What Works Today Might Not Work Tomorrow

If I’ve learned anything on this journey so far, it’s this—what works today might not work tomorrow.

And sometimes, what finally works… took everything in you to get there.

Toothbrushing has been one of those things for us.

When we first started brushing my daughter’s teeth, it was honestly a nightmare. I’m talking chasing her around the house with a toothbrush in hand, trying to turn it into a game when really it felt like anything but. It would take both of us—one holding her, one trying to brush—just to get through it.

I remember thinking, what in the world are we doing?

I felt like the worst parent. I worried what people would think if they saw us in those moments. It didn’t feel gentle. It didn’t feel right. But at the same time… what was the alternative? Just not brush her teeth? Risk her getting cavities before she even made it to her first dentist appointment?

So we pushed through.

We tried everything.

Every brand of toothbrush you could think of.
We tried giving her deep pressure on her arms before brushing, hoping it would regulate her enough to make it easier. Sometimes it helped… but never enough to avoid the meltdown completely.

Then came the character toothbrush phase. I thought, this is it. Maybe if it’s her favorite character, if she loves it enough, she’ll want to do it.

Nope. Not even close.

And then—Santa came through.

That Christmas, she got an electric toothbrush. We had heard from OTs and other parents that it could help, so we figured it was worth a shot.

And somehow… it worked.

Like, really worked.

She was excited. She was giggling. She would actually let us brush her teeth—and not just the easy parts, but the back teeth too. It felt like we had finally cracked the code. I remember feeling this wave of relief thinking, we did it. We found our thing.

But if you’re in this world, you already know what comes next.

About a month ago… it stopped working.

Just like that, the thing that once made her laugh became too much again. Too loud. Too stimulating. Too overwhelming.

So we adapted. Again.

Now we use visual timers on YouTube—and if you ever need a resource, I highly recommend looking up toothbrushing timers. They have one for just about every kid show you can think of, and for us, it’s helped give her something predictable to focus on.

Some days, it works beautifully.

Other days… even looking at the toothbrush is too much. Her sensory cup is already overflowing, and the toothbrush is just one more thing her body can’t handle.

And then there are the days that catch me off guard—the ones where she asks to brush her teeth before we even make it upstairs.

Those are the moments that remind me how much she’s growing, how much she’s learning, and how much she’s trying in her own way.

All of this to say… we are always adapting. Because our kids’ needs are always changing.

What works today might not work tomorrow. And that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means you’re paying attention.

If you’re a parent who has struggled with something as simple—and as hard—as toothbrushing, I see you. You’re not alone in this.

If you have tips that have helped your family, I’d love for you to share them. And if not, just share your story. Sometimes knowing someone else gets it is exactly what we need.

We’re all figuring this out as we go.