Teeth brushing

[Bumble1830]

Ive also posted in Parenting but thought I would try here for traffic.

Please help...I have a DS,10 who has never been keen on brushing his teeth, but did always do it, but. lately, ive caught him just standing at the sink with the tap running "pretending" to brush his teeth, he insists he has done them, but they always look yellow,I dont mean yellow due to stains, I mean yellow like not been brushed. I have even stood by him while he does them but I dont want to make to much of a big deal of it as I dont want it to become a "thing"...(Have I already made it into a "thing"?). I have spoken to him nicely saying to him that if you dont brush your teeth they can rot away, fall out and cause bad breath, but he still insists that he has done them, when I ask to check his brush its dry,The dentist has also said they need to be cleaned better, I dont know what the best way to deal with it is.Any advice?

You could try disclosing tablets which show up where you need to brush - Boots used to do them

here they are

I used to use them at the same time and we'd then compare on who was the best 'brusher'

@Furball Thats a great tip, Thanks. Ill get some today

Can you brush your teeth with him at the same time? Use an egg timer to get the timing right?

Sorry to drip feed - but also an electric brush with his fav cartoon character, they usually about a fiver but if it helps

@Furball, An idea for a stocking filler, Thanks

@MrDonut I have tried that but he see's it as a race and takes about 3 seconds to brush them lol

I'd try to find out why he doesn't like it

Disclosing tablets are a fab idea, show him pictures of decayed teeth to try to impress how important it is. My DS is a bit of a toothpaste dodger too.

Check he doesn't have a sore mouth / bleeding gums. If he does sympathise and sort first. It can be a vicious cycle if they don't want to brush because of this. Also have you asked if he objects to the taste or froth of toothpaste.

Agree brushing alongside them is the best method.

I used to do this as a child. And I’ll be honest looking back I have no idea why. I’d run the tap and run the brush under it and stand there for a few minutes. My mum told me all the same things you say. Didn’t make a difference. I have loads of fillings now and really regret it. But, I couldn’t see it happening/didn’t care when I was younger so never listened.
The funny thing is I now work in dentistry and find myself telling children constantly they need to brush their teeth better!!!
This sounds gross but try getting him to use his fingernail to scrape some plaque off a couple of teeth and see exactly what is there. (If there is lots of plaque it will be noticeable. Especially at the gum line). If there is visible plaque ask him if we wants to lick/eat it. Most children look disgusted when I say this and then I point of that that’s basically what they’re already doing every day because it’s already in their mouth!
Disclosing tablets are also very useful - but can be very messy so supervise at first otherwise you might end up with a purple/blue sink and walls if his spitting aim is bad!

Have you taken him to a dentist and told them he doesn’t brush his teeth? They can give you a few ideas.

Another idea to try, I switched to gel toothpaste and I found my kids liked it a lot better than the regular toothpaste.

Yes, I used to do this as a child. I have a mouth full of fillings and have been through hell with dental pain recently. I have no tips because even now I find it a chore but I do brush now

I think whats more frustrating is he absolutely insists that he has brushed them, then it gets into a ...no you didnt/yes i did/no you didnt/yes I did argument, Short of pinning him to the floor and brushing them for him I just dont know what to do. I dont think he has a phobia, or dislikes the toothpaste, Im starting to think he is just lazy!

It is almost certainly not lazy as it takes more effort to fake toothbrushing than to just do it. Why would supervision or joint brushing be so difficult?

I’m not saying this would be appropriate now but my mum got our dentist to scare us at an appointment by saying our teeth looked like they don’t get brushed and he will have to take them all out next time. I was about 6 though, I don’t think that would work on a 10 year old

As an aside, anyone else seeing this ad on the thread ?

Maybe also make sure the toothpaste isn't too minty and strong?

I have a dd like this.
She's recently had a hygienist appointment in a desperate attempt to get her to keep her mouth clean.

You can get a non-minty toothpaste called Oranurse which might help. I'm afraid I've never cracked it with my dd though, short of tranquilising her I can't make her do it.

I'd stand next to him for 2 minutes night and morning whilst he actually did it in my view. He'd moan about it - but that's the penalty for lying - no one trusts you. Mine (16) both have electric toothbrushes and it records on an app the duration and the sensitivity of the brushing (which can be faked of course).