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.

Usually pinning them down when they are young and now they are older just do it. Occasionally there’s a bit of raised voices and threats to ban device time or telly. Usually a new toothbrush works for a bit, as does using a disclosing solution.

Mine have always just done it.
Used to give them a baby toothbrush to ‘gum on’ after bath time when they were small as they got older they just accepted it and sometimes I’d let them brush mine - we also used disclosing tablet occasionally - just for fun really but it encourages good brushing unless you’re like ds2 who liked having purple teeth!

I added it to the bedtime and then morning routine before she even had teeth, brushing mine alongside her playing with her toothbrush. Once teeth appeared I gave them a ‘check over’ when she was finished. She gets to choose her own brush and toothpaste from the shop. She has a little moan now and again about me having to brush them too, but I just tell her the writing on the tube/dentist say I have to. Never had any bother. Wish my own parents had been so routined about it.

Teeth brushing is non negotiable but they do get a star on their chart for doing it twice a day without a fuss. They choose their own toothbrushes and we talk about the importance of brushing, what foods are sugary and why going to the dentist is essential.

Routine.
We brush every morning, it's just something that needs doing before we leave the house.
We brush every night, it is a great excuse to stop up a few minutes more before going to bed.
In the early days we had to try numerous flavours to get one that was not too spicy (minty) but now he will use the same as us unless it is a nasty tasting sensitive paste. He wasn't too keen on using the electric toothbrush but we now compromise and he uses a manual brush in the morning and the electric at night when it is most important.

My 2 year old isn't great for brushing his teeth properly but it seems a little bit easier if he's chosen his own toothbrush. He's excited about getting an electric one when he's 3.

A lot of the methods used above but also letting the little ones brush themselves and then ‘checking’ afterwards - that’s the real brushing and I give marks out of ten on their effort.

Giving my 3.5 year old an electric toothbrush has worked wonders and he now wants to use it multiple times a day

It also helped that the dentist told him he had to brush well and keep his teeth clean and sparkly

I've shown my two dental pictures about what happens if you don't brush your teeth properly! They brush brush brush now!! :)

We brush our teeth together, I have bought them electric tooth brushes to maximise brushing and try to get into a routine. With my youngest I have bought a transformers flashing and sounds toothbrush to make it more fun. This seems to work at the moment.

We let our son pick out his toothbrush and now he actually asks to have his teeth brushed and complains when we stop.

We've alway had a regular teeth brushing routine from the very beginning and this has worked, although I do remember some battles when they were toddlers! Perseverance paid off and now they are happy to brush. They are 9 and 10 and use an electric toothbrush which is brilliant because it ensures they brush for the correct length of time and their brushing has improved since use electric.

It’s not a problem in my house, my guys love brushing their teeth. They have electric tooth brushes, we sometimes play a toothbrushing song (m.youtube.com/watch?v=3dup3IArSNs ), or, god help them, I sing to remind them to brush all their teeth, front and back, up and down, side to side. It seems to be working,

Electric toothbrush! My kids love them and they have a timer on so easy to know when they are finished

We introduced it as soon as he had teeth (at 6 weeks) only gets missed if out late and is already asleep before getting home.

He now asks to do it before going down for breakfast and going to bed.

Also his childcare setting are currently doing a dental programme.

He;s seen the state of his great- grandmother's teeth - that's enough!

He has always been good at doing them anyway though thankfully.

Dd (3) makes it so easy to brush her teeth, she sits still, opens her mouth and just lets me brush them with no problems. Dd (18 months) makes such a fuss that teeth brushing time is always the most stressful parts of the day and I honestly dread having to do them again. I've tried different toothpastes, different brushes, songs, encouragement, just putting the tv on and sometimes just pinning her down and brushing them. Hoping it's just a phase

I just tell mine to do it and she either does or she demands I do it for her. She's 6 but I give in as a) I want the teeth to get brushed and b) when she's asking to be babied like that, it's because she needs reassurance about other emotional stuff and is worthwhile.

When she was too little to do it herself, we just established the habit early by doing it twice a day for her.

I do lay it on pretty thick about "the dentist is so proud of you for what good care you take of your teeth" and the Storybots episode on Netflix about tooth decay was pretty motivating.

I've used a brushbaby soft toothbrush and it really helps. It's rubber fits into their mouth and had soft bristles. They can chew it in between normal brushing scheduled times. Helps ease them into using a toothbrush.

At the moment looking for animals/monsters/bugs in ds’s mouth, then brushing them off, is the winning tactic; along with the occasional roar like a dinosaur!

I had many battles with my first. The only thing that worked was telling him that if he wasn't going to brush his teeth then he wouldn't be allowed to eat all of the things that are bad for your teeth (ie sweets - the only food group he actually likes).

A mild toothpaste, soft toothbrush, tell them why you need to keep teeth clean, and start as young as you can so it's in their daily routine.

When my daughter was little I had to just get her teeth done while she screamed and had tantrums, I made up a teeth song, very repetitive and saying brush a lot, eventually she would calm down, also a nice flavour toothpaste helps, my son is 1 and he loves brushing his teeth, never have any drama, in fact he climbs up and grabs his toothbrush throughout the day just so he can brush them a little bit more.

We used to sing and make it a race. And for a long time mint toothpaste was rejected!

Loving reading some of these methods!
My 9 month old has sprouted 3 teeth in the last few weeks and I belatedly realised I should start daily brushing. So we sit in front of a mirror and I encourage her to let me brush her teeth, after the 10 seconds she lets me do it I then give her the brush and she tries to do it herself or chews the brush. Keeping it fun if I can! Next step - start doing it twice daily...