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.

Don’t make a big deal of it!
Brushing your teeth is just part of the daily routine!

My children have always visited the dentist from an early age. He made the check ups fun and told them how important it was to look after their teeth and he would know if they weren't brushing properly. As a result they have always enjoyed their routine of brushing their teeth with novelty brushes and Little Teeth Toothpaste under supervision.

My 6 yo DD has an app on her tablet which she loves, it times her for 2 minutes. It used to be a nightmare to get her to brush her teeth but she enjoys it now!

When they were little I told them I was brushing their teeth and now they are older I tell them to do it them to do it and they do. It's never been an issue

The only thing that worked in our house was very close supervision...

A fun tooth brush, timer and stickers all helped aswell!

Because my darling son is so contrary, telling him that he can hold the toothbrush but absolutely must not brush his teeth seems to work quite well!

I have recently had a wisdom tooth extracted, so at the moment I am highlighting the "risk" of teeth falling out/decaying if we don't brush well. I am not sure my two year old quite gets it, but I have to draw on as many strategies as possible with my toddler. We also sing songs related to clean teeth, and I let him practice brushing his own teeth first, which always puts him in a good mood!

It's non negotiable for us, so if they won't do it we do it for them. That's not pleasant for anyone, so they always choose to do it themselves

It is not really hard because they have character toothbrushes and think it is fun

I warn my DD about the sugar monsters. Also got a 'timer' which is basically an egg timer but with teeth on the ends - have also used toothbrushes which flash for the recommended time so hen they stop flashing, time s up.
The tricky thing though is getting her to brush all teeth - not just the front ones.

we use a toy timer which always gets them brushing!

Google images of tooth decay!! They’ve only complained of having to do it once, shown them pictures of what would happen, never objected since 😊

For my oldest I showed him pictures of teeth that hadn’t been looked after. Which seemed to do the trick.
With my youngest, I explained that the sugar would eat his teeth. Which had now developed into sugar monsters 🙈 But it got him brushing them.

We've done it every single day, twice a day with no exceptions. I know it's not so easy if there are sensory or other issues.

Even for the dc that brush themselves I occasionally step in and do it just to remind them how it's done.

Ours found the big teeth "too minty" so we sometimes use little teeth at their request but not every brush.

My twins love brushing their teeth as they have electric toothbrushes connected to an app so they can track how well they do it. They are tech crazy

Through repetition and example.

By having an excellent dentist. Both children want to clean their teeth so that they can show Rebecca dentisthow shiny their teeth are.

I buy funky toothbrushes, and we have a funky timer, which makes it all a fun game, I try not to turn in into a 'bad' thing,,,,,

Literally the only thing that enables me to brush my 20m old’s teeth is me singing Brusha Brusha Brusha like a chipmunk from the film, Grease.

It’s just a matter of routine now. Also remind her that the dentist said she needs to brush thoroughly.

My kids are older now so it's just a case of shouting "brush your teeth!" several times until they do it.

I let todflyer DS put toothpaste on and he knows he can have a go when I'm finished, also let him make a game of brushing mine. It's fine 99% of the time but the 1% tantrum time I use a friend's saying "the louder they scream the easier it is to get it in there"!!!

Making it a fun time. We would play their favourite song to brush to, as they got older, they picked the song... and we made it something that we did together.

We sing songs and l let them watch me brush mine. The tooth brush is given to them to hold and brush a but but I do most of the brushing.

I tell the. That the tooth fairy likes clean sparkly teeth