Teeth brushing ideas for 9yr old with suspected SN

[megletthesecond]

DD will not brush her teeth. It's never got better since toddler days and I'm exhausted by it tbh. Once in a blue moon she'll let me do it nicely or do a half decent job herself but mostly her teeth are grubby . I still have to hold her and brush quickly few times a week just to make sure they don't rot. Me and her brother both brush and floss without fuss.

I've tried various toothpaste, oranurse and the Lidl herby one work sometimes.
Disclosing tablets sometimes help.
She liked the electric toothbrush but broke that in a tantrum after a few days.

She likes the dentist, does anyone use a dentist for a teeth cleaning service? Desperate here. She's got so many behavioural issues but they can possibly be resolved in time, I can't mend ruined teeth.

You sound like you’ve tried a lot, and I’ve been through similar.

I take DS to the dental hygienist every 6 months. He dislikes it, but it gets the plaque build up off his teeth. We also found a sonic electric toothbrush is the best for him, but it’s expensive at £10 a go and if he broke it I’m not sure I’d be quick to replace.

No toothpaste brushing is better than nothing. Chewing gum after meals (sugar-free stuff). I’ve had to use Bribery, and brush while he watching TV 📺 in the past . And occasionally I’ve ended up pinning him down and doing a really good brush.

It’s draining, but we have made a lot of progress and get one brushing done every day now.

Is it sensory processing?
Is she overwhelmed by the feeling of things in her mouth?

I see that you say she has behavioural issues- but do you have an explanation for those?

It might be that she needs to desensitise her mouth to be able to tolerate toothbrushing +/- toothpaste?

We use electric and yep we have replaced it a few times. Lives in my bedroom now and I get it for ds's to use

Thanks everyone. Some good things for me to ponder.

Springer she's not seen the hygienist yet. I'll make an appointment for her, I think she'd be ok with it. She was there when her older brother had his teeth cleaned.

These are great. allows all surfaces of the teeth to be cleaned in one go.