staceyobu Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I still want to help my almost 8 year old. DH keeps telling me to please stop. I'm so worried that they will get cavities. I also realize I probably can't follow her to college with a toothbrush. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 My kids have Sonicare and a waterpik. They were around 5 when I stopped even watching them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 We stopped helping around 4 or 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K&Rs Mom Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Maybe 5? I know it's been a long time since I helped - I do ask at bedtime whether they've brushed, but that's as far as it goes now (youngest is almost 8). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 My 10yo brushes and flosses on her own. I occasionally remind her to hit a few spots that the dentist has said tend to collect plaque. She uses the same kind of toothbrush that DH and I do; it has a timer so you know you've been brushing long enough. My 7yo brushes and flosses on his own, but since he doesn't use the toothbrush with a timer, I sometimes make him go back and do it again if I think he's rushed through it. He seems to brush well and thoroughly, hitting all the spots, just too quickly sometimes. I have heard that when they can write cursive, they have the fine motor control to brush well; the 7yo doesn't write cursive yet, but his print is excellent, so I think he's got the control to do it. I do occasionally do it for him. My almost 4yo brushes on his own sometimes, and I do it for him sometimes. The dentist recommended that he do it in the morning, and I do it in the evening, so that's generally what we do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Maybe 5? I know it's been a long time since I helped - I do ask at bedtime whether they've brushed, but that's as far as it goes now (youngest is almost 8). :iagree: After about 4 or 5 all I do is remind them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 We are arguing about this right now because our dentist is having to scale the boys' teeth in some places because of plaque build up. I think he's being a little over reactive. He's a dentist who deals mostly with adults but I can't stand the ped dentists in this town. So, I still brush my 9yos teeth once a day. He flosses. I watch my 12yo now and again to make sure he's hitting problem areas. We use Sonicares, too. We've had some bad check up recently and I have bad teeth. So, I'm extra vigilant. I hate it though. Anathema. I love that word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Our dentist says we should help the kids brush until they have the fine motor skills to write decently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Our ped dentist said I should brush them until about 8 or 9. I usually let ds(5) brush his teeth himself in the morning, but I always brush them before bed. I let dd(9) brush hers herself, but sometimes I do brush them when I can see that she's not getting up near the gums very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I'm thinking it was about 4. Dd 2.75 still gets hers brushed, although she starts off doing it on her own we always finish it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tress Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Our dentist recommends until 10yo, so I'm still brushing and flossing all of my kids' teeth. Lovely end of day task :glare:. Still 8.5years to go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBanjoClown Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 My kids are 8 and 5 and they do it on their own. We do keep an eye on the 5yo to make sure he is doing it properly, but we haven't had to correct him in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Ds's dentist told me that kids need help brushing until they are 8. I brushed ds's up until then....and right in line with what dentist had told me it seemed ds began to do a better job on his own at age 8. I remember for one 6 month period just before he turned 8 I let him do mornings alone and I helped with night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Our dentist recommends until 10yo, so I'm still brushing and flossing all of my kids' teeth. Lovely end of day task :glare:. Still 8.5years to go... This exactly. My dad is a dentist and my mom is a dental hygientist and this is what they recommend. I let them brush in the morning, but I brush them before bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceyobu Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Well, I guess I'm not being unreasonable if dentists recommend 8-10! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 You really don't want to know how old they are when they reliably brush their teeth at least twice a day. :tongue_smilie: If you're up for it, keep watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Quote: Originally Posted by Tress Our dentist recommends until 10yo, so I'm still brushing and flossing all of my kids' teeth. Lovely end of day task :glare:. Still 8.5years to go... This exactly. My dad is a dentist and my mom is a dental hygientist and this is what they recommend. I let them brush in the morning, but I brush them before bed. :iagree: I still do dd9's teeth at night, check on ds11's, and let them do it in the mornings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 said to brush my daughter's teeth for her at least once a day (let her brush them the another time) until she was at least 10. She said children don't have the dexterity until then to do a good enough job themselves. My daughter is 24 and has never had a cavity in her life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAPeachie Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 4-5. We check afterwards. My girls have never had a cavity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgiana Daniels Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 With our oldest...I don't remember. It took me a while to let go. I let the kidlets brush their teeth in the morning, then I take charge at night. Not my favorite job, but necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Ds8 started brushing on his own at 5 or 6, but we still check his teeth every night. And usually send him back to brush them again. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Our dentist says we should help the kids brush until they have the fine motor skills to write decently. Oh, dear. Dd's handwriting is horrid. I'm so not brushing my dd's teeth at 13. Dd brushed her teeth on her own about 5. I may have done it once or twice when she was 6, but that was more for fun and giggles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Oh, dear. Dd's handwriting is horrid. I'm so not brushing my dd's teeth at 13. Dd brushed her teeth on her own about 5. I may have done it once or twice when she was 6, but that was more for fun and giggles. :iagree: My kids are at the dentist and orthodontist constantly due to their serious orthodontic issues. They've been brushing their own teeth since about 5 years. No problems or comments that they're not getting the job done by their doctors, so I'm confident we're OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I heard the same thing about writing skills (particularly, when they can write in cursive). Makes sense. I was still brushing my oldest's teeth until she was 9, now with my 2nd child I stopped at 7 but still check his teeth a couple times a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 said to brush my daughter's teeth for her at least once a day (let her brush them the another time) until she was at least 10. She said children don't have the dexterity until then to do a good enough job themselves. My daughter is 24 and has never had a cavity in her life. And, I stopped brushing my oldest's when she was 4. She didn't get a cavity until she was over 18, and that was only because of medications she was taking. Dd#2 is 18 and has only had one cavity (around age 12). Dd#3 has had a ton of cavities. She had one the first time I took her to the dentist as a toddler. Ds gets one every now and then. The thing the dentists don't want you to know is that brushing or not it mostly comes down to who got the get cavity genes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 The thing the dentists don't want you to know is that brushing or not it mostly comes down to who got the get cavity genes! I do agree with this. We have very strong teeth on my side of the family. I still haven't gotten a cavity and dh just started getting cavities a couple years ago (he is now 31). His mom, however, has teeth so weak that you can see through them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higginszoo Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 5 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Oldest brushed on her own at four. I helped youngest until her checkup at five. Our dentist always said I should be doing it till they were about nine, but he always raved about older's teeth. He didn't know she was doing it herself. He would complain about younger's and I was helping her.:tongue_smilie: After she started brushing her own, he raved about her teeth as well. No cavities ever for either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 My boys are 7 and I'm still doing it at night. I brush and floss at night and they brush in the morning. My dentist recommended I help another year or two. I have bad teeth and don't want the same for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Brushing and flossing is not just about cavities, it's about having healthy gums. I helped until they were 8. By that time I was brushing them a few times a week. Now I occasionally brush them just to check to see how they are doing. I was raised by a hygienist though, so I'm a little OCD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 We stopped helping around 4 or 5. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 I do agree with this. We have very strong teeth on my side of the family. I still haven't gotten a cavity and dh just started getting cavities a couple years ago (he is now 31). His mom, however, has teeth so weak that you can see through them. :iagree: I brushed and flossed my oldest's teeth until he was about 6 every night and very thoroughly. I have never had a cavity so I thought I was a pro at brushing and flossing. DS had so many cavities before he was 7. It's crazy. I think his problem is a combo of genetics, over zealous dentist, and not enough space between his teeth. My younger kids have no cavities and I quit helping them around 4-5. I think 8 is a little old for help- does he care? I think you could buy some disclosure tablets to make sure he's doing a good job. I will check my kids' teeth and if they don't look clean, I send them back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustybug Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 My 4 yo brushes his teeth on his own about 98% of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 My kids are 5 (going on 6). I send them to brush their own teeth some days. Other days I brush for them - either for convenience, or because they've had a lot of sugar right before bedtime. Same goes for flossing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Our dentist says until age 9. I don't check every night, but when I do, I've always got extra work to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mélie Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 My 4.5 and 5.5 year olds brush their own teeth, but Dh supervises and helps them floss. I know that my parents never brushed our teeth past age 4 or 5 (some of my brothers were taller than my mother by age 8 or 9), and my siblings and I have never had any dental or gum problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Our dentist suggested about eight or so - she feels that seven years olds will not usually brush as well as they ought to reliably. My seven year old doesn't - she remembers to do it even if I forget, but she tends to be too quick. I usually let her do the brushing but keep an eye on how careful she is. My four and two year olds are not able to do it themselves. They make a good effort but forget what they've done and leave parts unbrushed. So they brush and then I brush. ETA - this is for the evening brush. In the morning I often let them do it on their own, but I usually have to remind them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Depends on how well they do. I had them do morning, and me the evening. That being said, I have started doing one of my kids' teeth again at night with an electric brush because there was consistent buildup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 My 4yo and 7yo brush their own in the morning, but I brush at night. The 7yo has very deep grooves in a couple of his molars that aren't cavities, yet, but I am not at all confident that he will clean those teeth thoroughly enough. Plus, DH and I are both a little nutso about dental hygiene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 My 4yo and 7yo brush their teeth and then dh or I 'finish off' for them morning and night. My 9yo gets inspected evenings only and we do some brushing if his teeth don't look properly clean. The dentist advised that parents should be helping/checking until age 8, because even if a 5yo is brushing really well, this will become more difficult when her/his 6yo molars come in. @JennyD, my 7yo has very 'deep' molars, and she is actually getting sealant put in to make them easier to clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acablue Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I also realize I probably can't follow her to college with a toothbrush. :tongue_smilie: There goes my plan. :tongue_smilie: I brush all my kids' teeth at night and will for a few more years. We're already looking at getting braces on Nathan 12-18 months from now, so I'm sure I'll at least have to check them then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbpaulie Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Our dentist recommends until 10yo, so I'm still brushing and flossing all of my kids' teeth. Lovely end of day task :glare:. Still 8.5years to go... :iagree:Although DS will be 10 this month and we still occassionally bursh and floss. DS7 just got molars and at this weeks DDS appt were told to be sure we get way back there b/c these are easy cavitiy spots (and it's b/c mom & dad have been lazy and not helping w/ his burshing). Typically we have them brush for 2 minutes and then we'll follow-up with a burshing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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