That foam pencil grip hack is genius. We tried something similar with those rubbery jar opener pads—cut them up and wrapped them around the handle, then taped it down. It’s not pretty, but it’s way easier for my son to hold on days when his fingers just won’t cooperate. Those so-called “ergonomic” brushes from the pharmacy never worked for us either. They’re either too thick or the material gets slippery once it’s wet, which is basically every time.
Honestly, some mornings we just skip the toothpaste altogether and let him brush with water. I used to feel bad, like I was failing him, but after talking to his occupational therapist, I realized it’s better to keep things positive than stress over “perfect” brushing. If he’s in too much pain, we just do a quick rinse and call it good.
I wish more companies would actually consult families like ours before designing these products. Until then, it’s all about trial and error, and a lot of improvising.
I get where you’re coming from about skipping toothpaste when it’s just too much, but I’ve always worried about plaque building up if we go too many days without it. Our OT actually showed us a way to use a pea-sized dab on a finger brush—less mess, less resistance. It’s not perfect, and some days it still feels like a battle, but I do notice his teeth look cleaner. I guess for us, it’s more about finding that middle ground. I wish there was a magic solution for these “ergonomic” brushes too... half the time they just end up on the floor anyway.
That finger brush with a dab of toothpaste is exactly what our OT suggested too, and honestly, it’s the only thing that’s worked for us when things get rough. I totally agree—sometimes you just have to pick your battles. I used to get anxious about skipping toothpaste, but our dentist actually said that the mechanical action (just getting in there and wiping the teeth) is the most important part for plaque, even if it’s just with water. The fluoride in toothpaste is a bonus, but not a dealbreaker if it’s causing a meltdown. That was a relief to hear.
About those so-called “ergonomic” brushes… I’m convinced half of them are designed by people who’ve never actually tried brushing with stiff hands or with a squirmy kid. We tried one with a chunky handle, thinking it’d be easier to grip, but it just slipped right out and landed in the sink every time. The ones with finger loops didn’t help much either. Has anyone found something that actually stays put? I ended up wrapping a hair tie around a regular brush to add some grip, which helped a bit—not pretty, but it works in a pinch.
One thing I’m still unsure about: does anyone notice if the electric brushes make things easier or harder? We tried one once, but the vibration seemed to bother him more than help. Maybe it’s just about experimenting until you hit on something that works for your routine.
It’s weird how something as basic as brushing teeth can get so complicated. Some days, we just do a quick swipe with a washcloth and call it good. I figure as long as we’re doing *something* most days, it’s better than nothing.
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“I ended up wrapping a hair tie around a regular brush to add some grip, which helped a bit—not pretty, but it works in a pinch.”
Totally relate to the DIY solutions. I’ve used rubber bands, those squishy pencil grips, even duct tape once (not my finest moment). None of the “ergonomic” ones really did much for us either—just more stuff to clean. Electric brushes were a no-go here too, the buzzing freaked my kid out. At this point, if we get through it with minimal drama and most teeth touched, I call it a win.
Hair ties, rubber bands, pencil grips—yep, been there. I tried wrapping a neoprene mouse pad strip around the handle once, thinking it’d be some genius hack. It worked for about three days until it got gross and started smelling like wet socks... lesson learned. The “ergonomic” brushes are honestly kind of a joke in my case too—whoever designs those must have never actually had stiff fingers.
My kid’s not a fan of electric brushes either. One time, I thought maybe if we put on music and made it a game, he’d get into it. Nope, he just hid under the table and refused to come out until I promised to go back to the old manual one. At this point, I figure as long as we’re hitting most of the teeth and no one is crying, that’s success.
It’s wild how something so basic can turn into a daily negotiation. Sometimes I wonder if dentists really get how much creativity goes into just getting through toothbrushing with cranky hands (and kids).
