Inappropriate reactions . . .

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Inappropriate reactions . . .
3
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 2:09pm

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I'm probably not the only one dealing with inappropriate reactions, but they're really starting to bother me more. Whenever Mark cries (from being hurt, frustrated or whatever), Henry will cackle the loudest, most ear-splitting cackle. Sometimes he'll say, "I'm laughing because Mark is sad." or something similar. I always tell him that it's not nice to do that (if he says something); otherwise, I just ignore him.


Plus, I'm having a terrible time with his teeth-brushing. He does not do a very thorough job when he brushes his teeth himself (if by some miracle we can get him to do it by himself), so I brush his teeth and floss them. He has had 4 cavities, which make me feel like a horrible parent because I've never even had 1 cavity. All the cavities are filled now, but he's been complaining about one of his front teeth hurting. These are his only adult teeth, and I really don't want them to get cavities. I try my best to brush and floss them well, but the SECOND Henry sees the toothbrush, he starts tensing up and/or running away from me. Then the SECOND the toothbrush gets in or near his mouth, he starts hollering, "OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!" and trying to pull away from me. Also, he tenses up his lips which make it nearly impossible to brush the front of his front bottom teeth. That's where he is complaining about.


He also screams "OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!" when I'm helping him buckle the 5-point harness in the carseat that he has to sit in on the ride to school because the girl with whom we carpool sits in his booster seat.


I tell him over and over that he shouldn't yell "OUCH!" when he isn't hurt because then people won't believe him if he really does get hurt. My grandmother used to tell me the story of the boy who cried wolf all the time. I wish she were still alive now, so she could tell it to him.


I think that's all I have to say. I keep coming to this board to post something, then I start reading the posts and end up running out of time and/or forgetting why I came here.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 5:04pm

Hey Robin,


I have the same thing going with Alyssa and toothbrushing.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 11:28pm

Hey there.

It actually COULD be physically hurting him. He sounds like he has a lot of sensory issues going on. Things that don't hurt or bother you or I could really make him completely crazy or feel actually painful.

Sensory integration has to do with how the brain interprets, integrates and responds to sensory input. If a child has poor sensory processing they may be over sensitive to some things and under sensitive to others. Toothbrushes and seatbelts are common offenders.

You need an OT assessment with someone train in SI and you need a sensory diet for him.

In the meantime you can get these gloves or finger covers with these soft bristles (usually for babies ot clean their gums) and you can use that to clean his mouth. You can try vibrating brushes that are fun that he may enjoy for himself. You can also try having him swish with some of those fun swishs that help clean the mouths and don't taste bad if he will. Or you can try peroxide.

Finally, don't beat yourself up over the cavities. You are not a bad mom. I know one mom who brushes and flosses her kids ever darn day. They have the best dental hygeine and they still have cavities every time. It is genetic for them. My SIL was religous about dental hygeine and all of her NT kids had HORRIBLe cavities last time because of fruit snacks and fruit leathers.

To cut back on cavities I have heard the biggest thing can be diet relate. First, cut out sugary drinks like soda and even some juices. Next, any of those sticky type kid things like gummy bears, fruit snacks (even natural ones) because they stick to the teeth.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 03-07-2007 - 11:09am

We have toothbrushing issues here too. Kyle has been doing slightly better since using the tooth tunes tooth brush and jason naturals tee tree oil toothpaste. The toothpaste has clove oil in it. Clove oil is numbing. Kyle likes that because it hurts his teeth and gums to brush, which is why he avoids it so much. The toothpaste tastes awlful and I'm really surprised he uses it. But he does.

I'm with Renee. The things you describe might very well really be painful to him.

Samantha

Samantha