Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Help--Anyone had problems getting their kids to brush teeth or brushing them? It has become a huge issue in our house. My duagther gets very defensive and lashes out and complains that she is going to throw up. It was bad before but we can't figure out why it has gottne worse now. We've used Tom's toothpaste and others;; tried brushing and hugs before, which used to work but now not. This is particularly bad in the morning, when she also doesn't eat much. Right now, her favoriate breakfast is left over rice... Ann annsilver@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Ann, does she learn from watching others?? This is a good trick I have used on my own kids and have recommended it for others in the same predicament at our office. I give them my toothbrush and let them " brush " my teeth at the same time I do theirs. They may get a little " wild " and thrilled while doing yours, and you may need to bite down on your brush if they get too rough and so it stays where it should, but the amount of time and " concentration " they are exerting on doing a " good job " on yours will let you get in there and out quickly while doing a good job yourself. I sit on the toilet so I am down to their level also. The other thing is that if it is a toothpaste factor and making her gag or sick to her stomach, skip the paste in the morning and use plain water, just make sure you try to clean well, followed by a small amount of water rinse(or swallowed, but encourage rinsing, that can come later on ) Biggest thing is WATCH THE DIET and limit sweets, dilute juices,and since she is mainly consuming rice, it is a carbohydrate which also is a plaque manufacturer, so offering water after consumption will help " wash " the sticky stuff away. If you have success with this, you can start to say, " ok, your turn to do a good job " and trade back toothbrushes and it should become less of a battle. This also works for NT kids in my experience, and it is not uncommon for any kid to not want to do this (think back, you'll remember, I do). The biggest heartbreak we experience in our office is a child, any child, who has a mouthful of decay and it needs to be handled by a Pedodontist(kids dentist) due to the extensiveness of decay or uncooperation of the patient, and they need to be put to sleep for treatment. Prevention and check-ups and diet control( and a check by parents at home too) is the key to limiting the not-so -pleasant but can-be -tolerable trips to the dentist if you find a good, patient, caring and knowledgeable one. Since I have an ASD kid myself(and an ADHD one also), I have taught everyone in my office what the REAL meaning of patience is, and we have acquired many patients from other parents of kids w/ disabilities just by word of mouth.(no pun intended). Hope this can help you, Cheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Aren't all our kids different? My son loves to have his teeth brushed. He sees me with toothbrush in hand and gets excited. The problem I have is he crys when I stop. After imagining what struggle you have I know I must count my blessings. I must say he never had a problem with it but his love for it came after his sensory integration therapy started. During their speech therapy sessions they take one of those baby toothbrushes (the ones without bristles to brush the gums), dip them in some kind of juice or jello and give them to the kids. All the kids there seem to love it. > Help--Anyone had problems getting their kids to brush teeth or brushing them? > It has become a huge issue in our house. My duagther gets very defensive and > lashes out and complains that she is going to throw up. It was bad before but > we can't figure out why it has gottne worse now. We've used Tom's toothpaste > and others;; tried brushing and hugs before, which used to work but now not. > This is particularly bad in the morning, when she also doesn't eat much. > Right now, her favoriate breakfast is left over rice... > > Ann > annsilver@a... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 We've used silly strawberry for years--and Tom's spearmint and peppermint. I'm not convinced that the taste is what bothers her. She is just very orally sensitive and as she has gotten older (12 now) is much less willing to have others in her mouth (tho fine with the dentist); at times she will brush herself but that is not something she looks forward to either. Anyway, I liked Cheri's suggestion and offered her the option of brushing my teeth first. She liked the idea but then later decided to brush her own and even let me check her==lets hope this lasts. Abb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 I have tasted Tom's toothpaste so I don't blame your daughter for wanting to throw up, Yuck! My son hates having his teeth brushed too but he's only three so I can still sit on him. But my dentist says I don't need toothpaste at all, just start with a dry brush and rinse with water, also use an electric toothbrush, Crest has new disposable ones that look like race cars or cell phones for under $10. By the way all three of my children have never had a cavity and weve been doing this for three years. > > Help--Anyone had problems getting their kids to brush teeth or > brushing them? > > It has become a huge issue in our house. My duagther gets very > defensive and > > lashes out and complains that she is going to throw up. It was bad > before but > > we can't figure out why it has gottne worse now. We've used Tom's > toothpaste > > and others;; tried brushing and hugs before, which used to work but > now not. > > This is particularly bad in the morning, when she also doesn't eat > much. > > Right now, her favoriate breakfast is left over rice... > > > > Ann > > annsilver@a... > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2001 Report Share Posted November 7, 2001 Which flavor of Tom's are you using? My kids use the Silly Strawberry and love the flavor. It reminds me of Strawberry Banana yogurt. > > > Help--Anyone had problems getting their kids to brush teeth or > > brushing them? > > > It has become a huge issue in our house. My duagther gets very > > defensive and > > > lashes out and complains that she is going to throw up. It was > bad > > before but > > > we can't figure out why it has gottne worse now. We've used Tom's > > toothpaste > > > and others;; tried brushing and hugs before, which used to work > but > > now not. > > > This is particularly bad in the morning, when she also doesn't > eat > > much. > > > Right now, her favoriate breakfast is left over rice... > > > > > > Ann > > > annsilver@a... > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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