How to get your kids to brush without the battle: Ask a dental expert

[MaddyMumsnet]

Beat the challenge of getting your kids to brush their teeth.
Ask our dental expert about good oral health habits and what you can do to help your kids enjoy keeping their teeth healthy and at the same time reduce your stress! Are you struggling to get your child to brush their teeth? Worried about cavities and visits to the dentist? Too many sugary treats? Perhaps your child has physical or sensory challenges which make it difficult to brush? Our dental health expert is here to answer your burning questions and help you find long lasting routines that fit seamlessly into your family life.

About the expert
James Goolnik BDS MSc, a dentist with a passion for nutrition. James is the Founder of the Optimal Dental Health in London and a member of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, and fully SMART certified. James was previously President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentists and is now head judge of the Private Dentistry Awards and lectures internationally on the mouth body connection. James has twice been voted the most influential person in dentistry in the UK. He is currently studying for a diploma in functional nutrition with The Institute of Optimal Nutritionists and his mission is to help the UK get healthier starting with their mouths! James is married with three children.

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Here’s what the Peppersmith® team has to say:
We’re on a mission to educate parents and kids about the benefits of healthy teeth and how to keep them healthy. That’s why our naturally delicious mints and pastilles are sugar-free, made with 100% plant based sweetener, xylitol (no aspartame here!) and are seriously good for kids, as well as parents and mums-to-be. Studies have shown that xylitol can help reduce and reverse cavities in children and regular chewing of xylitol gum during pregnancy and early motherhood reduces cavity causing bacteria transmission to children. As well as looking after teeth, we like to look after the planet. We use FSC-certified cardboard for our boxes and recyclable PPE for our pouches. Peppersmith is available on our website Peppersmith.co.uk and at Ocado, Sainsburys Local, Holland & Barrett, WHSmith Travel and Starbucks.

Still a battle they never remembereven at 13 & 11!

My 7 year old grinds teeth in sleep. Can anything be done for this at such a young age? One of the incisors now appears flat.

When should a child have all there adult teeth? And what should you do if this is delayed significantly?

One of my children had healthy teeth removed in preparation for orthodontic treatment. Is their an alternative to retain teeth and still straighten them?

I am not comfortable with the idea of offering children these mints as an addition to teeth health - what's the science behind this - is it not promoting the eating of sweets long term which is really bad for oral health ?

Should children use mouthwash? and if so - or not what are the benefits or damages ?

How long would you say is the minimum they should brush all of their teeth - and what would you do when they have wobbly teeth and are scared to brush ?

I have terrible teeth with loads of fillings due to a neglected childhood so I am proud that my children are now teenagers with good healthy teeth, no fillings.

but I would like to ask about something my daughter has seen on tick tok that she’s now doing and I’m hoping it’s not going to ruin her teeth.

she said she flosses first, then puts toothpaste all over her teeth and let it sit for 3-5 mins then she brushes it off, she’s insisting her teeth are whiter because of it, please can you clarify if this is ok?

it’s driving me mad how long she’s in the bathroom for something I don’t feel is needed.

Hello. what can they drink after brushing teeth other than water- where teeth decay won't be an issue - can't think of them chewing gum or mints btw, but they often want a drink of milk if they wake.

Should children use mouth wash or is it a marketing gimmick?

Both my children (9yo & 12yo) avoid brushing their teeth, even though it’s been a twice daily routine since they were babies. We find we still have to be with them to make sure they do it. Is there anything else we can do to encourage them to do it?

Hi @lovemyflipflops Yes, we recommend that children start flossing from around the age of 4, unless they’re experiencing discomfort or food getting stuck between their teeth earlier. At first, parents should do the flossing for them, especially to reach tricky areas like the back molars, which are often missed during brushing. Over time, children can be guided to do it themselves (from around aged 9), ideally once a day after brushing. Many families find that floss picks (floss on a handle) make it much easier and more comfortable for children to reach all their teeth, including the molars.

Hi @jacqui5366 Great question. I always suggest parents supervise their children's brushing at least until 9. I actually brush my 11 year old's teeth once a day to make sure they are getting an effective clean. So perhaps suggest you finish off one of the brushing sessions. For the back teeth a circular motion.

Hi @ItalianChineseIndianMexican Both work well. I don't recommend an electric brush before the age of 6. Main advantage of an electric brush is most good ones have a timer so it helps train you to brush for 2 minutes. Some also have a pressure sensor/light. So if you tend to overbrush they are good to remind you how much pressure to use.

Hi @problembottom Well done! I would start with 1 minute twice a day. When this is consistent I would start to increase to aim for 2 minutes.

Hi @ketchuporbrownsauce The research shows 2 minutes twice a day is ideal. 3 minutes is likely to cause damage to the teeth or gums, so would advise you to try and reduce this.

Hi @Wildflowers66 It may be nothing but I would want more information. Can they bite on it and allow you to brush the tooth or do they avoid it? I would take a photograph of it an then keep an eye out to see if it changes or a lump appears in the gum above the tooth. If so go back to your dentist and say you are worried it is developing an abscess.

Hi @SPG007 Firstly we do not want bedtime to be stressful. Decay is mainly down to diet so if you are avoiding sugars, processed foods and carbohydrates regularly you are probably ok. Xylitol will help prevent decay if the diet is healthy. You can try chewing gum or mints - depending on what your son prefers. I would also try different flavour toothpastes as you may find one that they enjoy using.

Hi @DenDenDenise Starting with mint may help set your child up with better oral health habits moving forward. Often, children's toothpastes can be full of artificial sweeteners and unecessary additives. You could try Risewell Kids toothpaste, free from SLS, fluoride and artificial ingredients. Otherwise Oranurse does an unflavoured toothpaste.

Hi @DenDenDenise I don’t recommend using mouthwash for children, or adults as part of daily oral care. Mouthwash can disrupt the natural balance of the mouth and isn’t necessary if teeth are cleaned thoroughly.

Hi @JacCharlton Sugar free chewing gum and mints can help increase the flow of saliva washing away foods and neutralising acids in the mouth. Both of which will reduce tooth decay. The ideal dose of xylitol to get maximum benefits is 5g which is around 5 pieces of Peppersmith gum, or about 9 of their mints spaced out throughout the day. This amount will prevent plaque and acid attacks. You would need to have over 4 packets a day to cause a possible laxative effect.

Hi @PatriciaSS Two possible issues. You could be mouth breathing at night leading to your mouth drying out and loosing some of the protective properties of your saliva, You could ask a partner or try mouth taping with something like Myotape whilst you sleep to see if you notice an improvment. Make sure you are hydrating well during the day as that also is a cause of dry mouth. Otherwise some medication can cause a dry mouth and I would see a dentist, they can carry out an oral microbiome test to look further into this.

Hi @strawberrymatcha For a 7 year-old, I generally recommend to visit the dentist twice a year, every six months. All depends on their diet, brushing habits and if they currently have any fillings. These regular check ups allow us to monitor the development of adult teeth, catch cavities early, and keep an eye on bite and jaw alignment. If your child is dealing with frequent cavities or orthodontic concerns, I would advise they come in more frequently.

Hi @Fancyquickthinker Yes, flossing becomes important once your child starts getting their adult teeth, even if their baby teeth were spaced out. By the time adult teeth tend to come in the mouth is more crowded and brushing alone can’t clean the tight spaces between them. Plaque and food can easily get trapped between new permanent teeth, leading to cavities or gum inflammation if not removed. Start a gentle flossing habit now, start with the lower front teeth. This helps build a routine they’ll carry into adulthood. Even flossing just a few times a week to start is better than not at all.

Hi @Beth2328 Thanks for your question. If your children have noticeably bad breath by lunchtime despite brushing after breakfast, a few things could be contributing. First, make sure they’re drinking enough water, as dehydration is a common cause of bad breath in kids, especially if they’re mouth breathers. You might also want to check their tongues, bacteria can build up there, so gently brushing their tongues during morning brushing can help. Giving them xylitol mints or sugar-free gum after breakfast or mid-morning can help neutralise bacteria and freshen their breath naturally.