Gething kids to brush their teeth

claire16c

At 12 & 13 it seems a bit ridiculous to me, they're not little kids.

Can you take away their wii/x box etc if they don't do it? The boys I know at that age can't bear if their electronics are banned.

When my mum asked me to brush my teeth, I did it. It seems like they know there is no consequence - at least one they care about.

fabforty

Kabazzzz wrote: »

As the title of the thread would suggest I have trouble getting my children to brush their teeth... and always have done.

They are 13 and 12! I find it totally disgusting that they even contemplate leaving the house without cleaning their teeth in the morning but just don't know what to do.


I have asked them until I'm blue in the face and even started doing it for them again like they were small children but I'm at the end of my teather.


Any ideas?

I think the problem is that you are 'asking' them to brush their teeth! My children are much younger but there are certain things which are (and will always be) non- negotiable in my house and personal hygiene is one of them. They are children and you are the adult. How do you usually make them do what they are told?

alleycat`

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

We had this problem with one of our children when she was younger. It boiled down to a strong dislike to mint and the fact that as she moved to adult toothpastes, most of which are mint, she felt like her mouth was burning when she brushed her teeth. We have resolved it with one gel based product.

This described me as a kid.

I hated the taste of mint and had to use a specific toothpaste (forget which).

Not sure if it applies to the OP's problem but it really bugged me.

DigForVictory

Disclosing tablets can shame a child into brushing properly.
Says she, who has made a bit of Christmas money contingent on a good dentists report.
Carrot & stick...

graspandsave

I like the idea of disclosing tabs- that should do it for 12/13 y.o.

Mine are younger , and I do bring in "remember what the dentist" will say trick, now and again.

Also, for me, the toothpaste can be a real issue. So although I like my bargains- in true MSE fashion, I do have to splurge out on the proper tasting toothpaste for the little ones, but it gets the job done

Kabazzzz

Ok maybe I should rephrase the original post...

I tell them to do it, they say they have when they haven't... the consequences of this are that I march them into the bathroom and do it for them.

So it gets done, my point is that it shouldn't be such a battle every day, especially at their age.

I take on board on the dentist idea with more regular visits and perhaps this is they way to go.

Kabazzzz

Oh and they both love the taste of mint so I don't think that's the issue.

snookey

Hi Iv the same problem with my dd whose ten. Even with a visit to the dentist to have baby teeth pulled she still needs constant reminding to brush.
I use the tablets on a regular basis and mouth wash.

**professor~yaffle**

Threaten to let on to their mates that they don't brush their teeth
They won't want to be called a minger by everyone at school..

graspandsave

OP Have you sat them down and asked them why they don't do it for themselves despite being reminded, frogmarched, or it being done for them?

you never know you may find the answer, and save yourself an awful lot of stress every morning

I'm sure they already know the reasoning why they should brush: I know in primary school they have lessons about personal hygiene- washing hands and brushing teeth

Then in secondary that is built upon- leading into puberty and related issues