Kelly Clarkson's Genius Hack for Getting Her Son to Brush His Teeth

As any parent knows, getting a toddler to brush their teeth can be a real challenge. What should be a simple, healthy habit often turns into a frustrating tug-of-war. You ask, you remind, you beg—and yet, the battle continues. It’s hard not to feel like you’re failing when something so basic becomes such a struggle.

Fortunately, like most things in parenting, you’re never truly alone in the chaos. Thankfully, someone has been there and is here to help. In this case, that surprising face is Since You’ve Been Gone singer and pop star Kelly Clarkson.

On a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Clarkson joked with fellow mom Jessica Biel about how she’s recently started eating in the shower to keep up with her busy schedule. “I know this sounds disgusting, but this is called trying to get to drop-off on time and needing to do everything at once because I didn’t wake up early enough or something happened,” Biel joked.

Sharing her own favorite shower hack, Clarkson then opened up about her 9-year-old son, Remington, and his dislike for brushing his teeth. "He just refuses to brush his teeth, like it’s like a thing,” Clarkson admitted.

Finally, after pleading and trying various methods, Clarkson got a little creative. “I was like, ‘Hey, let’s make a fun thing of it.’ So I was in the shower, I’m like, ‘Just take your toothbrush and your toothpaste in the shower. You can be messy.’” And just like that, toothbrushing became a game. With one less thing to worry about, Clarkson added, “So now he’s brushing his teeth!”

Clarkson also had a good laugh about her daughter, River Rose, who has no trouble with brushing her teeth. “My girl is always like, ‘Oh yeah, of course, I did that.’ Like, I’m an idiot that I asked her,” she joked. “And then my son, he’s just like, ‘Yeah, I totally did.’ And I’m like, ‘You’re lying. Let me smell your breath.’”

“I don’t know what it is about boys," Clarkson said, reflecting on how different her kids’ routines are. “But this trick worked for Remy, and I’m just happy it did!”

Looking for more ways to beat the teeth-brushing tug-of-war? Check out these real parent and expert tips for getting toddlers to brush their teeth without the tantrums.