Why is brushing teeth with kids like herding cats?

It’s hilarious you mention the “race against the timer” thing - my son is basically a speed-runner at this point. He’s figured out that if he moves his arm fast enough, it *sounds* like he’s brushing for ages, but when I check, there’s barely any toothpaste left on the brush and not a single bristle has made contact with his molars. I tried upping the ante with a musical toothbrush (which I thought was a clever “tech upgrade”), but that just became another thing to hack. He’d start the song, flail around for twenty seconds, then declare victory as soon as the chorus hit.

I totally get what you mean about novelty fatigue. There are only so many animal-shaped brushes and neon pastes before you hit diminishing returns - and yeah, those things add up fast. The unicorn brush phase over here was short-lived too. Now every new one is “boring” by day three, no matter how many LEDs it has.

The toothpaste flavor complaints crack me up. Bubblegum being “too spicy” is peak kid logic; mine once said watermelon tasted like “old socks.” We’re back to basic mint too, with much grumbling.

The only semi-consistent success I’ve had is making it into a kind of “tech challenge.” We use an app that shows animated plaque monsters getting zapped as you brush each area for the right amount of time. He’ll stick with it longer if it feels like a game and there’s some visual feedback - though I’m not naive enough to think this will last forever. Still, at least it doesn’t involve buying more gadgets or endless rewards (the app was free), and it makes him feel like he’s leveling up rather than just ticking off a chore.

Honestly, there are days when I’d rather debug a stubborn router than negotiate toothbrushing protocol again. Maybe in ten years they’ll invent a self-cleaning mouthguard or something... until then, I guess we’re all stuck in beta testing this process together.

Your “speed-runner” story made me laugh - my nephew’s got the same moves. I’ve watched him do a full Olympic routine with his brush, somehow managing to miss every tooth but still claim he’s done. Tried the plaque-disclosing tablets with him once (figured it’d be cool to see his teeth turn colors), but he just used it as face paint and ran off. Honestly, I’ve seen adults struggle with brushing technique too, so I guess it’s not just a kid thing... At least you’re not alone in the beta testing - sometimes I think we all need a patch update.

Tried the plaque-disclosing tablets with him once (figured it’d be cool to see his teeth turn colors), but he just used it as face paint and ran off.

Is there actually a way to get kids to take brushing seriously? I’m nervous because I’m not even sure I’m doing it “right” myself half the time. Does anyone actually use those tablets regularly, or is that just wishful thinking?

I’m honestly not convinced those tablets are practical for most families. Tried them a few times myself, but it just turned into a mess - plus, it’s not like you’re going to use them every day. What’s worked better for us is a reward chart and letting my kid pick out their own toothbrush. I still have to double-check their brushing, but at least it’s less of a battle now. I do sometimes wonder if I’m missing spots too, though. Brushing “right” feels like guesswork half the time...

I actually kinda like those tablets, even if they’re a bit messy. My kid thinks it’s hilarious when his teeth turn purple, so at least he’s into it for a few minutes. I just wish they made a less neon version... but hey, whatever works. Brushing “right” is still a mystery to me too, though.

Brushing “right” is still a mystery to me too, though.

You’re not alone there. I swear, even after years of those “brush in circles, not back and forth” reminders, I still catch myself scrubbing like I’m sanding a table. Those tablets are like the ultimate tattletale - no hiding from the purple evidence. My daughter once looked like she’d eaten a marker, but at least it made her giggle for a change instead of running off mid-brush.

I hear you on the neon thing. Why do they have to make them so... radioactive looking? I mean, I get that it’s supposed to be fun for kids, but sometimes it feels like I’m prepping her for a rave instead of bedtime. Wouldn’t a subtle blue or green work just as well?

Honestly, the only thing that’s helped us is making a game out of it. We do “toothbrush karaoke” (don’t ask, it’s mostly humming through foam) and sometimes she’ll let me finish the job. But some nights, it’s just chaos and toothpaste on the mirror, sink, pajamas - you name it.

Has anyone tried those apps that time you while you brush? Or maybe the electric brushes with music? I’m curious if that actually helps or just adds another thing to fight about. And does anyone else feel guilty when you skip flossing with your kid? I always have this mental debate about whether “good enough” is... well, good enough.