Getting your kids to Brush Teeth!!

[freesurfer]

I am a genius!!

With 4 kids it's hard to tell who has really brushed and who hasn't! The solution??

I have a big tin that hold all 4 toothbrushes and toothpastes. At night, I set it on the kitchen table and after breakfast I can look and see who still has their in the tin. Once they are all done I put the empty tin back in the bathroom and bring out the new tin filled up with the brushes again and put it on the table for the brushing after the school snack! Then switch tins again for the supper brushing!! IT WORKS!!!


WWWHHHOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[telos2000]

I just sprinkle crushed 'warheads' on the bristles of the brush.

[Shainie]

Or they could just grab their toothbrush, bring it in the bathroom, run some water over it and go to bed. lol I remember doing that as a kid. I'm lucky I still have good teeth!

[Juliannaluv]

I stand over them with a wooden spoon in my hand....muahahahahahaha.

Just kidding. I sit on the edge of the bath tub and waitch them. This is the only way I know for sure they are doing it. When they re done, I inspect their teeth and if I don't think the did well enough, I make them do it again. I am a FREAK when it comes to brushing teeth.

[freesurfer]

Telos: You are banned from this thread!! You are NOT and I repeat NOT helping any!!!



LOL!!!

[worshipfulheart]

I recently got my kids those Crest spinbrushes. They were a little spendy but worth it. Not I have to tell them they have brushed their teeth long enough. They like the spinning action and they like the way their teeth feel when they are done!

God BLess!!
Angie B<><

[greentea]

btw, can anyone tell me how to get a 19month old toddler to brush her teeth? My 19 mth daughter just refuse to open her mouth to let us brush her teeth.

[AndersonGal]

W~Heart

I love those spin brushes by Crest too.
Dentists are saying those are the best and the kids love em. (did a demo)

If your kids won't brush try a Crest Spin Brush FS!

[3tbear]

Originally Posted by greentea

btw, can anyone tell me how to get a 19month old toddler to brush her teeth? My 19 mth daughter just refuse to open her mouth to let us brush her teeth.

How about getting her one of those character toothbrushes, like Donald Duck, or Barbie, something like that.

[Pipanella]

Originally Posted by greentea

btw, can anyone tell me how to get a 19month old toddler to brush her teeth? My 19 mth daughter just refuse to open her mouth to let us brush her teeth.

You're not going to like my answer (probably), but some things you have to just do for them. And no, she probably won't open her mouth for you (mine didn't either, at first)), but I'm a dental hygienist who also happens to be the parents of two daughters (they're now 21 and almost 24 and have beautiful teeth and great oral hygiene habits!) Here is what we recommend:

Tell her that teeth need to 'have a bath' every day, just like her body does. If she starts whining, do NOT whine back ("please, come on honey, won't you please just do this?"). You have to be serious and be firm. This is not up for debate as to whether it's going to be done.

Lay her down on the rug in your bathroom. Position yourself over her body (don't SIT on her, but almost...LOL). Then YOU brush her teeth (use just a little dot of toothpaste). There is no way in the world that a 19-month-old can brush their own teeth and do even a halfway decent job. Sure, she might scream and protest the first few times, but it's like this...YOU are the parent, and what you are doing is not an option, it's a necessity that may save you both some grief down the line. Once she knows that it's going to be done no matter what, I guarantee she'll calm down about it (unless she's used to getting her own way, and I'm not implying that she is, but if so, it will be harder on both of you).

Some kids hate to have their hair shampooed, too, but I don't think most parents would let their kids run around with greasy dirty hair for too long. And there are countless other examples of where the child's wishes are different than the parents'.

I feel for you; it wasn't any easier at our house either, just because I happen to be in the dental field. In fact, as they got older, they thought the reason I was so insistent that they brush twice a day was because of my profession. Believe me, this is just one in a string of many 'battles' you'll find yourself in with your daughter, and this one is worth it.

[ghostie79]

good advice, pip...i've been doing just a half*ss job brushing emily's teeth because of how much she hates it, but you're so right. i'm going to be more consistantly thorough now.

thankfully julia always liked having her teeth brushed so i didn't have this problem to deal with until now.

[MrsLisaP]

My kids (5 and 9) are real good about brushing their teeth, and in fact once a month they let my mom get our her little dentist scrapper and scrap any plaque build up they may have (hardly any)

When they were younger it was harder, but we played a game when they were in the 1-2 year old range where I would say the ABC's (real slow) or sing the barney song while I brushed them. They knew they had to keep their mouth open when I sang, and sometimes they even sing a long, which means you can really get in there and brush!

I still catch my five year old singing while he brushes!

[freesurfer]

Originally Posted by AndersonGal

W~Heart

I love those spin brushes by Crest too.
Dentists are saying those are the best and the kids love em. (did a demo)

If your kids won't brush try a Crest Spin Brush FS!

They have those!!

[worshipfulheart]

have you tried some kind of chart.
My girls have a chart to help them 'remember' the things they need to do, because they are only 8 and 11 and already sooooo forgetful.
I made a chart of everything they have to do before school, including teeth and hair, all of their afterschool chores and then their once a week chores.
For example, I only do laundry on Saturdays so if their laundry basket is not in the laundry room by Friday night, then they have to wait another week for me to do their laundry or they must do it themselves. As for rewards, I always give a verbal reward for a job well done, then there are random rewards. They never know when there will be a day when they could get a special treat or get to go somewhere but if things are not done, then they lose out. It is random so that it does not wind up being a bribe and they understand that life is like that, a job well done is its own reward, you can't always expect something, but sometimes there is a reward and it would be a shame to miss out because of laziness or not caring about your responsibilities.
Anyway, my whole point was that I have tooth brushing on this list and it is sort of like a checklist they can go over and see if there was anything forgotten before they run out the door or get into play mode. It helps me not to have to be a drill sargeant too.


God Bless!!
Angie B<><

[freesurfer]

HOw about a random punishment for not doing it..like a swift kick in the butt to the bathroom?? LOL!!! We made one week with all kids doing their teeth 3 times a day!! I decided to continue my tin can for another week and see what happens.