even if there’s a little wandering or daydreaming, I’m calling that a win too. Sometimes I wonder if all these “fun” tricks are more for us parents to feel like we’re doing something special than for the kids themselves... but hey, whatever gets their teeth clean without a meltdown.

Anyway, you’re definitely not alone in this. I keep thinking there must be some magic solution out there, but maybe it really is just about lowering expectations and celebrating the small victories - like no mossy teeth and only minimal toothpaste all over the sink.

Totally agree that sometimes it feels like the games are more for us than the kids... but honestly, whatever gets those teeth clean without a meltdown is a win in my book too. I’ve seen families use everything from sticker charts to “brushing races” against a timer. My own nephew went through a phase where he’d only brush if his stuffed animals “watched” him - hey, it worked for a few weeks. Switching things up as soon as they get bored is pretty much the secret sauce. And yeah, two minutes with some toothpaste mostly in their mouth? That’s a parenting victory, for sure.

I get where you’re coming from with the games, but I always wonder if we’re setting ourselves up for trouble later. My cousin’s kid got so used to sticker charts and “prizes” that when she outgrew the novelty, brushing became this big negotiation every night - like, “What do I get if I brush?” It turned into a whole power struggle.

When I was younger (pre-braces), my parents were all about making brushing part of the bedtime routine - no fuss, just something we did, like putting on pajamas. Boring, maybe, but now that I’m dealing with brackets and wires, I’m kind of grateful brushing feels automatic. Not saying games are bad - sometimes you need whatever works to get through a tough phase - but I guess I worry about relying on too many tricks. Has anyone else had that backfire? Sometimes I think low-key consistency beats all the bells and whistles... though I’d probably have said otherwise when I was six.

That’s a really thoughtful point. I’ve definitely seen the “what do I get?” attitude pop up when rewards are overused - it can make brushing feel like a transaction instead of just part of life. Building that automatic habit early seems to pay off, even if it’s not flashy.

That’s an interesting angle. I’ve noticed the same thing you mentioned -

it can make brushing feel like a transaction instead of just part of life

Have you found any games or routines that actually stick without needing a prize at the end? I tried making up silly songs about “sugar bugs” with my daughter, and it worked for a while, but she caught on that there was no real bug and lost interest. Do you think consistency alone is enough, or do you mix in new ideas every so often?

I’m always second-guessing if we’re doing too much or not enough to make it fun. It’s reassuring to hear that building the habit early pays off, even if it’s not super exciting.

I totally relate to worrying if we’re doing too much or not enough. I tried switching up routines - sometimes it’s a silly face contest, other times we use a timer app. But my son gets bored fast, so I feel like I’m always scrambling for new ideas. Does anyone else’s kid just flat-out refuse some days, no matter what game you try? I wonder if I should just stick with the same thing every day, or if that makes it worse.

Does anyone else’s kid just flat-out refuse some days, no matter what game you try?

Oh man, totally - my daughter once declared she’d only brush if I sang the “Toothbrush Tango” (which I made up on the spot and now deeply regret). Some days, she’s all in, other days, nothing works. I tried sticking to one routine for a week, but honestly, she got bored and started “losing” her toothbrush… I think mixing it up keeps things interesting, even if it means more work for us. Kids are wild, huh?

Mixing it up sounds smart, but I always wonder - how do you know when to switch routines? I tried a sticker chart for a week and my son just started sticking them on the dog instead. Is there some magic number of days before they get bored, or is it just trial and error every time? Also, has anyone else’s kid ever flat-out refused even their favorite game? Sometimes I feel like I’m negotiating with a tiny lawyer...

Sometimes I feel like I’m negotiating with a tiny lawyer...

That line got me - my daughter once cross-examined me over why she had to brush *again* after eating. Honestly, there’s no magic number for switching things up. In my experience, it’s a bit of trial and error, and sometimes what worked last week suddenly becomes “so boring” overnight. The sticker chart thing? We tried that too. The stickers ended up on the cat, the table, her socks - everywhere but the chart.

I’ve found that even their favorite game can lose its charm out of nowhere. My kid went from loving the “brush to the beat” dance-off to rolling her eyes at it in about four days. When that happens, I just let her pick a new song or sometimes hand over the toothbrush and let her “brush” my teeth (with water, not paste). She thinks it’s hilarious, and then she’s usually more willing to let me brush hers.

At the end of the day, I just aim for consistency rather than perfection. Some nights are a win, some are just...bare minimum. That’s okay too.