Toothbrush Update

I was going to try the new toothbrush out for a few days before I gave a report but this morning was such a hit I had to share. (If you have no clue what I am talking about click here).

I told Matty to come to the bathroom to get washed up.  We always start with teeth brushing.  I snagged his new toothbrush.  Right away he pointed to his old one.  I told him that the old one was gross now.  He had a cooler new one to use.  He didn’t argue.

I put the toothpaste on it like the directions say to (not hard, just right in the middle).  Matt let me start brushing his teeth with it.  He didn’t get upset or anything.  He made a few scrunchy faces because of how different it was. 

The toothbrush did seem to make him drool more than usual so I had to put a wash cloth under his chin so he wouldn’t get toothpaste drool on his school clothes.  I actually was able to brush his teeth longer than we usually do and it seemed to me that I was able to get to more areas of his mouth than normal.  He did “spit” a lot.

Matt doesn’t really spit.  He swallows and then pretends to spit.  I think this was just because of the extra spit he was getting in his mouth.

Matty did try to push the brush out of his mouth and clinch his teeth, but nothing like he used to do.  If he continues to do that I may get the mouth rests.  I have a feeling he won’t tolerate them as much as the toothbrush though.        

When we were all done his teeth did better than they had before.  I asked him if he liked his new toothbrush.  He stimmed and clapped his hands.  It appears it was a hit.

Today anyway.  

The mouth rests are things they also sell that helps them keep their mouths open so we can brush all of their teeth

   

Matthew’s New Toothbrush

I pretend to be a connoisseur of online shopping, much to Kevin’s chagrin.  I love to go to my favorite online shopping stores and fill my shopping bag full of stuff I would love to have.  Then I click the little x in the big red square in the upper right hand corner and reenter reality.

Every once in a while I come across an excellent deal that is 100% beneficial and needed.  I think this latest find will wind up being one of the most essential items in my bathroom.  And it is affordable, not just middle class affordable but have too many kids, not enough money affordable! 

This is my latest find:

It is a Surround Toothbrush.  It is a special toothbrush that home caregivers can use for those who don’t have the best dental hygiene skills.  Matty is 11 and still doesn’t brush his own teeth.  If I try to get him to he rubs the toothbrush across his top teeth twice and then declares the job done.  When I brush his teeth with a regular toothbrush he tries to chew on it.  Sometimes I can get the back teeth, and sometimes I can get the front teeth, but never both together. 

This toothbrush is designed for a kid just like Matt who isn’t a big fan of the toothbrush.  It brushes the front, back and top of his teeth at ONE time.  And it only cost me $12.90 for 2 toothbrushes, shipping and handling!  

There are also mouth rests that help keep the mouth open that are 4 for $10.  I think I’m going to look into getting us some of those too. 

Matty only sees the dentist once a year.  It is all he can handle so we need to get in good toothbrushing in between visits.

Matt isn’t near as excited as I am about the toothbrush though.  He saw it laying on the table and just pointed at it.  I told him it was a new toothbrush for him.  He went to his room and refused to come it.  I called him to the bathroom to wash his face and he wouldn’t come to me until I convinced him that I wouldn’t use the new toothbrush on him.  I know once we use it he will be okay with it.  It will just take a couple of days for him to get okay.

So if you are interested in these toothbrushes or mouth rests you can check them out at Specialized Care.  It looks like they ship in the U.S. and Canada but I’m not sure about elsewhere.