Share your memories of teeth cleaning as a child and Tooth Fairy tales with Bupa: you could win £500 of dental vouchers NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at Bupa to find out your views and memories of teeth cleaning when you were a child and your Tooth Fairy tales.

They ask "what do you remember your parents telling you when you were little about the importance of brushing your teeth? We'd love to know your anecdotes and memories. Did you sing a song together? Perhaps you played a game to make it more fun. Did you get told any stories about the Tooth Fairy? Do you use any of the same methods to get your DC to make sure they are brushing their teeth properly?"

Bupa has created a fairy tale video telling the story of what happens to teeth when they are collected by the Tooth Fairy. Parents can personalise the video, which includes their DC name and picture to help them keep their teeth nice and clean. Why not start by creating one for your child and inspiring them to look after their teeth?

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win £500 of dental vouchers for the whole family.

You can have an extra chance to win by creating your own child’s video where you'll be given the chance to enter a competition (see link here).

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

I remember my younger sister fainting and sliding down the wall at the dentists when I was having my teeth cleaned - and i was left up I in the air on the chair while they are looked after her!

I used to brush my teeth after every meal or snack when I was a child. A very good friend of mine had a bad breath problem. She was ill and there was some other underlining cause but my parents told me it was because she didn't clean her teeth... I was so scared my breath will stink like this so I brushed like a mad person :-)

I hated those pink tablets. The thought of them is making my mouth wet and sicky.

We always had my poor old dad held up as an example of what eating too many sweets and not brushing well enough would do. His teeth really weren't that bad, but he had lots of fillings. Well now I have lots of fillings so I am the bad example

I remember trying to stay awake in order to see the tooth fairy but never managed it. There were 2 occasions when the tooth fairy forgot to visit and I was really upset!

Another adult with poor dental hygiene as a nipper suffering now... problem I had was being a secret toffee gobbler and thinking everything lasted forever as an adolescent. I have a similar problem with my step teens who won't brush but won't realise the impact until teeth are lost or pain etc. They're at an age as well where I shouldn't be monitoring (but am) and can't make them! Eating in bed was my sin and sane with the DStep teens... find the sugary evidence in room cleans. Kids also think white teeth are healthy teeth - not necessarily!

I don't really remember much about brushing my teeth when I was younger but I've made it one of the main things I focus on as a parent. Unfortunately when the children hit their late teens they don't really seem that bothered about brushing them and I feel like I'm constantly nagging my 19 year old
My youngest is 9 now and we still use disclosing tablets on a spot test basis. If she moans about brushing her teeth I tell her it's fine, she only needs to brush the ones that she wants to keep

She goes and brushes them then!

I used to have a special toothbrush that I was involved in choosing. I don't think kiddies toothpaste was invented then, do I had to use the minty stuff. My parents encouraged independence with gentle reminders.
My Dcs get to choose their own brushes and character toothpaste. Think it helps a bit!

My parents were very strict about brushing my teeth, I see someone else was the same as me, we used the kitchen to brush our teeth. Afterwards I was allowed a glass of water for bed.

My Dad always encouraged me to drink milk for the calcium.

My Mum is now 79 and has all her teeth so I'm hoping mine will stay in good condition too.

We used to get money from the tooth fairy at our house, by putting our tooth in a paper towel under our pillows. The tooth fairy also left the tooth so we could take it to our nanna& grandad's house to put it under the rug in their front room and then the tooth fairy came again and left us some more money!

Not sure whether I'll tell my own children the truth instead of talking about the tooth fairy - I think it was always quite obvious what was happening and I don't want to lie to them! I'm just not sure yet in case he tells other children too!

I sing a song when cleaning my children's teeth- ds sings it sometimes too! Just one I made up.

With the older children, we make sure they brush every morning and evening and check them regularly with the disclosing tablets too!

My parents used to get me to brush and I've always been conscientious.
However the strangest thing is that when my brother was born - I was three - I remember staying at a friend's house and my dad forgot to pack my toothbrush - so she gave me the "guest toothbrush" to use. It was pale yellow. She remembers it too but her mum swears there was no "guest toothbrush".

I remember the tooth fairy came one night. In the morning I found a button under my pillow. Apparently 'it was dark and that was the best she could find" according to mum some years later.

I remember having to go to the dentist with my mum and my gran and having gas anaesthetic, I had my front three teeth out and felt woosy for ages.

There was not much assistance around when I was young to help clean your teeth. Maybe about three different toothpastes and hard brushes with no medium, soft options. My teeth were straight and very close together but there was no floss or small brushes in those days. No one showed me how to clean my teeth and no one really made sure I did. Subsequently, I developed decay spots in between my teeth. Hated the taste of toothpaste and by the age of eleven the dentist wanted to take all my teeth out! Have spent many years enduring much pain and lots of fillings etc to be able to hang on to my teeth. Wish someone had taught me how to clean my teeth because when you are young, you don't seem to take much seriously!

My parents never really made a big issue on brushing teeth, I only remember brushing them in the morning, I don't have very good teeth now, I make sure my kids brush their teeth in the morning and at night and use mouthwash in the day, anything to make sure they try to look after their teeth.

I had bad habits of a child, not brushing my teeth when being told to and sneakily eating chocolate before going to bed

My Mum's name was Flossie (very apt for this competition) and she always stood over us at the sink whilst we scrubbed our teeth. But she was great when teeth came out making sure the tooth went under the pillow at night so the Tooth Fairy could leave a silver sixpence ..... The good old days!!!! :)

I just remember my parents assuming we were brushing every day - and sometimes this did not happen!

I remember I enjoyed the taste of my toothpaste as a child to the point of sometimes swallowing it even though I knew I shouldn't.

I only remember That the tooth fairy would come and take my baby teeth from under the pillow and leave me an old silver sixpence!
It seemed a good exchange but I never asked what the tooth fairy did with them! :0

not A lot, I do remember the school dental nurse...the fear I use to get going to her, and the foot driven drill ( not electric) !, New Zealand back in the 70's was not the most forward of places !

I uised a cloth from birth to clean my DC teeth and introduced a brush on the visibility of their first tooth!!
My DC use and app for timing and to show them how it is done properly which is from aquafresh and amazing for the kids.
Keep your on dental hygiene on form as if you dont the kids will think its ok not to.
Explain the importance of it

I remember my dad leaving his teeth to clean by soaking in steradent overnight :-)

I was not taught nor encouraged to brush my teeth as a child. Now, I hate my teeth & try to avoid smiling, it's no fun. I have also developed a phobia about my teeth being touched.

I have instilled the importance of looking after teeth to my son. I want him to have healthy teeth & a big smile

Awful i lived in a family of 7 and toothpaste and toothbrushes were in short supply. God knows what happened to the toothbrushes, i dread to think. However since being an adult I'm always brushing my teeth.

I remember it feeling like such a chore, to be honest, though I imagine it was more of a chore for my poor mum trying to make sure all four of us had brushed twice a day!

Weirdly I used to love going for a dental checkup - probably for the stickers the dentist gave me :)