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.

Letting them choose toothbrush and tooth paste helps
Frankly any gimmick that keeps them interested. Favourite character, toothbrushes that play tunes etc

I'm still looking for the secret! My nearly 2yr old twins are happy enough to 'brush' their own teeth, which really doesn't get the job done, but do not like me doing it for them. Singing a song helps a bit, but only if they open their mouths so I can actually get the brush in!

Currently persistence seems to have been enough for 3yo. He does it because that's what we do. Hopefully it will continue.

I sing a different song for each part of DDs mouth, usually Get Well Soon by Dr Ranj or another CBeebies theme. Or a Moana classic!

I have to wrestle DS (17 months) and scrub them while he cries :(

I used the aqua fresh Ap when the dc were younger.

My 7yo is still a reluctant brusher and I have to double check her morning and night.

I must make a note to get some of those teeth staining tablets that show the plaque for Xmas stockings.

My 2-year old sometimes responds well to my pretending I can see bits of the various things they’ve eaten during the day (or the day before) still stuck to their teeth. I think it’s mostly just enough of a distraction to buy 30 seconds’ worth of open mouth!

We have been getting our now 17mo to brush her teeth for around 9m thanks to a baby sized battery powered toothbrush which has a light on it (so we can see in her mouth when she brushes!).

She doesn't entirely know what she is doing but the hope is that the ritual of the brush will mean more as she gets older and we are normalising it now. Fingers crossed!

Helping them when they were little, teaching and monitoring them as they got older. Modelling good habits.

We discovered playbrush - it's a little sort of 'shoe' or holder that fits on the end of a manaul toothbrush that has some sort of bluetooth dongle in it so you can brush to control a range of app games on a smart phone. Very clever way to get all of mine to brush their teeth happily. They would brush twice if I let them now. Playbrush have just brought out an electronic version which I preordered - I thought it would be great. I've actually been a bit disappointed with it though now I have it. The electronic toothbrush isn't half as good as our Braun electric toothbrush as it just sort of wiggles a bit rather than spin round. Also the connection to Bluetooth isn't actually as good as with the original little holder. The kids seem to like both though. It's pretty much the secret I discovered to getting my kids to brush their teeth. We tried toothbrushes and special toothpaste which kind of work as an incentive but not really. We obviously tried bribery as well! (Mine range from 4 to 10 years old)

Non negotiable here too. There were definitely days of protests/ cries when they were younger and still occasionally from the younger one (1.5yrs) but generally they’re both fine now and have been to the dentist regularly since they got teeth but that took a lot longer to get used to here!

By being honest and telling them the truth about what happens when you don't brush your teeth - the pain, the experience, the shame and the COST!!!!

We loved using the brush time apps when they were younger too. And a fun character toothbrush helps make brush time fun

we have a toy timer we set that for few minutes this helps know how long to do it for ,reward for few days in a row, then its easy to follow on doing it

I told them that they may get tiny holes in their teeth, and explained that this can hurt, they understand the need to brush twice per day, and regular trips to the dentist have also reinforced good dental care. They have not fear or the dentist, and don't really need to as their pearly whites are well cared for, and they know they are doing a great job looking after them.

It’s been part of their routine since getting their first tooth that we brush our teeth twice per day. When they protest we talk about the importance of brushing teeth & how if treats to eat are wanted that teeth must be brushed.
We all brush together in the morning.
They are allowed to a tooth brush in the shop when a new one is needed

Non negotiable here too.

Both mine are 8 and 10 now and brushing teeth is a part of the morning/evening routine.
Any time they moan about doing it they get reminded of getting smelly breath and bad teeth which does the trick.

I have horrendous teeth due to growing up on full sugar squash. They look at mine and have decided that they don’t want teeth like mine

We've always been pretty strict on brushing teeth and nursery school have helped install that it's a non- negotiable part of the day! (Scottish child smile program).

Beyond that, when enthusiasm wanes, getting them to choose fun toothbrushes and toothpaste and timer apps definitely help. I always brush my teeth at the same time so that probably helps too

I don't have a magic answer but incorporating it into our routine and having a song as we go to brush our teeth has helped.

As a baby my daughter had no problem brushing her teeth, however she obviously couldn't do them correctly so I took over. We've tried musical tooth brushes, fruity toothpaste which I actually think is quite bad for teeth!. And a singing timer and so far it seems to work she's now 3 and will meet me in the bathroom in the morning so we can do them together.

Electric toothbrushes have been great for improving my children's brushing! They have always enjoyed doing it, but their technique needed some work - I found that cheap disclosing tablets really helped and added a bit of novelty to brush-time too.

It's just routine here. Before anyone goes downstairs they brush their teeth, before anyone goes to bed they brush their teeth. Its the rules!

1. allow them a choice of toothbrush and toothpaste (from a shortlist) so they feel involved
2. use an electric toothbrush - faster, more thorough and they enjoy the novelty
3. sticker rewards
4. if all else fails, pin them firmly down and quickly do it while they scream. Screaming opens their mouths. I’d rather be Mean Mummy than let my kids have rotten teeth
5. make it non-negotiable

Brush them for them until they are about 7. Then make sure they spend at least 2 minutes brushing morning and night.