We are having so many battles with teeth brushing right now. Because I had lots of dental treatment as a child I think I’m putting too much pressure on my child. That and knowing how traumatic he finds any medical intervention so I know if he had to have any dental treatment how traumatic that would be for him. I feel like I’ve tried every strategy other than backing off and giving him autonomy over the whole process! thank you for writing about this very important topic! X
I really appreciate this comment. And actually wondering if you were reading my mind a fe hours ago as I was thinking of putting together an article about brushing teeth. It can be so hard. And that balance, like you say of not wanting there to be a future medical issue but also not adding too much pressure. I wonder if using some wash cloths or really soft fabric would be accepted for even just wiping?
Please put this together if you are feeling it, oral hygiene avoidance is a much posted about topic on pda parent forums and one that adds a lot of guilt and pressure to parents and kids.
I’d really love to get a dentists perspective on what the bare minimum could look like. At the moment we use flavourless toothpaste and we use playful methods at a point in the day he is at his most calmest. I manage to do them maybe every other day at the moment and I’d love to know if that will be enough, as I think maybe I’d relax a little! I find health related matters so hard. He resists all medical intervention, it completely traumatised him!
Thank you this is absolutely so helpful and respectful to pdaers. I actually got told two weeks ago to force my 4 yr old into a shower every night even with clothes on, for 2-3 weeks so she learns that ‘ok, it’s just a shower’. By a child psychiatrist. I was devestated at the dressing down I got as to why this isn’t possible to perform in our family/for our child. This post is so affirming and amazing, truely, thank you ♥️
I'm so glad this validated what you were feeling. And yes, respect is where it's at. I am appalled by the psych's recommendation and really sad that there are so many families left without more meaningful support.
We are having so many battles with teeth brushing right now. Because I had lots of dental treatment as a child I think I’m putting too much pressure on my child. That and knowing how traumatic he finds any medical intervention so I know if he had to have any dental treatment how traumatic that would be for him. I feel like I’ve tried every strategy other than backing off and giving him autonomy over the whole process! thank you for writing about this very important topic! X
I really appreciate this comment. And actually wondering if you were reading my mind a fe hours ago as I was thinking of putting together an article about brushing teeth. It can be so hard. And that balance, like you say of not wanting there to be a future medical issue but also not adding too much pressure. I wonder if using some wash cloths or really soft fabric would be accepted for even just wiping?
Please put this together if you are feeling it, oral hygiene avoidance is a much posted about topic on pda parent forums and one that adds a lot of guilt and pressure to parents and kids.
It definitely is. I've got some other articles in the pipeline first but will start my outline for this one.
I’d really love to get a dentists perspective on what the bare minimum could look like. At the moment we use flavourless toothpaste and we use playful methods at a point in the day he is at his most calmest. I manage to do them maybe every other day at the moment and I’d love to know if that will be enough, as I think maybe I’d relax a little! I find health related matters so hard. He resists all medical intervention, it completely traumatised him!
Thank you this is absolutely so helpful and respectful to pdaers. I actually got told two weeks ago to force my 4 yr old into a shower every night even with clothes on, for 2-3 weeks so she learns that ‘ok, it’s just a shower’. By a child psychiatrist. I was devestated at the dressing down I got as to why this isn’t possible to perform in our family/for our child. This post is so affirming and amazing, truely, thank you ♥️
I'm so glad this validated what you were feeling. And yes, respect is where it's at. I am appalled by the psych's recommendation and really sad that there are so many families left without more meaningful support.
It really is such a backward recommendation, strange, I thought.
Is it any wonder that we start to distrust professionals. Im sorry this happened. Thank goodness there’s people like Laura offering better advice!
Agree so whole heartedly, finally someone that makes complete sense without the drama and is so knowledgeable too 🥰
This is awesome! Raising a PDAer , this is super helpful!
I’m so glad! The topic is a common focus for us and so wanted to share some of those ideas we’re always trialling (and erroring!)
I'm going to take your advice and put these into practice! Watch this space 😁