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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.

[/quote]

Take him to the orthodontist, and ask for their opinion. Maybe it's not as bad as you think (my kid was often lax about morning or night brushing and the ortho always said he looked not great, but ok). If it's terrible, ask what will happen if he doesn't improve. I'm guessing at some point they will recommend removing the braces. At that point I would tell my kid they can either shape up, or miss their chance of having me pay for braces because if they come off, I'm not paying again. Or I would say WTF, I'm taking your phone every morning and evening and will hand it back to you after I watch you brush your teeth.

I mean, it's a task that is fully within his capabilities, OP. You've tried the gentle solutions. At some point you just have to dig in. My guess is that after one embarrassing meeting with the dental hygienist, he might shape up. Kids say and do things in front of their parents that they are too embarrassed to repeat in front of other adults. It's like they revert to their 3 year old selves with us, the same way we revert to our teenage selves with our parents.[/quote]

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