Tell me what age you gave them total responibility for looking after their teeth

[Gymbob]

Mine are 16 and 15. Neither of them have any fillings, and both of them have a lovely white straight set of teeth. That's all thanks to me of course. I have nagged and nagged, made them get out of bed to clean their teeth and been really shit hot (if I do say so myself ), at dental hygiene. Never had fizzy drinks in the house, been fussy over what they've eaten, blah blah, blah. DD2 has particularly hated me for looking after her teeth. Asked regularly why it's so important to me etc, as its just not on her list of priorities, and she can't see the point etc etc.

Anyway, I've had it. School is out. I've said I won't be forcing asking them to clean their teeth any more, it's up to them. (I actually don't know how long it will last, as I expect it will wear me down). DD2 is over the moon. She hasn't cleaned her teeth once since Friday, but she's gone out today looking fabulous. I know she's a teen, but I still just don't get it.... looking fab with rank teeth!

At what age did you leave them to it, if ever?

gosh - I second gymbob's comment about the braces. DD was really careful about cleaning and looking after when her braces were in; the minute they were out though she gave up. Her top retainer split because she hadn't worn it and tried to force it in (her teeth had moved!).
I paid £65 for a new one, which is sitting in a little pink box on her bedside table and rarely sees the light of day. The perfectly straight teeth she achieved with the brace are now visibly shifting back to what they were.