Mumsnet users share with Aquafresh how they get their children to brush their teeth

[EllieMumsnet]

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Regular tooth brushing can be a particular pain point for many parents, as often trying to persuade a wriggling, protesting child to open their mouth for this twice daily ritual is no small task. However there are lots ways to make it easier, and Aquafresh would love to know how you get your children to brush their teeth.

Aquafresh has this to say: “Here at Aquafresh, we know that brush time can be a challenge. That’s why we have Captain Aquafresh, the Nurdles and our brush time app to make your tooth brushing routines more fun! But we’d love to know, what are your brush time tips?”

So how can it be made easier? Do you employ a softly softly approach, waiting to spring with a ready-loaded toothbrush? Perhaps you bribe with an extra story at bedtime, or does your child actually listen to a logical, fact-based explanation of why it's good to brush? Maybe you’ve found that letting them pick out their favourite toothbrush and toothpaste help get them excited about brushing their teeth?

However you do it, share with Aquafresh how you get your children to brush their teeth and you could be in with the chance of winning a voucher worth £300 for the store of your choice (from a list).*

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

If you need to contact GSK to report a product quality issue, adverse event, have a question, request or complaint about a product, please email GSK at [email protected], call on 0800 783 8881 or contact GSK via the form located [https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/contact-us/ here]].

*All UK Mumsnet users aged 18+. Open 5/11/18 to 19/11/18. To enter please post on the thread below. One entry per person. One prize to be won: £300 voucher of winner’s choice (from a list). Winner chosen by random draw performed by computer process. Further Insight T&Cs at this link.

We always let my son choose his toothbrush and make it in to a bit of an event. Brushing teeth is part of our daily routine and we lead by example

I just tell them their teeth will fall out if they don't brush them!

Electric toothbrush with superhero's on, they loved having this and used to ask when they could brush their teeth all the time.

We've never really had to hit the ground running with teeth brushing, it's just part of our normal routine. Wake up, pee, wash hands, brush teeth.

We used to have a wall chart that my daughter would get stickers to ad if she completed a task but she was somewhere between 1 and 3 when we had it and she got a sticker for everything so it kind of became redundant really as she did them all. We did a project of teeth a few years ago and she had to study her own mouth, what her teeth looked like etc and that got her quite familiar with how her own mouth can be taken care of.

My daughter's 10 now and has had braces for the last 6 months, as a result she's had to take on a new teeth care regime, we find that having a timer, her own special toothpaste and mouth wash, plus a box of all her special brushes to hand in the bathroom makes life easier. She has a whole box of stuff from their recommended toothpastes to wax for her braces in there and she's free to use what she needs. We also keep a small stash of the stuff downstairs in a toiletries bag with a decent mirror so she can check them throughout the day and clean them after meals. I think making everything accessible really helps her to keep them clean.

he doesnt do them great but never been an issue

Never had a problem as we took a no-nonsense approach to this - tooth brushing is not optional. It is something we do, twice a day, every day. Have done it since their first tooth broke the surface with both children and I have never had any issues. They always clean their teeth with me in a morning, as we get ready together - and they do theirs last thing, before bed at night. They each chose their own timer and pit it on - knowing how long they have to actively brush for. I just finish them off with a good scrub at the end.
Same approach with the dentists - they have been with me since they were very small. From as soon as they had teeth they sat in the chair and let him have a look around etc. They have sat in with me having scale & polish etc, so they see the machinery etc in operation and know there is nothing to worry about/fear.

My smallest dd has brushed since before she had gnashers..... getting her to stop is the problem.

Once she showed an interest we let her choose a toothbrush and every day she toddles off with either a parent or sibling and cleans away. We swap half way and she 'cleans' ours while we give hers a good brush.

It seems to work.

Teeth brushing is non-negotiable in our house and always has been. We've had our battles but with time and lots of utterances of "We can do this the easy way or we can do it your way" it soon becomes routine. Hang on in there!

With great difficulty, my daughter as hated brushing her teeth from day one. I am hoping for tips with my new baby

We use berry flavored tooth paste & remind them in routine each night, seems to work

I let my mini people choose their own toothbrush so they are wanting to use it. Thy like the funky ones with music and lights but if it works then im happy to pay more for one of them.

Never really had a problem with that

Bribery?! Always an option!

Start them young, as soon as the first tooth appears, and keep doing them for them until they are at least 7, no brainer, no options, all part of a normal healthy routine.

I struggled to get my daughter to brush her teeth so we started making stories about all the tooth litter bugs and how they leave dirt behind in her mouth after a meal. Trying to get her to keep her mouth open wide is a challenge but we usually go with the 'open sesame' routine like it's a magic trick and then I tell her how we are brushing away all the tooth litter bugs then rinse them into the sink and say 'goodbye' when she rinses her mouth! it takes time but it has to be fun for them to do it!

We have always brushed their teeth so it's just habit now. It's not something we have to GET them to do

Started more or less since birth
Make it a competition
Turn it into a game e.g. what is being cleaned off each tooth
Nice fun brushes and mouthwashes
And pin them down then needed
Dentist regularly and not making a big deal out of it - we go to the dentist to get a sticker, showing teeth is just a little bit of that

it's a work in progress but I try to show how much I love to do mine

Electric toothbrush. We use a disclosing tablet every now and again which they enjoy doing as stains your teeth a bright purple and you can see where they’ve missed! Also get the dentist to have a word they seem to pay more attention to them.

I give my DD aged 2 a tooth brush with toothpaste on then I use another toothbrush to clean her teeth.

It's always been part of the routine, but letting them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste helps

I have quite bad teeth so I just say "who wants to have teeth like mummy" and they go running to brush their teeth!

By example. By brushing our teeth at the same time. They are always fascinated to watch and emulate!

Went to the dentist yesterday and I still can’t believe how difficult it is to get your kids to brush twice a day. The dentist can tell they’re only brushing once a day. I’ve decided to set them a challenge with an incentive, let’s see if you can start brushing twice a day and get your dentist to notice? Cash prize up for grabs. Fingers crossed. 💋

I use to tell them , what could happen, if they didn't clean the teeth, that it would be fillings,or even worse, have to have a tooth out. I remember seeing babies well toddlers were the teeth coming through were bad, and I would show it them, needless to say, most of the time, they cleaned their teeth and went regular for check ups, and no -reason for them not to go as its free for children.I also took them for regular eye tests, yet I ended up with glasses. In fact that was how I met my foster mother, as she was the opthamologist at the eye hospital.

We play our favourite songs whilst brushing our teeth, usually whilst dancing around the bathroom lol.