help! Defiance with brushing teeth...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2003
help! Defiance with brushing teeth...
5
Sun, 04-22-2007 - 12:52pm

hi everyone,

I have a quick question with some not-so quick background...

How in the world do I get my DS who is 9.5 yrs old with Aspergers to brush his teeth!??!

I have tried everything I can think of over the past few years, i.e., making games out of it, having him brush mine, picking out favorite brush/paste, manual vs. motorized brush, having dentist show him pictures of healthy and non-healthy teeth, having grandparents show him their dentures and talk to him about why they need dentures now, setting 1 minute timer (which we use for bathing time limits), reading books on teeth (both kid-friendly and also dental textbooks), etc etc etc.

It is a constant struggle, every single morning and evening, no exception. This is one battle that I really cannot back down on. His reasoning? He tells me "it takes too long". I try to rationalize with him but I know it's probably more of a sensory issue or control issue and not that it takes too long!

Any help would be soooo appreciated in advance!

Thanks!
Kathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Sun, 04-22-2007 - 1:17pm

Hello and welcome.


It sounds like you have already tried a lot of the things I would suggest.


Our dentist gave the kid little old-fashioned egg timers and told them they had to brush until

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2006
Sun, 04-22-2007 - 3:29pm

THis has been a life long struggle with Chloe (7).

- Christina mom to-

Chloe (10)    Aiden(8)   

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-22-2007 - 3:45pm

Depends on the function of the behavior. It may be a mix of sensory issues and avoidance aat this point. And if it is sensory, what is it about the experience that is troubling. Don't expect that he would have told you even if he is very verbal. AS kids are not great communicators and it won't often dawn on them to tell you why something bothers them and when you ask it is likely they will give you what ever is the quickest, easiest answer to get you off the topic so they can do what they enjoy.

Is it the flavor or the texture of the toothpaste? This is a bigger problem than most realize and YOU DON"T have to use toothpaste! Have them drink florinated water or get floride treatments at the dentist. The actual action of scrubbing the teeth is the most important part and it is better to brush with water than not at all. The big reason for toothpaste is floride and you can get that else where.

If it is avoidance and behavioral at this point and likely this is a part of it because after all, he hates to toothbrush and this avoidance behavior has worked on some level for him. Then I set up a specific reinforcer program just for that and slowly fade it out. Perhaps a sticker for each time brushing and then when he gets so many stickers he gets a prize of some sort. Then you can start to fade off by making it more stickers to earn and supplement with lots of verbal praise until eventually you are down to verbal praise and then independent and occasionally through in a surprise reward for good brushing (like after a good trip to the dentist).

renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sun, 04-22-2007 - 9:47pm
Hmmm, I guess our family's oh-well-their-teeth-didn't-get-brushed approach probably isn't the best. We're not great at getting the teeth brushed consistently. However, when we do have success, it's usually because we're using whatever the new gimmick is, whether that's using the now-recalled Agent Blue disclosing solution, using new toothbrushes, or new cute flossing dinosaur thingys, etc. With toothpaste, my kids HATE regular toothpaste -- the flavor's much too intense, esp 'cus of the fluoride. I often let them do just water, but I find they enjoy it more if I get the yummy flavored fluoride-less baby toothpastes. They end up using too much of it, but at least they brush their teeth. Most recently they were excited to brush because I bought a toothpaste pump instead of a tube.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Mon, 04-23-2007 - 2:49am

I have to say, my kids are brushing better, after I bought the tooth tunes toothbrushes. They picked their favorite song and they like to hear it in their mouth, which keeps them brushing longer.

I also had to figure out what flavor the kids liked in toothpaste. My oldest likes the spicy ones as my youngest prefers the less spicy ones...

Lainie