$6.32 smile*

*approximate cost of Sydney's new toothbrush and toothpaste.

Aaahhhh... the power of character marketing. With a new Disney Princess toothbrush and My Pretty Pony toothpaste, the child who doesn't like to brush her teeth suddenly wants to "brush first" (as in the first thing she does after waking up in the morning.) 

This morning, Sydney happily brushed her teeth, then called "your turn," meaning it's Mommy's turn to make sure all the teeth really got brushed.

A little later, while eating breakfast, Sydney was still thinking dental thoughts. "Mommy, does cereal make your teeth clean?"

"Not really," I told her. "Cereal makes them dirty, so you can brush again later."

Exactly the words she was hoping to hear, apparently. Giving me two thumbs up she responded, "With my princess toothbrush and little pony toothpaste."