Did your parents ever brush your teeth?

[Shadycurtain]

For those born in the 80’s, how old were you when you started brushing your own teeth? I don’t recall anyone else ever brushing my teeth and had terrible dental problems as a child. I was also never supervised or shown how to do it, just left to my own devices. Trying to work out if this was normal in the 80s? Now it would be considered neglect but it wouldn’t have been then. I was born in the mid 80s.

I have young DC (5 and under) so either me
or DH brushes their teeth morning and night. The NHS and dentists advise to brush for young kids so that’s what we do. I encourage them join in and try brushing themselves for a few seconds, but only before or after I actually brush them properly. Once they get to about 6 I plan on getting them to do more of the brushing themselves while supervised/helped so that by 7 they can do it independently.

Same as you OP. My DC were not born in the UK and we were advised to supervise brushing until 10. After all the issues I had, that's what we've done.

@WheresTheRemoteControl one of mine was too. We had most success using two toothbrushes, a fat one first which he clamped down on and then a narrower one to brush the teeth!

I was born in '83, I can't remember my parents brushing my teeth but we were definitely made to brush them twice a day.
I remember it being a big deal in school and 'dentists' coming in to show us how to do it properly (and handing out toothbrushes and toothpaste in bright colours!)
I brushed my own children's teeth up until they were around 3/4 and had the coordination to do it themselves. I still stood and supervised them but they cleaned them themselves.

Because it's still a good idea to clean food and milk off the gums. It also gets them used to the process of having their teeth brushed for when it's necessary.

Our mum was very strict on teeth brushing and I'm sure she would have brushed our teeth when we were young in the 70's/80's.

I can’t remember mine being brushed either (child of the 80s), but we did use disclosing tablets regularly. My DC (older primary age) brush their own teeth in the morning but we brush them at night to make sure they get a thorough clean once a day. This was advised by our dentist when they were very young so we’ve just carried on.

I don't remember my teeth being brushed but I'm sure my mum would have done when we were little. We would've been instructed to brush but not actually checked. Regular trips to the dentist and orthodontist when older.

My dad lived next to a sweet shop post rationing so has terrible teeth and was religious in his teeth cleaning zealotry - we were even forced to have fluoride tablets pre-water fluoridation! We werent allowed sweets, diluting juice, fizzy pop or added sugar at all. I had my first filling at 27 - and I've only had one more since and I'm knocking 50.

I can't remember ever having a toothbrush in primary

You clean milk collection/deposits off their tongue and they get used to the feeling of having their teeth cleaned.

My 15 month old will pick up the tooth paste when changing her morning or night nappy and opens her mouth wide when I say "aaah". No having to tussle with a toddler- I think this is because she's used to it.
She also attend the dentist 3 - 4 times a year as a tag on to mine/my husband's general appointment so she's used to the dentist set up . Hopefully this will mean she doesn't develop the fear lots of school age children have due to inexperience at the dentist.