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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to still brush my 8 year olds teeth?

144 replies

Clementiny · 15/02/2017 22:58

If I leave him to it, he counts standing in his pants with the toothbrush in his mouth as having brushed his teeth. He knows how to do it properly, he just can't be bothered. Besides if he has a friend for a sleepover, I brush them for him. He is laid back and happy for me to do it. I feel better knowing they're brushed properly as he had to having a filling last year after a stint of him brushing them.

We stayed at MILs yesterday and she horrified to see me brushing them for him. She said he, and even my 4 year old, should be brushing their teeth themselves. I agree they should but they don't do it properly and don't mind me doing it so I don't see the problem. Aibu to still be brushing them?

OP posts:
hackneyandbow · 15/02/2017 22:59

He's well old enough to do his own!

oleoleoleole · 15/02/2017 23:00

No.

christinarossetti · 15/02/2017 23:01

The advice from our dentist was brush their teeth for them as long as they'll allow.

Then you know that they're done properly

CinnamonSweet · 15/02/2017 23:03

Nope, I still do my 7 year olds and was advised by our dentist to do them until 9/10 ish.

Thebookswereherfriends · 15/02/2017 23:04

I have a 4 yr old and I plan on giving them a once over after they've done it as long as possible. Children don't do it properly or for long enough. I've had the pain of having teeth removed under ga and don't want my child going through it.

Ilovewillow · 15/02/2017 23:04

If you're both happy then why not! My 8 yr old daughter brushes her own but I got her disclosing tablets to help her see the missed bits - they are great fun apparently and mean she makes a better job of it. Perhaps you could alternate to encourage independence.

PlaymobilPirate · 15/02/2017 23:06

I do ds' at night- he does his own (supervised and nagged) on a morning

MysticTwat · 15/02/2017 23:06

Well, this is mumsnet were some people wipe their dc arses up untill 10 and beyond,
so pfffft at brushing teeth.

My opinion though, YABU

Hairyhat · 15/02/2017 23:08

I want disclosing tablets. Where can I get some. Sounds like a good thing

confusednorthner · 15/02/2017 23:13

I still do my 8 and 10 yr olds quickly once they are done. They also use disclosing tablets from Boots occasionally. Mine are happy for me to help as dd heard on the radio parents should till children are 14!
I had terrible teeth as a child as mum never took me to the dentist or helped me and I'll be gutted if mine have similar problems.

ImLadybird · 15/02/2017 23:15

I got our disclosing tablets from Amazon but be careful because that shit stains everything!

RayofSun · 15/02/2017 23:16

As a dentist, I have 16yo walk in who are not capable of brushing their teeth properly. You only get one set of teeth. Do them for as long as you can! My kids brush their own teeth and I then 'check' them.

charliethebear · 15/02/2017 23:25

YANBU, You should be brushing the teeth children up to 8 years old, before then children just aren't really capable of brushing everywhere in their mouth, some children you might need to help out with till older, especially if you know he wont do it hinself! You should most definitely be brushing your 4 yr olds!

MerylPeril · 15/02/2017 23:27

I do a bit of both. If she's not making a good job of it - then I redo it

You get one set of teeth - you have to make sure they are done properly!

We have just got an electric toothbrush (on dentist recommendation) - I like it as it makes her brush for a full 2 minutes

slkk · 15/02/2017 23:32

I do ds's teeth but since he turned 6, I do it then he does it himself afterwards. He's actually quite good at it, but I'll keep sharing the job with him for a while I think.

PinkCrystal · 16/02/2017 20:20

I do my 8 yo

MommyVan · 16/02/2017 20:28

Orthodontist told us recently to heavily supervise my 10yo - and to use disclosing tablets once a week. She was rather horrified that DS was allegedly Ed to do his own teeth!

britespark1 · 16/02/2017 20:30

Our dentist always tells us to help them until they are st least 8.

Ericaequites · 16/02/2017 20:31

Latency age children need to brush their own teeth. My folks were far too busy to brush my teeth and my siblings' teeth morning and night. An occasional cavity isn't a mortal sin.. However, I'm only one generation removed from "Teeth are nothing but trouble; have them out".

NoArmaniNoPunani · 16/02/2017 20:31

I'm a dentist, we recommend supervising until at least 8

notgivingin789 · 16/02/2017 20:32

DS (just 7) brushes his own teeth but I do brush over them once his finished. Would mouthwash also help ?

WildBelle · 16/02/2017 20:34

I went to the dentist yesterday and he advised to brush dd's teeth for her until she is 8! So that seems to be the current advice (and dd's teeth are fine so he didn't say it because she has manky knashers).

Allthewaves · 16/02/2017 20:46

I do all my kids teeth after they have been brushing 3,5 and 8. Why risk them having bad teeth

Excited101 · 16/02/2017 20:56

You are absolutely doing the right thing. I know of far too many much younger children 'brushing' their own teeth Children just don't have the maturity to do it properly.

Skinnydecafflatte · 16/02/2017 21:26

I brush my ds age 7 teeth still. Heard from a dentist that it's best to brush them as long as you can get away with it. I don't care if anyone thinks I'm baby-ing him. He only gets one set of adult teeth and I want him to keep them as long as possible. My dh has really bad teeth and I don't want this for my dc's.