Confession: As a child, I wasn’t always the best at brushing my teeth. Instead of actually brushing, I’d sometimes just run water in the sink, rub some toothpaste on my front teeth, and stall long enough to make it look like I did the job. It was a tactic I thought was clever, though in hindsight, it probably wasn’t. Now, as a parent, I’m determined to avoid this with my own kids. But I quickly realized that reminding them about brushing or showing them the importance of dental health wasn’t enough. That’s when I found Truthbrush, a toothbrush tracker that’s made a huge difference in ensuring my kids brush their teeth properly.
Why Monitoring Brushing Habits is Essential
In 2017, a UK study found that nearly half of kids lie about brushing their teeth. This revelation hit home for me because I remember being sneaky about brushing as a child. Dentists recommend monitoring children’s brushing until they’re at least seven years old, but even after that, it’s hard to stop overseeing their habits. My kids have always gone to the dentist regularly and never had a cavity, but I didn’t want them to think they could slack off on brushing without consequences.
Before I discovered Truthbrush, I’d try to enforce good brushing habits through constant reminders and monitoring. However, it was hard to ensure consistency, and eventually, they would fall back into their old habits. That’s when I decided to try something new.
What is Truthbrush?
Truthbrush is a tracker that attaches to your child’s toothbrush—whether manual or electric—and monitors their brushing events. Much like a Fitbit tracks activity, Truthbrush tracks when, how long, and how thoroughly your child is brushing. The companion app lets you view brushing statistics, set reminders, create goals, and even reward your kids for brushing well. The tracker is designed to map brushing strokes and help your child improve their technique, highlighting areas where they need to focus.
I also bought the optional Hub ($14.99), which connects the tracker to our home wifi, so I wouldn’t have to worry about the app picking up the signal.
How We Use Truthbrush in Practice
Every evening, I send my kids upstairs to brush their teeth. On a good night, I get a notification that tells me they brushed, how long they brushed, and how thorough they were. On a normal night, they’ll come down a few more times to show me their LEGOs or chat about something, and I’ll remind them to brush. On a not-so-perfect night, they go to bed, and I don’t get a notification, meaning I have to follow up the next morning.
While it’s not a flawless system, using Truthbrush has made me more aware of their brushing habits. It’s helped me see when they’re skipping brushing or not brushing for long enough.
Using Data to Motivate Better Habits
The app provides valuable data, which has proven useful when motivating my kids to brush better. One night, I went over the Truthbrush data with my oldest child. I pointed out how often she skipped brushing and that her average brushing time was too short. Her response? She wasn’t particularly motivated by the stats.
I tried to use a scare tactic: “Would cavities motivate you to brush better?” She wasn’t swayed. But when I mentioned her younger sister’s brushing stats, I saw a shift in her attitude. Competing against her sister motivated her more than health concerns or my reminders. This was a breakthrough!
Pros and Cons of Truthbrush
Pros:
- The data provides valuable insight without needing to hover over every brushing session.
- It’s easy to set up and track brushing habits.
- The app lets you leverage sibling competition for added motivation.
Cons:
- The cost: The Classic tracker starts at $25, and the battery lasts for about a year. So, you may need to repurchase if you don’t see long-term changes.
- While it’s a useful tool, I still have to follow through with reminders.
- Sometimes, the tracker may record other motions (like cleaning or travel) as brushing events, so I need to keep an eye on it.
Conclusion
In my experience, Truthbrush is perfect for parents whose kids are old enough to brush on their own but still need a little supervision to stay on track. If you’re tired of guessing whether your child is brushing properly or if they’re sneaking by, Truthbrush can offer the insights you need to motivate better oral care habits.
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