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MNHQ

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

226 replies

KathrynMumsnet · 30/03/2015 15:15

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%
---------------------
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

OP posts:
sushierolls · 12/04/2015 22:05

My DCs are incredibly competitive (I reckon they got it from me), so to make them find the fun in brushing their teeth, I ask them who can get their teeth the whitest? and of course, they're all eager to see who wins!
My DD5 always tells me how she can't brush her teeth at the moment as she's busy, watching Dora!
To teach my DCs about good dental hygiene, regular check ups with the dentist helps
Like any parent, I worry about the health of my DCs teeth so to keep them healthy I make them brush their teeth twice a day and have a lot of potassium and calcium in their diet.
I don't do much to reduce the sugar intake of my DCs but I probably should!

KittyFan83 · 12/04/2015 22:40

I think the best way to help young children with their teeth is by making it a daily family routine - the same way as eating breakfast, brush-teething becomes a family activity. No one wants to be left out, and it's a positive activity that ensures everyone gets to spend a bit of time together as a whole unit.

If bedtime stories are part of your night-time routine, I make these dependent upon having brushed teeth first. No tooth brushing - no story!

I haven't really had to deal with any excuses beyond, "I don't want to!" or "It hurts me!" - with the latter, it is very important to make sure the kids have good quality toothbrushes that are designed for them (one that is too hard really will put them off!), but the sorry-time trade-off means this isn't an issue. I expect that kind of response, so it doesn't stress me out if I hear it.

I grow my own fruit and veg, which means that although we're omnivores, who love meat and fish, we do easily get 5+ fruit/veg daily, with the majority being veg. Working on developing tasty and kid-friendly meals that have lots of veg in them is a great way to cut out the sugars in ready meals or fruit, and it's a good thing that will last them their whole lives.

MrsRog23 · 12/04/2015 22:48

Let the tiddler copy you! Since my daughter started teething I've given her the brush and let her watch me brush my teeth, she's inherited great-nanny Clarke's stubborn streak and won't let me do them for her now (14months) although it's done loads for her confidence and development. Also, another top tip, take them no matter the age to your dentist appointments to get them used to the smell/noise and so it's more familiar when it's their turn. ????

juju3 · 13/04/2015 07:57

Try to make sure they avoid fizzy drinks - surely the worst culprit

jjmartin · 13/04/2015 13:39

It used to be a struggle, but with perseverance it has now become a habit, morning and night. I brush his teeth first and usually sing a song. We have also bought him a toothbrush that flashes.

matphil · 13/04/2015 16:02

I get my son to brush his teeth the same time as I do mine as he used to say he'd cleaned them when I knew he hadn't and it sets them a good example.
I have a book that explains tooth decay in children and we look at this regularly and talk about it.
I don't give him fizzy drinks or add sugar to anything, he does have sweets but knows to clean his teeth soon after.

CathBookworm · 13/04/2015 16:05

We use an app that times 2 minutes for our little one to know how long to brush his teeth for. We let him start off doing it, and we finish off for him to make sure he has reached every nook and cranny (he is only 3). Nice toothbrushes help, especially if they can choose them themselves. He is v fussy about the type of toothpaste though, he only likes the Colgate one with a cat on the front (because that's the first one he used, and he is wary of change!)We try to avoid sugary drinks and snacks, but we do allow them occasionally.

badgermum · 13/04/2015 19:21

When my boys were little I used to have two toothbrushes for them both one for them to hold and one for me, this worked well until they were old enough to co-operate, now they are older they know the importance of the two minute rule and have a timer in the bathroom which they use,

NelAllan · 13/04/2015 19:35

What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly? It's a great idea to use a timer so they know when they've done the job thoroughly.

How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene? Our dentist recommended using disclosing tablets so DCs could see the areas of their teeth that needed to be cleaned better. I also keep a small mirror at their height to they can look as they brush their teeth and see for themselves that they're doing a good job.

Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to help them keep their teeth healthy? I do worry about DCs teeth and so I encourage good brushing and we go for regular dental checks.

Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how? I do monitor sugar intake and will always opt for sugar free alternatives. We also are careful about hidden sugars too. My DCs drink fruit juice with a straw as this helps keep the liquid away from teeth. Eating cheese after meals and snacks helps too.

Flossiecrossie · 13/04/2015 19:45

We avoid sweets and too much processed food, and any fruit juices my little might ever have are drunk through a straw. When it comes to teeth cleaning she's always a little reluctant, so I'm careful to choose an appropriate tooth paste she likes, and when I can we brush our teeth at the same time, as she loves responds well to being a part of something

VictoriaSt · 13/04/2015 20:36

-What are your top tips for getting your DCs to clean their teeth properly? timing app, watching me
-What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth? they dont
-How do you teach your DCs about good dental hygiene? tooth in coke was an eyeopener!
-Do you worry about your DCs teeth? What do you do to help them keep their teeth healthy? a little. very limited sugar intake. brush twice a day.
-Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how? yes. no soft drinks. only very weak squash :)

Princessxo · 13/04/2015 21:05

I limit 'treats' but I'm also paranoid of things like gum disease so we tend to use natural toothpaste and the kids brush their teeth twice a day.

compy99 · 13/04/2015 22:49

little chap is 19 months old, was tricky with the toothbrush, but we now have a battery toothbrush that he loves and has been know to bawl when we stop! he doesn't have sweets or fizzy drinks and we brush 2-3 times a day so hopefully we are doing ok.

eteo · 13/04/2015 23:28

we read book about dental care. i find that is very helpful. also by showing them a few example of those horrible teeth pictures!

liane1987 · 14/04/2015 09:11

I use an electric toothbrush with my little girl, it has a timer so she knows exactly how long she's meant to brush her teeth for. When she used a normal toothbrush she was getting a filing every time she went to the dentist. Now the dentist is seeing a huge improvement in her gum health as well and there's no longer any plaque build up :-)

balloon66 · 14/04/2015 09:44

we started by brushing the kids teeth for them. They have bright charater toothbrushes that they like and we have fun doing it

Emrob86 · 14/04/2015 10:13

Get your kids to love brushing by cleaning your teeth while they are doing theirs. You are their inspiration and role model and they want to be just like you!

Offer healthy snacks like cheese that is good for the teeth and teach your children to choose water as their main drink.

snare · 14/04/2015 10:34

I use an app to make sure my kids brush for two mins to the music :)

reddaisy · 14/04/2015 10:42

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

I turn it into a game and talk to them throughout the process to distract them, but I do their teeth at the moment. I also use a timer so that we know when 2 mins have passed, otherwise we both might think 30 seconds was enough!

We also have toothbrushes and toothpaste upstairs and downstairs so that we can brush them after breakfast and before the pre-school/school run.

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

Mostly just that they are tired or 'they did them yesterday!'

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

They have regular check-ups at the dentist, I have explained what happens if people don't look after their teeth, holes, they have to be taken out etc.

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

Yes, they aren't allowed fizzy drinks/fruit shoots or too many sugary snacks and they only drink water and milk on a day-to-day basis.

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

By making healthy choices but that is for their health and wellbeing rather than specifically for their teeth.

myboycraig · 14/04/2015 10:57

Me and my son brush our teeth together & use a timer.... It makes it more fun x

dirtypop · 14/04/2015 12:29

watch them brushing to make sure they do it right

laurapotz · 14/04/2015 12:51

I struggle to brush my 18 month old daughter's teeth, but have found if I give her the brush and then brush my own teeth she will have a go at copying me. She's not very good at it yet (she tends to move her head rather than the brush) but at least she's having a go and it's building good habits for the future.

fazkin · 14/04/2015 13:02

I check sugar content on everything I buy for my kids. I have shown my daughter pics of rotten teeth and explained what sugar will do her teeth so is always eager to brush her teeth.

Portabella24 · 14/04/2015 13:02

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

I have bought electric toothbrushes that time them and prompts every 30 seconds to change the place they are brushing. I also check most days and use a disclosing tablet to make sure they have covered everywhere. If not, they have to do it again. Eventually they have twigged it is quicker and easier to do it right first time.

-What kind of excuses do your DCs give you about why they don't need to clean their teeth?
They don't - they just lie about doing it at all.

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

Lead by example. Brush properly, limit sweets in between meals, take them to the dentist but make sure I have an appointment too. Talk about the importance of early, preventative dental care. Toothache is so flipping painful!

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

Definitely - it is still thought of as a chore and there is little link between diet and dental care. I do take to the dentist regularly, do check, do stress how important it is. A friend of mine has a bridge and now needs extensive dental work. I use her as a cautionary tale.

-Do you actively try to reduce the sugar intake of your DCs? If so, how?
Yes but fighting a losing battle I fear with grandparents etc. I make sugar free gum available and encourage them to chew in between meals.

09babisham · 14/04/2015 14:10

We have a routine every night with our twin boys, we started it when they were 12mths old and have continued with it. They choose their toothbrush and toothpaste and we have a ladybird timer set for 2 mins which works a treat x