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Classic Re-Post: Buck the System
By Kendra | January 11, 2010
Originally posted on March 24th, 2006
♥
Don’t be afraid to try something unconventional if it will be bring a measure of peace to your home. We moved four children’s toothbrushes to the kitchen drawer so that we could monitor their brushing after breakfast and after dinner. Otherwise they could go days without, and one of them was eating the paste. Ick.
Their Daddy is a dentist, so I guess he’s one of the 9 out of 10 who recommends Crest.
Topics: Chores, Home Organization, Life with Preschoolers | 24 Comments »
January 11th, 2010 at 4:39 am
Great idea. We have always had pains with toothbrushing! It’s the olders I have to monitor. The 3 year old loves to brush several times a day! Probably just the novelty of it now.
January 11th, 2010 at 6:13 am
Thanks for the reminder:)
And I think the toothbrushes in a place that is better monitored is a great idea!!
January 11th, 2010 at 7:28 am
You are too funny! Well, I guess we are switching to Crest. And what great idea. I only have 2 and still it is difficult to remember.
January 11th, 2010 at 7:47 am
When do you stop brushing their teeth for them and let them do it themselves? And how do you teach them to do it properly and not just brush the same three teeth over and over again? My two oldest kids are 7 and 6 and we, erm, “disagree” every night over who is going to brush their teeth. I am more than willing to let them do it, but only if they are going to actually get them clean. Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you!
January 11th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Laura- Our 6 and 7-year-olds would be brushing on their own. Make them sing Happy Birthday twice in their heads and tell them they have to brush as long as the songs
January 11th, 2010 at 9:00 am
We just got Caleb and Annabelle musical toothbrushes. Rebecca tells me they *love* brushing to the entire two-minutes-long songs. (Of course, I don’t know how Mom and Dad endure Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells, in cheesy digital notes, simultaneously. But, their lower dental bills down the road should be a great incentive!)
January 11th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Great idea! Just a note from a Hygienist point of view, you may have to help them again if they get braces. I helped them brush with braces about once a week to make sure.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:50 am
I’m glad to know that I am not the only mom who forgets about my children’s teeth. I actually listed tooth brushing on our schedule this year so that I would remember — and my two-year-old’s teeth are doing better now.
January 11th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Just don’t use Crest Pro-health! It stains your teeth! My dentist, who is the greatest dentist in the whole wide world, told me that.
January 11th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Yes, Caroline, that’s true- both the Pro Health and the greatest dentist in the world!
January 11th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Excellent idea! We have those same issues, too.
January 11th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
I have a 3 and 5 year old and it is still a big hassle to do the teeth. No way I trust them to do it on their own and their checkups have verified that! I read a great tip on the internet that has helped a lot. While I brush their teeth I talk to them about what food I am finding hiding in their teeth and I list off the various things I know they have been eating. This cracks them up and makes it less of a chore.
Blessings!
Amy
January 12th, 2010 at 6:52 am
Caroline & Kenj, what color?
January 12th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Not sure, Jonelle. Just- ick.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:55 am
We just did this recently for our youngest ones- mama kept forgetting to take them upstairs to brush their teeth!
January 12th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Great idea! I think I’ll copy it. I have been meaning to monitor my kids’ brushing, but I don’t want to go upstairs to do it. : ) And I always forget.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Great idea, Kendra! I think it’s funny our hygienists ask every time “Are you flossing every day?”. Ha!! I would like to say…”Like I’m going to monitor flossing 7 mouths?! It’s hard enough to monitor them brushing their teeth! And I don’t even floss!”. Sorry, Fletch. : (
Question for you, though….isn’t flouride a poison? If so, then why is it in toothpaste and why is it given as “treatments” in the offices? I’m not being ornery about this I just don’t ever get an honest answer and I know I can trust ya’ll! Thanks! : )
January 12th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Carmen-
You don’t floss every day??? JK
About the fluoride issue- there will always be debate on either side of the issue, so here is what we know. Fluoride, in large doses, is a poison. So is arsenic in the seeds of apples, but I don’t cease to feed my kids apples (one a day keeps the doctor away, dontcha know).
You can brush with good ol’ baking soda and a little mint extract (but mint extract has alcohol…) and your teeth will be squeaky clean. The fact is, however, that those who grew up with fluoridated water or fluoride supplements have fewer cavities, both statistically and in my husband’s practice experience. It is a dentist’s job to help you prevent cavities and gum disease.
As a mom, I hate these decisions, but I’ve also learned over the years that there is convincing rhetoric on both sides of every medical issue. Do what you think is best for your kids and leave it at that.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Thanks for the advice Kendra!! I know…decisions, decisions! : )
January 13th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
And I hate making those decisions! For us, fluoride is in. So is the Hep B vaccine because of my husband’s job. Other vaccines we decline. It’s maddening!
January 20th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Most of my kids are up to date on vaccines but I’ve been reading a lot of things lately and I guess I’m in idle mode about it right now. Decisions… *sigh*
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Okay, so my first thought when I saw this picture was, “Ick!” The toothbrushes with the sliverware? I can just see my 2-year-old taking the toothbrushes out and using them (all of them!) and throwing them back in the drawer. Germs everywhere! I will say that you are brilliant to think of bringing them to the kitchen, because that’s where I spend the bulk of my time anyway. Much more likely to get done if it’s right there. And also, thanks for being real and making me feel not so hard on myself that my kids sometimes don’t get their teeth brushed before bed for a day or two at a time…or more.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:29 am
We do this too! So glad to know I’m not strange.
I don’t keep ours in the silverware drawer, though. They are standing up in a votive candle holder in a cupboard and once a week on Sundays they all (toothbrushes and candle holder) go into the dishwasher.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Good idea, Heather!