Share your tips & tricks on keeping your children's teeth healthy for Colgate - chance to win a £250 voucher! *NOW CLOSED*

[KathrynMumsnet]

Colgate has asked us to find out about your thoughts and concerns about dental hygiene and how you keep your children’s teeth healthy.

Here’s what Colgate says: “Did you know that 84% of children and all adults suffer from cavities at some point in their life*?

“Cavities, also known as tooth decay, are the most common chronic disease on the planet. But cavities are preventable and this is why Colgate® has created a breakthrough new anti-cavity toothpaste called Colgate® Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser™.

“Providing close to double protection against early decay**, Colgate® Maximum Cavity Protection is the first and only toothpaste to contain Sugar Acid Neutraliser™ technology, that goes beyond the protection of fluoride, neutralising sugar acids in plaque – the #1 cause of cavities.

“Colgate’s Head of Scientific Affairs, Foti Panagakos comments:
“More and more we’re aware of the increasing levels of sugar in our diets and the negative impact this has on our health. The need for a toothpaste with built in Sugar Acid Neutraliser™ technology has never been so urgent. Colgate® Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutraliser™ will have a tremendous impact on the oral health of the nation.””

*UK Adult Dental Health Survey 2009, The Health and Social Care Information Centre
** Toothpaste with fluoride alone reduced by 32%
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Below are a few points to get you started, but feel free to add any other comments you have:

• What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly?
• What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth?
• How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene?
• Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to help them keep their teeth healthy?
• Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how?

Fears, tips, whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnetter will win a £250 voucher of a supermarket of their choice*.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

*except Aldi and Lidl

I try to brush my teeth at the same time as them

i always use my father and his dentures as a fear incentive to brush brush and brush

From the outset I brought up DD with water as her only drink, other than milk in cereal - I just think juices are completely unnecessary. When she tried a friend's Coca-Cola once the fizziness alarmed her so much she burst into tears!

I think it's important to make teeth brushing fun, especially with toddlers. It used to be a real battle with mine until I started playing 'silly mummy'. I would get the toothbrush and pretend to brush their nose, knees, toes etc and pretend I'd forgotten where to brush. After 5 minutes, they would usually be stoodin front of me, pointing to their wide open mouths.

-What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly? We Take it in turns. My daughter has a go and then I do. We sing a made up 'This is how we brush our teeth' song three times!
-What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth? They range from 'My teeth are not here today Mummy' to 'But I haven't eaten any sugar today!'
-How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene?
A 'Get well soon' episode helped us a lot, as does chats with the dentist and me role modelling good brushing morning and evening.m
-Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to to help?
Yes I do. My daughter has weak enamel on her teeth so needs to visit the dentist more often. I'm really careful about brushing regularly.
-Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how? Yes. She has diluted juice, only ever drunk through a straw which means a lot of the sugar bypasses her teeth. She only has sugar every now and again and I only buy plain cereal without sugar in.

Make teeth cleaning fun - use toothpaste without strong minty flavours, use fun toothbrushes e.g. character ones and egg timers to help time the amount of time spent brushing

I do worry about my sons teeth, we do brush them twice a day but he likes to do it himself which obviously means its not done properly as he is 4, but he doesn't let me do it very well either, as he will bite the brush. He actually likes to eat the toothpaste, so he normally sucks the brush. We tend to forget sometimes to do his teeth, as late for school etc. I did buy a thomas toothbrusth set where thomas runs around track showing how long they should brush for, we did use that but now he doesn't as novelty has worn off.

I worry about fillings. Mine are young and they don't really understand why they need to brush their teeth for so long. I need to get a timer!

My children enjoy brushing their teeth, although my 4 year old does need a little help to make sure that they are brushed correctly! The main problem we have is to make sure they brush for long enough, so we often all clean our teeth at the same time - the don't like to be the first to finish, so it keeps them brushing for longer!

They pretty much only drink water and milk, but if they have other drinks like smoothies or milkshake we only give them as treats and they have them with meals.

My top tip is electric toothbrushes with an inbuilt timer - they have totallytransformed tooth brushing time in our house from a constant fight to having to persuade them to stop brushing. It's amazing! My DCs are a bit older though - 7 and 9, not sure if this would be quite so successful in younger children.

I sometimes give my 3yr old daughter very diluted squash and very occasionally apple juice with meals. She does like having her teeth brushed, I tend to sing to her and she lets me clean them quite thoroughly. My 16 month old is a different story, she can be really obstructive and will wriggle like a snake if she doesn't want you to brush her teeth, but letting her hold my mobile phone usually works!

When my DDs were going through a phase of not wanting to brush, I made a reward chart, with a sticker awarded for every good brushing and a toy when they had filled the chart. It worked well and got them through the stubborn stage too.

I have always limited sugar, but it's hard, so good dental hygiene is essential, as are regular trips to the dentist.

I put a portion of cheese in their lunchbox to eat after they have finished. I read somewhere it helps to neutralise the sugar/acid after eating. Might be a myth but their teeth are pretty good.

A good start is getting your children used to going to the dentist every 6 months for a check-up. All three of my dc went to the dentists and had examinations even before they had teeth!.

Limit sugary treats.
Brush at least twice a day with a decent toothpaste & supervise their brushing.
Give them sugar free or no added sugar drinks.

At the end of the day im 36 and have no fillings or dental problems and my children are 13, 11 and 2 and also have no fillings

I have little timers that are colourful and sparkly from the dentists cost 50p each and also make sure they drink plenty of water and always brush their teeth morning and night it is part of the routine bath supper teeth then book reading no teeth cleaned no book and they do love a good book so a good bargaining tool
(plus my sister is a dental nurse and is always a good way to say i will get her to come and check them
but if you let your child use a disclosing tablet and it makes all their uncleaned bits show up purple it shocks them into cleaning them well for a good while

I don't deny my children sweets and treats every now and then, but if they don't brush their teeth I will not allow them to have them for that week at all. Works wonders with my elder children.
My 1 and 2 year old boys brush their teeth no problem at all, I think the earlier you introduce a toothbrush, the easier it is.

No trick really, just plain and simple brushing twice a day with a toothpaste they like the flavor of. Some are too strong and my children will complain then. But a mild flavor works well with them.

-What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly? I used a Santa App at Christmas and one of the things I got Santa to say was that my SOn needed to brush his teeth every morning and night to get good presents - worked a treat and he says every night he is brushing his teeth for SAnta.
-What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth? He doesn't make any excuses.
-How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene? Help him to brush and show him me brushing.
-Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to help them keep their teeth healthy? My Son has little enamel on his front teeth (genetic) so we make sure no rinsing after brushing and reduce sugar consumed daily.
-Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how? Limit treats and give them only with a meal. No fizzy drinks.

(Me) singing songs works for my youngest (3) and I got my eldest (7) an egg timer so she knows how long to brush for and that has really helped.

-What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly?

My son has been told that he must clean his teeth after using his inhaler so he doesnt need convincing. We have a brushing timer app on the phone to encourage my daughter.

-What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth?

They usually try to tell me that they have already done it!

-How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene?

We have been telling them about it since they were babies and set a good example.

-Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to help them keep their teeth healthy?

I am worried that they will need braces when they are older.

-Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how?

With great difficulty. Most foods seem to have added sugar.

I showed my daughter photos of children with rotten teeth and missing teeth and she said she didn't want to look like that. We bought her an electric toothbrush when she was 5 which also seemed to do the trick and we use disclosure tablets once a month.

Try to cut down on the sugar, milk or water to drink. They all brush their teeth no problem.

My daughter doesn't get a story until teeth are clean

I use disclosure tablets and have always diluted pure fruit juice with soda water. I think they would prefer lemonade but it's way too sweet. Mine have always preferred fruit and veg and one of my sons hates ice cream and jelly so it's not too difficult.

-What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly?
I brush my teeth at the same time and they copy me. We make it a game to see which one copies the best. We also use flashing toothbrushes to make sure we brush for long enough.

-What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth?
Not really had a problem with this, I have explained why we need to keep our teeth clean and they understand this.

-How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene?
By setting a good example.

-Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to help them keep their teeth healthy?
I don't really worry - have taken them to the dentist since they were dots, brush at least twice a day and make sure that if they have sweets, they aren't things that will stick in their teeth like toffees etc.

-Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how?
No more than one glass of juice a day, with a meal. We only have puddings once or twice a week, and I don't use sugary things as treats or rewards. I am lucky as they have always happily drunk water too.

I insist my 20 month old has to clean her teeth twice daily. The most successful we have been is when I brush her teeth and she brushes mine. She also brushes her toys teeth too - saying aaah as we do. At the moment she is only allowed to drink milk and water though I expect that will change soon enough.