Cleaning teeth battle

[Lemontreeinthecity]

The age old battle 😔
I feel like I'm running on no energy by the time this part of the bedtime routine comes around...
But my DD who is about to turn 6 is becoming more and more defiant and not listening , when I simply ask her to clean her teeth before bed.
It's a battle ground. Resulted in me getting really angry last night and shouting.
Threats of no TV and no book before bedtime as it took SO long before she cleaned her teeth.

Please can anyone offer some advice! Is 6 a difficult age??
And why has she suddenly become so defiant and rude!
Please help

Oh Lord you have my sympathy OP!

Are you with her when she cleans her teeth?

Could you clean your teeth at the same time? Make it into a bit of a game where you time 30 seconds before moving onto the next corner? Seeing how long you can stand on one leg whilst you clean them then swapping to the other leg?

At 6 I would explain why we brush our teeth and show her pictures of what happens if you don't.

I would then explain that as her mum you have to decide that some things are non-negotiable and some things are negotiable. Give her some examples of non-negotiable things: teeth brushing, going to school, not hurting other children etc. Then talk about what is negotiable: her choice of toothbrush and toothpaste, for example. Take her to the shop and let her choose a new toothbrush and toothpaste to try.

Make a point of showing that she can negotiate somewhat on other things and remind her of this idea of negotiable and non- negotiable at other times: "being clean is non-negotiable but if you don't want to have a bath now we can have a bath in the morning instead. You decide", or "brushing teeth is non-negotiable, but you can choose an audiobook to listen to while you brush and then you can keep listening in bed for 15 minutes." Something like that.