Brushing Battles: How Often Is Enough in Elder Care?

I’m finding it’s a struggle to stick to the “twice a day” thing, especially with folks who aren’t super keen on it.

Honestly, I run into the same issue with my dad. Twice a day is ideal, but in reality, we usually manage once—sometimes twice if he’s in a good mood. What’s helped a bit is using flavored toothpaste (like cinnamon or bubblegum) and playing his favorite song during brushing. Not perfect, but it cuts down on resistance. I don’t think once a day is a total fail, especially if you’re thorough and add in mouthwash.

Totally get where you’re coming from. My mom flat-out refuses some days, and honestly, once is better than none. I’ve found that if I let her “help” pick the toothpaste (even if it’s just the cheap stuff), she’s more willing. Not perfect, but it works for us.

Haha, picking toothpaste is a genius move—I might have to steal that one. My dad’s super picky about “minty” flavors, but if it’s on sale, he’ll magically decide he likes it. Curious—do you ever just skip the brushing and go for mouthwash on tough days? I feel like sometimes you gotta pick your battles...

Haha, picking toothpaste is a genius move—I might have to steal that one. My dad’s super picky about “minty” flavors, but if it’s on sale, he’ll magically decide he likes it.

Mouthwash has definitely been a fallback for us on days when brushing just isn’t happening. I worry it’s not quite the same, but sometimes it feels like the only option when there’s resistance or fatigue. My mom gets really agitated if I push too hard, so I try to weigh stress vs. dental health. I do feel guilty skipping a brush, though—does anyone else get anxious about that? Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to have a calm evening than force the issue and upset everyone.