tooth brushing hell, 6yo

[meglet]

6yo DD (denial of ASD by the paed, so I'm on my own) still won't either brush her teeth properly or let me do them for her without a huge battle . This has been going on for years now.

I've tried:

different toothpastes, she only likes the first baby one but the dentist said she needs to at least use the 4-6 brand because she needs the fluoride.

free choice of funky toothbrushes; works for a day then we're back to screaming tantrums again.

kids mouthwash; too strong for her.

electric toothbrush; bit too big for her mouth. Might be easier when she's grown a little. Although I could buy a decent childs electric toothbrush, might look into it.

dental floss on sticks to make it more interesting

disclosing tablets, sort of work but leave her and the bathroom stained. I think they're too messy and expensive to use every day.

We are long past the stage of sticker charts!

I am so exhausted by twice daily battles to get her to do her teeth, I usually end up having to hold her to do them. It's a miserable way to start and end the day.

Pretty much everything else can slide and I can work around it, I let her go to bed without a bath tonight, she is allowed loads of screen time to wind down and junky cereal on school mornings. I can't let her get out of teeth brushing though.

Her big brother is fine, happily brushes his own teeth and lets me help once a day to make sure they're done properly.

Any suggestions? How many years can this go on for?

[fairgame]

Which bit of toothbrushing doesn't she like? If you can figure that out then its a start.
You can get an unflavoured toothpaste called 'oranurse'. If she's into apps or songs then there are few toothbrushing apps about, Aquafresh do a all singing all dancing app.
DS is a toothbrushing avoider. He hates squeezing the toothpaste tube so usually as long as i put the paste on the brush he will do it. He usually does it in bed or walking around the house because he refuses to stand and do it in the bathroom. I can usually get him to do it once per day. If he doesn't do it at all then he isn't allowed sweets the next day. I try not to get into a battle. Sometimes i brush his teeth for him if he doesn't want to.
I would start with getting her to do it once a day first. If you're really desperate then maybe try and get her do it while she is having screen time.

[meglet]

Thanks. I might let her have free choice of something on you tube. And I'll look for oranurse .

Tbh, she hates the whole thing. Any improvement will be a start.

[meglet]

oranurse is ordered and should be here by Thursday . The reviews seem promising.

[meglet]

Hi polter. Not seen the collis curve brush. I'll investigate that too.

[meglet]

Specialised toothbrushes aren't cheap are they!

I've got a Dr Barmans super - curve coming along with the oranurse. I'll probably try the collis curve too.

[mumsuz]

Can you post how you get on? I have a nightmare with my dd aged 6. I have to do it for her but every time there is screaming and crying. And I'm still not sure I'm doing 2mins. In fact I know I'm not!

[veronicasawyerheartsjd]

Oranurse has been a godsend here OP, (thanks Polter for the recommendation a few weeks ago now). DS now allows me to brush his teeth every morning (we are working on night time). It also doesn't foam which really helps I think

[meglet]

mumsuz i'll report back once dd has had a go with it.

[maxybrown]

My son is ASD, we use oranurse and this has helped. He still would never have them done if he could get away with. I still sometimes have to pin him down and we still have screaming hysterics every single day, but hey - they're getting cleaned :/

He has a braun electric tooth brush whuch is definitely better than a normal brush for him - like I say though he still would rather not do it. Every day is like the first day for us but I just keep plodding on and the oranurse makes it easier - our special needs dentist gave us a trial tube and we just recently bought one - previously I had taken to brushing with no toothpaste at all, SN dentist said that was better than not brushing.

[maxybrown]

Also, if it's any consolation our paed dismissed ASD too - but he was diagnosed by CAMHS and we still see the same paed who just seems to accept it now

[claw2]

Ds used to be like this. Had to have teeth removed etc due to not brushing and poor diet.

Things that helped, counting to 10 when I brushed, so there was a beginning and an end.

Sensory diet

Helping ds to understand the consequences of not brushing.

A mirror so ds can see where he is brushing. Being able to 'see' was a big thing for ds.

He is now 11 and extremely good at brushing his teeth!

[BlackeyedSusan]

bribed ds with extra money from the tooth fairy. this is finally working. we now brush twice a day.

and yes I used to sit on him and tickle his ears so he opened his mouth.

I took advantage of him shouting at me to clean his teeth and crying... (better than getting a general anaesthetic)

I doubt ds has had a two minute brush ever...

tried two brushes, or three, he grabs one I use the other one, he grabs two with both hands and I use the third...

minimise damage with the food he eats. (no strong juice, gnats piss oranges once a week, no pineapple, fruit juices rarely, little sugar and sweets with other food.

we have some flavour free tooth paste.

[gabbybaby]

Same issues with mine 5 (nearly 6). I've tried all the toothbrushes. Recently bought an expensive electric one, but she'll only use it switched off. There is too much vibration for her and she doesn't like the sensation. She doesn't let me do it, and most of the time insists everyone leave her alone in the bathroom. Occasionally, she lets me stand opposite her and we talk it through and she'll copy. So I'll use my finger to demonstrate on my teeth - first the front, then the back, left, right and she'll copy my actions. But I wouldn't run out and get expensive brushes if she has sensory issues!

Toothpaste - she doesn't like mint. The closest to acceptable I've found is the Oral B stages one. The princesses one is fruity and she's semi ok with that, depending on how stubborn she's feeling that day!

[vjg13]

My daughter is now 17 and we have been through the gauntlet of all the above special toothbrushes, ora nurse etc over the years. The best success has been recent and she now has the children's sonicare toothbrush with a small adult head and adult toothpaste. I start her off and then she carries on until the tune ends. Brushing technique is still poor but she does do the 2 mins with some prompts to move it. Also give her flavourless fluoride tablets when I remember. She has 1 filling although is due another soon, under GA, deep joy.

[maxybrown]

It's hard as sensory issues are all different - my son has them but tolerates an electric brush better than an ordinary brush. (note I say tolerates, not fine - he has had a filling already and hasn't even got a sweet tooth :/) My friends son doesn't like the noise. Also my son has huge issues with his front teeth and can tolerate the back better and friend the opposite.

[meglet]

update; I think we have a 25% improvement in teeth brushing. The curved brush speeds it up a bit and dd prefers the oranurse. it's not perfect but she has been letting me brush her teeth in front of the tv without a battle.

[maxybrown]

Great!

[meglet]

I think it will improve a little more. I have a feeling we need to undo and erase the old tooth brushing behaviour from our memories so that tooth brushing will become a fairly mundane daily activity. hopefully!