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.

Totally logical explanation of why teeth should be cleaned - naturally became part of routine - fun to let them choose their own toothbrushes/toothpaste, albeit with a bit of guidance.

We had to hold DD down when she was younger as she absolutely wouldn't co-operate. We got her an electric toothbrush for Christmas at about 4, which helped a lot. We also used to buy very mild spearmint or fruit flavoured toothpaste. She's 6 now & still tries to get out of it occasionally, but will do it without much argument. She's seen the consequences of not brushing properly - one of her grandparents has none of their own teeth left (had lost them all / had them removed by mid 50s). She found the sudden removal of their dentures quite shocking as she hadn't realised that they weren't natural teeth. In contrast I have perfect teeth, late 30's, always brushed properly. So it was useful as it gave us a RL consequence of what happens if a person doesn't brush properly... DH has a lot of fillings & she's seen them too.

Let her have a go herself and then say I can still see a bit of sugar and pounce for my turn

My kids are just used to it, they get no choice. Teeth will be cleaned.

Electric toothbrushes do make it more fun.

Wrap in a towel after bath but failing that I kind of sit on my two year old when he doesn't want to cooperate, only gently of course but it's the only way sometimes!

Lots of praise, sing songs, and positive reinforcement.

Now my DS (5) loves brushing his teeth and going the dentist!

My DD (2) really depends on her mood but she can be good too.

There was a song I remember as a kid off Barney 😂 "when I'm brushing my teeth and having so much fun, I never let the water run" that's what we sing. My neighbours must hate me!

Always been part of their routine. 1 year old loves it (he has a sonic toothbrush) and 4 year old is just used to it now, but had never minded it. They are both told about how important it is (and the consequences of not brushing) so they hopefully will both always want to brush. My eldest gets a new toothbrush (her fave characters) for Xmas and birthday, and can choose the toothpaste she likes - if she doesn't like the taste of one we get one she likes.

Always let them choose their own character - or favourite colour - toothbrush!

They get to decide if they're doing it or I am (I'm not afraid to pin them down and shove the brush in;))

They have their own toothpaste & mouthwash.
Also,as their brushing used to be awful, we use those tablets that turn your mouth blue/red highlighting the areas that have been missed. Think there called disclosing tablets.

My daughter used to love watching Peppa Pig brushing her teeth when she was younger, and that helped (after a period of battles when she was 2 years old). She’s now 4.5 and brushing teeth isn’t a struggle a she loves her electric toothbrush.

Brushing for at least two minutes twice a day with an electric toothbrush

I stared them very young with tooth brushing and have had my fair share of pinning wriggling child down with loaded toothbrush Currently one child responds to logical thinking and explanations of dental hygiene. The other got to see grandads dentures and inability to eat toffees and now values her teeth.... result!!

I recite everything that I can remember that they may have eaten that day. Then we have to scrub each item off their teeth. Silly mummy often gets it wrong....

DD (aged 3) is quite vain, there isn't a mirror she doesn't like! So I play on this and tell her how beautiful and white her teeth are, and how she needs to brush them (with my help) so they'll stay that way!

I tell them if they don't want teeth like sugar puffs they better spend 5 mins on a morning and a night brushing the pegs. They are 7 and 3 and always crack up at the thought of having teeth that look like sugar puffs. It seems to do the trick, they are avid teeth brushers.

A flashing toothbrush with a two minute timer always works. Makes it fun. Build it into bedtime routine.

I used to say ''you don't want teeth like Granddad do you?'' and my son would run to the bathroom to brush his teeth. But then my dad did a ronan keating quite late in life and now his teeth are amazing.

Until DD and DS were aged 5, we brushed them for them and then progressed to closely supervised. I involved both children with choosing their own toothbrushes and toothpaste (obviously the toothpaste was guided). I cannot remember at what age but for years my children used the Aquafresh app, it plays a catchy tune and you get points for brushing for 2 minutes - and then you can choose clothes etc for the character. I had it set up on my phone and they loved it. They have not used the app for a couple of years now but aged 10 and 12 they have electric toothbrushes and we have no issues getting them to brush their teeth now.

A mix of things -

Letting them choose more than one toothbrush and more than one toothpaste - means they still have a say in it each night even though the task is not negotiable
Asking are you going to do them or am I? Again, giving a choice so they have some control but showing it's happening either way
You won't be able to have any 'insert favourite sweet treat' anymore if you don't brush your teeth because it will make them dirty and you aren't cleaning them
The tooth fairy only takes nice clean teeth to give to the babies
Look at grandad, all of his teeth fell out because he didn't brush them (he started that not us!)

We do it together with an app on my phone, the app lasts two minute and we clean and front, back and 'crunchers' together for two minutes at night and before school in the morning, a mild toothpaste for them and a minty cavity protection for me. They are always happy to do this, and I am sure that they are doing a good job !

We used to watch the Elmo brush your teeth song on YouTube when my two were little. They're thankfully mostly okay with tooth brushing now, but we've definitely had our moments

Dab is 13 months and has 8 teeth. He loves brushing his teeth. He does it while I do mine. He watches me. Then I brush his teeth then give him the brush so he can have a go. He also brushes my teeth too.... #notgently #helping

Our oldest I get to clean her teeth by showing her photos of people with bad teeth and asking if she wanted teeth like that. When she was very little she liked the taste of toothpaste so it wasn't a problem. After seeing those photos she's very adamant to clean her teeth.
Our youngest wants to copy his big sister in everything so he cleans his teeth because she does lol.

With my 4 year old,we make up stories and to surprise our daddy with whiter teeth and a beautiful smile,something has to work haha! With my 1 year old,I’m still struggling :(