Teeth Brushing

[tacomaranch]

Good Morning,

I can't seem to get Hunter to brush his teeth without me holding him down and forcing the issue. I have tried every kind of brush and paste. I know it is a sensory issue, but how can I get the teeth clean without a fight?

Thanks, April

 

[rascalmom]

How old is your child?

My dh is a dentist & I will be glad to ask him for some suggestions and post them back later.

 

[tacomaranch]

Thanks so much that would be great. Hunter is 3 with mild autism and sensory issues. I have an electric brush, toddler brush, theme brushes, pink paste, blue paste, lemon, cinnamon, regular. I think I have tried everything.

Go figure, today he took out the battery brush and was holding it under the water. He knows what to do and what needs to be done. I did all the praising for him getting out the brush and then, as always, the fight began. I had to hold him down to just get the front teeth.

I think dental hygene is so important and what him to feel the same. Why the fight?

Thanks for the help, April

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

I had the same problem a few years back when my dd was about 3-4 yrs old. She gave me a hard time every morning and resisted every attemp at "me" getting her to brush her teeth . I maybe got it done 1-2 x weekly there for a while . She went to our Dentist and sure enough she had a few cavities! I told my babysitter the problem we were having and she told me to send my dd's toothbrush with her every morning to the babysitter house. Sure enough, she would sit dd up on the counter and she "our babysitter " would brush her teeth....no problems !!!! I felt so bad that I could not get it done , but the babysitter could. I realize that this was not a case of being a "sensory issue" ,but you could give it a try. Try switching off and let someone else try to get him to brush until he gets more comfortable with it .

 

[tacomaranch]

Unfortunately, until June 4th when my college girls arrive, he is stuck with me. I keep using praise for even the slightest interest in the brush but when it comes to sticking it in his mouth, no way!

With all the money we get on the waiver you would think we could have some help in our simple problems.

Urg

PS: I get to go back to Disney!

 

[philaround]

As Meg&Minnie said just try to have someone else brush his teeth as soon as it becomes possible. I know this has no real connection to brushing teeth but when our DD was a toddler she always screamed everytime my DW tried to brush her hair or cut her fingernails, however she always sat very calmly if I was doing the brushing or cutting.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Yes, sometimes it's just a " power struggle" between the mom & child ! Now,my dd is 10 yrs. old and somedays we still have our moments. Don't give up ,he'll eventually will do it...I actually think this is fairly common in kids this age !

 

[tacomaranch]

Thanks for the help friends. I will see if DH will give it a try tonite and see if it is just a mom issue. I have help coming on June 4th and will have the college girls all summer, but until then, I am still on my own.

I feel strongly about good oral hygene and want Hunter to have nice teeth. I guess there are bigger problems other than teeth.

Thanks for the help again, April

 

[Karalynn]

How about trying one of the infant brushes that fit over your finger? Or if he will let you maybe just try and get in there with a face cloth. Skip the toothpaste if you haven't tried that already. Good luck!!!
(Just so you know, I still brush my ds8 teeth a couple nights a week, I don't trust him to do a good enough job!!!)

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

I just thought of this that someone once told me ....but it may sound a little weird! They had their child brush their teeth in the bathtub....I don't know if I would try it myself ,but if all else fails...it may work !!!

 

[Bird-Mom]

My special needs child is pretty good about teeth brushing (and she loves the dentist even after a root canal-resulting from a broken tooth-and cap, go figure) but my younger dd is a terror to brush. What has been working out lately is to give her a brush to brush my teeth while I'm working on her. If she won't open, neither will I and so she opens because she wants to brush me.

Have you taken him to the dentist yet? If not, maybe having the dentist explain how important brushing is would help. They did that for my SN child (developmentally delayed) and she understood and really retained it. She is always asking to make a dentist appointment. We go to a pediatric dentist who has training in working with SN children.

 

[brettgirl]

My DS5-autistic spectrum disorder PDD, would not let anyone near him either. He finally was doing it when he went to his special needs school. Try funny sounds that he did---EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE for doing the fronts with teeth together and AHHHHHHHHHHHHH to get his mouth open in the back. At home (I know this sounds crazy) we brush his teeth in the tub. I did let him "play" with the battery ones but no luck in wanting them in his mouth. Also changing to flouride tooth paste at age 4.5 was really hard. Good Luck, I so emphathize with you.

 

[rascalmom]

Dh suggested getting some books about taking care of your teeth & reading them with your child, making a "happy visit" appointment at your dental office so that the professionals there can help encourage & teach your child the importance of good oral hygiene. You might also try the infant toothbrushes or even a clean wash cloth for cleaning. Think of some ways to make it a game or set up a reward system.

Best wishes!

 

[Forevryoung]

It's gonna sound stupid (because it's a dentist's trick )

My dad (a dentist) created the "Cavity Creeps"- they are little monsters that jump around your mouth that you have to catch with the toothbrush.

So the situation goes like this (ah childhood memories):
"XXX open your mouth, I see a cavity creep!" (must sound very very excited)
XXX opens her mouth
"I see it! There he is! (brush brush brush) oh man he jumped to the OTHER side! (brush brush brush) wait! He jumped on TOP! (brush brush brush) he's a trickey little guy..."

Maybe it will work for someone Good luck!

 

[Newcastle]

To the OP, I have a son with autism (severe) and teeth brushing proved to be a challenge for many years. Unfortunately, this wasn't a simple matter of switching the person delivering the teeth brushing or having him "grow out of it" (I wish it had been that simple). Over the years though, he did become more tolerant of it, however, dental care has always been a challenge such that he has to be put under general anaesthetic in order to complete any dental work (e.g. cleanings, fillings, etc.). I am not telling you this to discourage you but rather to give you permission (for lack of a better word) to not be too hard on yourself. Obviously, personal hygiene is important, but don't feel guilty if things don't go as smoothly as you had hoped and he ends up with a cavity or two. Interestingly, my daughter (who does not have autism) ended up with several cavities even though I meticulously brushed her teeth consistently every day. It seems that some children are more susceptible to tooth decay (I have even heard of a genetic link to cavities). Anyway, keep trying but keep in mind that we sometimes have to choose our battles when faced with a myriad of daily challenges!!!

 

[Snow Brite]

Have you tried the Oral B Brush ups? My son that is super sensitive and I have compromised on these for the night time brush and the regular toothbrush for the morning. The Brush ups dont have bristles so they don't bother him as much. They would not really work as a permanent solution, but an inbetween kinda thing.

 

[Juliah]

Have you tried a toothette? It's a little piece of sponge on a lollipop stick. Some of them have a little cleanser built in, some are plain. It's probably not as good as brushing, but I know a little girl who wouldn't brush but would let her mom use these with her. Might be worth a try--perhaps it would lead to brushing later. You can buy them at a home health supply store or online (I've seen them on Amazon.)

Also, does your son see an OT? I know that OTs can work on sensitivity in the mouth. I think they may start with working on the face around the mouth, then move on to getting into the mouth with the pre-brush dental aids--they look like brushes only without the bristles and are made of a kind of rubbery material (I think Nuk makes these??)

I agree with the poster who said not to be too hard on yourself. My DS had SID issues. He was not in a power struggle when he wouldn't wear shirts with tags in them (or the many other things that made him nuts). He simply couldn't stand the sensation. BTW, for him, time, experience, and maturity have helped enormously.

 

[tacomaranch]

Wow, thanks friends for being so kind and wonderful suggestions! I am going to try the bath tub and then moster idea of chasing around in his mouth.

I accept that things are hard and this is my life. At least now we know why he is so difficult and we have the name..autism. I just don't have to like it.

Hunter is a great little guy and I am lucky to be his mom. This teeth brushing will pass sooner or later and he will get his teeth cleaned.

We just bought the perfect horse. She stands to be brushed, saddled, just to be around us. She is perfect and so safe. I think she is about 11 which is a bit older than what I wanted but she is solid. Hunter is so happy to have a huhh huhh that he can ride! Maybe the horse will let me brush her teeth?

thanks so much, April

 

[tacomaranch]

Guess what friends? DH brushed DS teeth and everything was great! It is just me that he fights with. DS ran around with his brush in his mouth for over an hour. I even took pictures of him with his tooth brush.

Thanks for the great idea of trying someone else, it worked

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

HOORAY for you !!! Don't take it too personally , as a mom to 3 children there are many times I could not get them to do something that their father could ( or daycare provider, friend or even hairdresser) get them to do. Once when DD was 2-3 yrs old and was sick and needed antibiotics ..no one could coax her into taking them (myself,my husband, her uncle and grandfather tried)..but luckily a friend of mine had just called to talk and I asked her if she would try getting the meds into my DD....so we got into the car and drove 10 min to her house and sure enough ...SHE got my dd to take her medication with NO FUSSING !!! Good luck....we've all been there at times with our own kids.