Did anyone else’s kid complain about the taste of those little brushes? Mine said they “smell weird” and now refuses to use them unless I basically bribe him. Also, does rinsing them in mouthwash actually help or just make them wear out faster? I’m always worried I’m not doing enough...
Title: Little Brushes, Big Drama
My kid calls those brushes “pokey sticks of doom” and acts like I’m torturing him every night. The taste thing is real—he says they smell like rubber bands and “old lunch.” I tried rinsing them in mouthwash, thinking maybe mint would help, but then he said it was even weirder (“now it’s spicy AND weird, mom”). Plus, I swear the bristles get floppy faster with mouthwash, so I’m not sure it’s worth it.
We caved and got one of those water flosser gadgets. It’s kind of fun (for him, anyway), and at least he’s not complaining about taste. Downside: he managed to spray the ceiling the first time, so now I keep towels handy. Not sure if it’s perfect, but at least we’re both less stressed. Anyone else have a kid who thinks dental hygiene is a contact sport?
“Pokey sticks of doom” is way too accurate—my teenage son calls them “tiny torture devices.” We’ve tried every single flavor of brush and floss, and somehow they all end up tasting like a mix of erasers and sadness. Water flossers are a win in our house too, except he treats it like a squirt gun half the time. The bathroom mirror’s never been cleaner. Only thing that helped a bit was letting him pick his own gear at the store... didn’t fix the drama, but at least there’s less yelling.
Letting them pick their gear is a solid move, but I’ve actually had better luck setting a timer and making it a quick challenge—less time to complain, more focus. Also, flavored mouthwash sometimes helps cut the “eraser” taste from all the other stuff. Worth a shot?
Timers are such a game changer—turning it into a race definitely cuts down on the whining at my house. I’ve tried the flavored mouthwash trick too, and my daughter actually prefers it over the regular stuff. She says it makes her feel like she’s “resetting” her mouth after all that brushing and flossing. Have you noticed if certain flavors work better, or is it just whatever they’ll actually use? I’ve had mixed results with mint vs. some of the fruitier ones.
