Maybe it’s just personal preference, but I feel like mint signals “clean” in a way that fruit flavors don’t.
I totally get what you mean about mint feeling “clean”—it’s what I grew up with too. But when my kids started needing mouthwash, the mint ones were a hard sell. The strong ones made them complain (and honestly, I’m not a fan of the burning either). We tried a watermelon flavor once because it was on sale, and surprisingly, my younger one actually stuck with it for months. It was mild, didn’t sting, and didn’t feel as fake as the bubblegum or grape.
Still, I think you’re right about the novelty wearing off for some flavors. For us, cost is a big factor. The “fun” ones tend to be pricier or come in tiny bottles. At the end of the day, we landed on an alcohol-free mint that wasn’t too harsh—sometimes we dilute it, sometimes not. It’s not perfect, but it’s affordable and everyone uses it without much complaining.
Guess it really depends on the kid (and the budget). If they’ll use something consistently, I’ll take it—even if it’s not traditional mint.