Question
Posted at 2007-11-29 23:54:13 by mandi3067
I should have married a dentist
Do you brush your kids teeth every night? Are we the only horrible parents out there that just don't think about it? Everyday at some point I look at my children and say "We have to brush your teeth tonight." But most nights I think about it about 30 minutes after they go to bed. Then again in the morning when we get to preschool I think "Shoot! I forgot again!!!" At what point during the crazy, running around, getting into pj's, reading stories and getting into bed part do you actually stop to brush their teeth?
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Tagged: toothbrushing
Answers
Posted at 2007-12-10 09:42:18 by marc
We usually brush teeth after baths and before bed. However, sometimes it gets forgotten. We don't worry too much about the forgotten nights.
Every time I go to the dentist they tell me I should be flossing. After years of hearing this, but never actually starting to floss, I realized that it's too late for me, but it's not too late for my kids. If we get them into the habit of flossing (along with brushing) then maybe, just maybe, they'll continue with it throughout their lives.
A dad can hope.
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Posted at 2007-12-18 23:04:38 by Snowtracks
I have a friend who created a pictoral going-to-bed routine chart for her child. She took pictures of the child taking a bath, getting on PJs, reading, brushing her teeth, etc.
The child uses the pictures to check that each step is complete. In this way the child learns and manages the routine so you don't have to (though you might need to remind for the first few nights until they get the hang of it.)
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Posted at 2008-01-02 09:16:57 by marc
Snowtracks,
I like that a lot! It would also be really helpful for the babysitter.
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Posted at 2008-03-04 14:37:55 by joecentric
I want to say that Snowtracks' friend has got to be the most ambitiously productive person I've ever heard about. That's quite remarkable.
Tooth brushing is a current battle at our house; inevitably, it resolves into us doing most of the brushing ourselves. The eager-to-please part of my little guy is constantly at odds with the toddler in him.
Not to mention that we recently graduated from training toothpaste (which tastes like candy - I mean really, what' the point?) to "toddler" toothpaste, which ostensibly Should Not Be Swallowed. Yeah, that's going to happen.
Oh, well. These baby teeth are basically disposable, anyway. Think of them as training teeth for parents.
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