How do you make a 14-year-old brush their teeth?

[Anonymous]

You should tell him he’s effing disgusting and can’t leave the house without brushing his teeth. Then don’t let him go anywhere until he does. Repeat as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should tell him he’s effing disgusting and can’t leave the house without brushing his teeth. Then don’t let him go anywhere until he does. Repeat as needed.

I don't let him go to school? How does that work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure I’m understanding his hang up - why isn’t he brushing? It’s not time if he runs the electric toothbrush anyway. Sensitivity? Rebellion? Something else?

I have no idea, thus why I'm pleading with DCUM for advice.

[Anonymous]

We are not a genetically blessed family in the teeth department. So my kids have seen firsthand the pain and expense my teeth and DH’s have caused us, and I think it scared them straight.

With how important this is, I’d reinforce big time to try to make this a habit. Negative reinforcement, like he can’t leave the house until you’ve watched him brush for two minutes and floss, or positive reinforcement, like you’ll pay him $5 to watch him brush his teeth for for two minutes and floss.

[Anonymous]

bribery.

[Anonymous]

masks are coming off. tell him girls can smell his bad breath. make him self conscious.

[Anonymous]

I think you have to stand over him and watch him do it. I would also say no treat food until he is brushing his teeth properly. Remember you are the adult, he may be angry but that doesn't mean you should back down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to stand over him and watch him do it. I would also say no treat food until he is brushing his teeth properly. Remember you are the adult, he may be angry but that doesn't mean you should back down.

NP here. 14 year olds don't depend on their parents for access to treat foods. That kind of advice is for five year-olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to stand over him and watch him do it. I would also say no treat food until he is brushing his teeth properly. Remember you are the adult, he may be angry but that doesn't mean you should back down.

NP here. 14 year olds don't depend on their parents for access to treat foods. That kind of advice is for five year-olds.

I just meant around the house. He is behaving like a 5 year old...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has been an ongoing problem since puberty. Wakes up at six to make the (obscenely early schoolbus), messes around, then runs out the door saying "I don't have time!" Sometimes he goes so far as to run the electric toothbrush in the bathroom *without actually brushing* so we'll THINK he brushed his teeth. We've tried several different kinds of brush and toothpaste; none make a difference. Occasionally he'll use his fluoride wash instead of brushing. We've tried a waterpik; no dice.

The worst part is that he has braces, so he really really needs to be brushing. But short of standing over him in the bathroom twice a day, which makes him really angry and then he'll refuse to brush at all, what should we do? He doesn't have sensory issues. It's just some weird mental block. Heeeeeeelp.

Do you think he has any sensory issues? And what does his dentist or orthodontist say?

[Anonymous]

He doesn't get his phone back until you see him brush his teeth daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:google rotten teeth photos and show them

The consequence is too far away to matter to a 14 year old. This is why pictures of smokers' lungs wont stop a smoker. This is the problem with some 'natural consequences.'

Does he have a phone? I'd keep the phone in the morning until he brushes his teeth. If you need to stand there, so be it. He can have the phone as soon as he's done.

that's a poor comparison. addiction to nicotine is something to contend with, lazy hygiene is something else entirely

[Anonymous]

I also have a 14 yo and this issue sometimes. People don’t get how obscenely early the bus comes for middle school and how defiant they get.

I constantly tell him he will always be remembered for the kid that smelled and he doesn’t want that reputation. I remind him how his dad and I remember the smelly kids from our childhood. He stays that’s not true. We say their names. He grumbles and brushes teeth and puts on deodorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you have to stand over him and watch him do it. I would also say no treat food until he is brushing his teeth properly. Remember you are the adult, he may be angry but that doesn't mean you should back down.

NP here. 14 year olds don't depend on their parents for access to treat foods. That kind of advice is for five year-olds.

I just meant around the house. He is behaving like a 5 year old...

Are you suggesting OP lock treats in the car? Install locks on the cabinet and fridge? Where would these treats at home be where the kid can’t get them until after brushing? My middle schooler is much taller than me so I can’t exactly put them in the top cabinet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure I’m understanding his hang up - why isn’t he brushing? It’s not time if he runs the electric toothbrush anyway. Sensitivity? Rebellion? Something else?

I have no idea, thus why I'm pleading with DCUM for advice.

I did something similar when I was a kid and teen, and still hate to brush my teeth. It’s hard to explain why - I guess it’s sensory in that I don’t like the sensation. I pulled all sorts of shenanigans to hide my lack of tooth brushing from my parents - most common being running water, wetting toothbrush, and making noise with the toothpaste tube.

You can force your kid by watching him for the next few years, but I’m not sure it’s worth the fight. There are so many things we need to be up in our kid’s business about - grades, chores, curfew, etc that I don’t know that I’d fight about dental hygiene. Cavities are primarily genetic…though the braces do complicate things.