Was I wrong ?

[Mosman]

My daughters have always resisted cleaning their teeth, they all need reminding despite being old enough to know that the routine is morning and before bed. They know this.
So my eldest is 12, tonight I asked if she'd cleaned she said yes, I smelt her breath she was lying so I asked her to go and clean them. She hid under her duvet, I pulled the duvet off and says calmly go and do your teeth. She refused.
I marched her into the bathroom, guiding her elbow put the brush in her hand and still I'm faced with mouth clamped shut and refusal so I held her nose until the mouth had to open and cleaned her teeth. I was as gentle as I could be and am sure I didn't hurt her but Christ it shouldn't be like this at 12 should it ?
I cannot do this twice a day.
The other kids are better, but wouldn't voluntarily go in the bathroom and clean their teeth without reminders.
And the younger two gave both had painful dental work so maybe they have learnt their lesson because they don't ever refuse.
None of them like tooth paste so we've had strawberry flavour, orange and currently are using pearl drops at great expense as its acceptable.
I'm so fed up of this battle. Has anyone else had this ?

[BlackberryIce]

Yes I do, with ds who is 14 tomorrow. Pearl drops is available at poundland for £1!

[Mosman]

We are in Australia it's $8 here :-(

[BlackberryIce]

Oh bloody hell! Sorry.

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

I still pull the duvet off my 19 year old if he slopes off to bed without doing his teeth (which is often!) My girls are meticulous about theirs but DS1 is a lazy toad and while he still lives at home.. yes I'll make sure he does them!

Sorry....!

[Mosman]

Oh heck lol
Well I shall keep doing it then, the thing is she showers every day, hair is beautiful, make up at weekends perfectly applied and a gob full of yellow teeth yuk

[SecretSquirrels]

No I wouldn't dream of doing what you did. It's the same as giving in to a toddler tantrum.
I would insist firmly that they do as I ask and in the case of outright refusal there would be consequences. Remove phone, grounding - whatever hurts the most.

[outtolunchagain]

our dentist made ds2 go to dental hygienist and said if he had to go again he would insist we,made him pay for it.It has improved a bit but we are slipping back

[eatyourveg]

I printed off some really gorey pictures of tooth decay from the internet, laminated them and stuck them on the bathroom wall above the sink - seemed to work.

I think if I were in your shoes I would march her to the dentist and let her hear from someone else how much her breath smells and what the consequences are both socially and for her health. She'll be mortified.