Teeth brushing, I'm fed up of the fight EVERY NIGHT

[Easy]

ds is nearly 5, and we are still fighting about cleaning teeth every night. Because it's the last thing we do each day it means that he always goes to bed with me cross at him.

As dh is away working all week, I always have to do it, and I always feel so depressed at the end.

We have a star chart (well, smilies actually) which works for everything else, but not teeth. Tonight of course he said he wanted Daddy (well son, so do I), but then said he wanted Miss .... (his nursery teacher), didn't want me.

I know it sounds pathetic, but It got me in tears tonight.

Any suggestions?

easy - I tried an attachment for my electric toothbrush, which is a disney themed child brush, and now have fewer problems. Some nights I just accept ds1 is too tired, but this did helped, as he felt as if he was using the same grown up brush as mummy.

Sorry you feel like this tonight. I have a similar thing with hair washing with DD. I feel that it all goes a lot smoother if I am in a good frame of mind and I tell her what is happening and then I do it totally ignoring her whining, screaming etc!! At the end we have a kiss and move onto something else as if it didn't happen at all!! If it worries you, make sure that you do something nice after the struggle with him. I know it won't make the cleaning go any easier but at least you will part on a better note.

Easy,

Am so there with you on this one, I ofen skip the bedtime brushing coz the aggro is to much to deal with, but they do brush teeth in morning and DS at nursery (which I reckon is where the problem lies coz they get to do it there by themselves) But try to perserve, after you have done it let him try by himself. (and expect tantrums on the bathroom floor)

It's an independence thing and DS at 6 is still not happy about letting my help, but does it so that DS can see that big sister is letting me !!!!

My ds learned the very hard way, his dental appt when aged 8... His first and last and only filling!
He brushed religiously now, try a mouthwash as well, the dentist told us it can help lazy or resistant brushers and offers a good amount of protection for biting surfaces, also you could try an electric toothbrush, the novelty might help...

Agree with Poppysead, if I am not in a good frame of mind I don;t do it,

Also DS Daddy had never lived with us, keft when DS 10 days old, but has regualar contact, but still the same addage "I want my Daddy"

AAAHHHH

Just grin and don't let him know that it is geting ti you

Hi, meant to say, we have 3 different toothbrushes, inc 2 electric, but it still is a problem.

I always try to explain that he has to do this, everyone does, whether they like it or not.We do always finish with a goodnight kiss and usually a story (unless he's thrown things at me during the argument).

gosh easy you poor thing. can't think of anything else to suggest which is a bit pathetic, so sorry about that. don't suppose you could brush your teeth together for a bit, or is that perceived as him winning?

I had the same thing with DS, now nearly three and know how you feel. I started brushing his teeth earlier. He watches 1/2 hour telly before bedtime and I bribe him by saying he can have another 5 minutes watchig Thomas The Tank Engine if I can brush his teeth while he does it. That way he is distracted watching the telly and I can brush. If he refuses to brush, I threaten to turn the telly off and it always works.

I must be a meanie. dd1 got told "we are going to do this. It's your choice whether we do it the easy way or the hard way...." I only had to sit on her and hold her down once, since that she has chosen the easy way. We did this at age 2 with her, but I am sympathetic that it would be much harder to that with a 5 year old... can you find some pictures on the net of what happens to teeth that don't get brushed?? Really yukky ones might scare him into it...

Right, I'll try brushing mine with him (had forgotten that, did it a few times when he was 2). And I try to find some pictures of decayed teeth, that might help, thanks.

Easy, does he go to the dentist? What turned the corner for us with ds1 was when the (big scary) dentist told him he "HAD to brush his teeth twice a day". And then in his presence told us it was vital that his teeth were brushed properly, and that if he didn't cooperate we should pin him down and brush them.

Another tip I got on here is to name the teeth. So when ds1 was in a Harry Potter phase, we had to brush Hagrid, Hermione, Malfoy, Dumbledore, etc.!

With ds2 atm he reads to me, then I send him to the toilet and brush his teeth. When he's done it quickly and properly with no fuss (usually) then I read to him. (I occasionally send him back to do them again). If he has a lingering phase, I put a kitchen timer on for 5 mins.

Just a few random, disjointed ideas. Hope something helps you.

Could try having ds brushing his teeth whilst having a bath.

roisin, you're so wise.

I've got to get appt for a check-up soon anyway, so will try the dentist approach, altho I don't want him to be scared of the dentist.

Just a quick posting to let you know that the teethbrushing thing is much easier ATM. I brush with him, but also made it clear to him that he can upset me all he likes, he will STILL have to brush his teeth, so he's sort of backing down a bit on it, no doubt looking for something else to wind me up about.

Thanks for all the advice, just want you to know that I'm not always grumbling.