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.

I have tried everything. Now I just shout 'For God's sake will you just clean your bloody teeth!'

He's 13.

My youngest daughter has a fab electric toothbrush, we also have a timer that plays music. She loves going to the dentist too 😂

It's easy you instil the process when they are very young so that as they get older it becomes the norm.

By saying all their teeth will drop out forever if they don’t brush properly 🤣

Dd is older now but like op said, she art of the routine and non negotiable, dental health is so important!

I'm not sure it was ever much of a problem with our 3 DDs. We did it for them with a finger brush before they had teeth, and they soon wanted to graduate to their own brush to mimic their parents. They brushed their teeth and then we checked for many years - and only now are they largely left to their own devices. As others have said, its now routine and barring the odd occasion (ill health or falling asleep very early) they do it without fussing.

bribery and corruption at first, but now they have their own electric toothbrushes and they know they get stories and hot milk afterwards.

I’ve tried to make it fun with cute character toothbrushes and toothpaste. We then pick a music song each time and play it while we brush our teeth.

It has to be a regular bedtime habit. Choosing their own toothbrush is good so there is some involvement and trying to get them excited about trying it out later! We brushed our teeth together and pulled faces so it was fun! We also sometimes used the tablets that make your mouth and teeth go red or blue so that you can see if you've brushed properly. That was fun! :-)

DD is only 1 and we have been brushing her teeth since the first tooth appeared, starting from an early age is important. We bought her a toothbrush with a wider handle so she could hold it properly, and infant tooth paste so the taste wasn't too harsh. Every morning after breakfast I give her the toothbrush and she will happily sit and brush her teeth (supervised) and every evening.

We all brush together, let the kids do their own teeth, then we do the kids. We do ‘your turn’ ‘our turn’.

We sing the song...
Brush your teeth, brush your teeth,
Give them all a treat.
Brush up and down and all around,
To keep them clean and neat.

In the morning and at night,
Clean them twice a day.
Brush up and down and all around,
Keep fillings well away.. lol

They can't wait to brush them, they see it has fun!

My kids are quite good with brushing teeth. Although we do have to get them themed toothbrushes - Disney princess for her, Starwars for him

As always be involved with them. I would brush my teeth and encourage them to join in at bedtime/morning. Then get them to remind me i had forgotten to brush my teeth.

It’s part of their twice daily routine. They know it’s not negotiable

I try fun and supervision but if that fails stories of bad gums and teeth and the need for false teeth sometimes help!!

Sing this is the way we brush our teeth, always worked for my children and now works with my Grandson.

Star chart and rewards for meeting their quota of 2 brushings a day.

I bought my son an electric toothbrush - he loves it - thinks he's very grown up

I have a timer which the kids love and they like to choose a character toothbrush so this helps too! We occasionally play a toothbrush song which they find hilarious!

We pretend to make animal noises so roar like a lion and get right to the back teeth while the mouth is wide open. Then we 'screeeeeeeech' like a monkey and brush the front teeth while the teeth are together. Before we did this it was awful trying to get DS to brush his teeth, this saved us.

Perseverance, patience and supervision, you just have to keep on at them.

We have the Disney oral b timing and it's great.

Just do it together.

I've always ensured that it is a part of their morning and evening routine. Showing them myself doing it has helped also.