Featured Question

I don't think toothpaste is as important as mouth wash. Dilute it, dip the toothbrush in and do the back teeth first. Then let him do… read more

Thank you. I will try! Usually we have no choice but to restrain him for hygiene..brush his teeth and trim his nails. It was not so bad when… read more

I'm happy to see that he loves the Beatles too. He may grow out of this but he needs to know that he is expected to brush just like… read more

I still battle the shower thing. I can get them in, but getting them to use soap and shampoo is another story. I have taken to sending them… read more

It used to be a major battle with my 8 year old HF guy. I finally started letting him do everything on his own. I started out by helping him… read more

Have you tried working on brushing teeth with no toothpaste? Our first dentist actually said this was okay with all my kids. Also try electric… read more

I have battled the toothpaste thing with my son for years. I finally talked to his dentist and the solution we came up with is for my son to… read more

My 5 year old son cannot stand any toothpaste except grape (which is impossible to find) or mouth wash. Hates mint, cinnamon and bubble gum.… read more

i find my answer over her with high gene my son is older i give some stuff when i can afford is working but i still reminder to do that set

As for toothpaste, I have serious issues with toothpaste and always have. The only one I can tolerate is Sensodyne. It seems to have the least… read more

Our son also hates brushing his teeth. We used to literally have to hold him down and brush. Not fun.

But his school did a project where they… read more

My son is 10 and we fight with these two things as well. My son will not take a shower though. He cannot stand the feel of the water, so he… read more

my 3 year old son hates brushing his teeth, cutting his hair and clipping his nails. i have to fight with him every morning to brush his… read more

Wow sounds like my daughter...She gags we dont even trip..now cuz she brushes them at school....Mouthwash is ok...Showers true melt down… read more

Have you used the toddler toothpaste where they don't even need to rinse? My son could only tolerate that until last year (he is 10) And,… read more

What about parsley infused water? You could make your own, I guess. I have read that parsley wards off bad breath....

theres coconut oil based toothpaste that is without flavor at some healthfood stores... i have a hard time with geting my hubby to work on his… read more

WOW..Thank you all my son is 13..and recently diagnosed w Aspergers..I thought I was so alone in this fight..I have to argue to get him in and… read more

The only toothpaste my son will use is Crest complete with citrus splash, he refuses to use anything else. We have stockpiled it for fear they… read more

It is my understnding that teen boys tend to hate shower's in general. ;-) I tell him "You can play your x-box...AS SOON as you take… read more

My son is his high-functioning so he is able to do most things if I am a step or two ahead of him. He asks "How long?" his shower… read more

I don't know if this is still a problem but you can mix baking soda and water and have him brush his teeth with that. Trust me that it is… read more

Our son would prefer almost anything to taking a shower, but he does so every single day because we fine him if he doesn't--and having… read more

I haven't tried this, but I would suggest a very low-flow shower fixture. I know for my boys it's mostly the noise of the shower… read more

Have you tried any of the homeopathic toothpastes? I usually buy it from the health food store and they work well for my family. Tom's of… read more

Sometimes the toothpaste issue is due to the messy, sticky stuff. We use the Menta-dent pumps. I buy a multiple-pack at BJ's, which… read more

I meant to say loves to shower.

Getting our daughter in the shower used to be hard, even though once in, she loves it. I've come to do choices...do you want to take a… read more

Its fustrating that a 10 year old child so extreemly intelligent...can rebuild a small engine, do elaborate origami...understand college level… read more

@Me2, I feel your pain! My 16 year old son has trouble remembering to wipe his butt after toilleting. I get a call at least once a week to… read more

TOM'S toothpaste has a children's line of toothpaste, you might want to try that. I too have had a hard time with the shower, what I… read more

With the shower thing we have to tell him that it's time to sing in the rain.. so he goes.. and then he loves it. But with the toothbrush… read more

I have him do it for me so he can get his reward.

take a deep breath and remember why your trying to get the message across of how important it is to maintain proper hygiene. It took a long… read more

BIG Lots had the Toms (in stawberry) Loud refuses to try it. I tried reason and got Mr. "Computer Response System" Loud. Which was… read more

The way I look at it, as long as my son's hygiene is concerned, as long as he looks clean and smells tolerably clean, I'm okay with… read more

My son is 15 and still gags every time he brushes his teeth! It doesn't matter what kind of toothpaste it is. I've even had two… read more

I don't have much to offer you but our dentist says toothpaste is optional. My daughter takes fluoride tablets because brushing is a near… read more

My son is 17, 6'7 and 180lbs...brushing teeth is routine when he lets me do it, he will rinse with mouthwash every night and morning, and… read more

We have also been using mouthwash with my son. We use the ones that he can squeeze right into the cup. My son only likes the vibrating… read more

as for the teeth, I am a CDA (certified dental assistant). the most important thing is JUST BRUSH. forget the toothpaste! what you really need… read more

Hi my son is only four but same issues with brushing and bathing. At target they have soap in a green rag sewn shut by johnson and johnson in… read more

another note to mention...I see someone has mentioned 'Toms' toothpaste. ...one thing we in the dental world watch for is… read more

We use an apple flavored toothpaste from Melaleuca, but like the other suggestions of anything to get him to brush... ROCK ON DUDE!!! Big… read more

My son likes MentaDent because it is not as messy. He also loves his electric toothbrush!! He brushes for at least a minute.

I think if you goggle tom's of maine you will find tooth past they make all natural products for teeth and stuff, the store here sell it… read more

@bon3694 When we remember to cut the beatles on..its like a big shot of tranquelizer...I dont know why it works...but it does! We have almost… read more

We thought the end of those days would never come but they did. We never thought our son would be potty trained, but it happened. The best… read more

LOL, I am glad we are not alone. I have to remind him daily to put on deodorant, brush his hair, WASH in the shower instead of just soaking up… read more

Wow, I'm glad I'm not the only one with hygiene issues. Lately, my son won't use his wash cloth to actually wash himself. He… read more

I do not think I ever like brushing my teeth and my brothers say when I was younger they made me something by butting there hand on mine and… read more

Toothpaste isn't necessary. Using a swiveling brush helps those with sensory issues in their mouth. If using toothpaste, placing a pint… read more

I just started something new with my daughter. There is a mouthwash called Listerine Agent Cool Blue that tints her teeth blue. I have been… read more

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but what about one of the singing toothbrushes. I found this "Plain Toothpaste" here is the site.
… read more

you just do it! nothing more important health wise than keeping healthy teeth. I started brushing his teeth as soon as he had them and brushed… read more

I agree!! I have to "make" my son wash his hands, whether he likes it or not!!!:-(

My son has similar issues. I let him chew trident whitening gum and he uses a battery operated singing toothbrush and put a little peroxide… read more

My son has the same issues with brushing his teeth until my occupational therapist suggested toothettes. There a tooth brush they use in… read more

I know it sounds wierd, but I often wonder if those little finger brushes, like the ones you would use for your puppy, might not help.… read more

My son use to scream when it was time to take a shower. When I took off the shower doors and put up a curtain he stop screaming in fact… read more

y son has an issue with water itself. He can't stand the "feeling" of the water on his body. He won't go out in the rain,… read more

My son is the same way with rain he doesn't like his face getting wet. Have you ever tried one of those bath visors so it doesn't… read more

He is 16. over 6' tall and just under 200 lbs. I just try and explain over and over how important it is to be clean to be healthy. Never… read more

With that height there aren't bath tubs long enough for him I have trouble myself in a bath tub because I am 5'10 only half of me… read more

You probably have tried every thing huh? If I ever hear of a easier way for you I will let you know I'll ask my son's therapist on… read more

My son is 6'6", and loves the bathtub. I have trouble getting him out. He has fallen asleep in there before. At his size, I… read more

Yes, ive definately tried everything I can think of.lol

yellow teeth can be caused by numerous factors such as smoking, drinking coffee, poor hygiene and even simple aging. Many dentists offer teeth… read more

xylitol which has been researched extensively and has been shown in clinical studies to be effective in relieving nasal discomfort as well as… read more

Ben says when he first gets in the shower its the getting wet that bothers him. Bath tub is out of the question. He says the soap causes nausa… read more

My son always has trouble getting his face wet, so learning to swim has been a problem.

@SallyE, Bribery works wonders!! I got him to swim by taking him to get a milkshake after swimming with his face in the water. This past… read more

My dentist gave is Tom's. It's strawberry flavored and my son loves it.

You know I have spoken to a number of dentists that state that toothpaste is not even necessary. Kids that drink tap water get plenty of… read more

As well as the difficulties getting our kids into the shower, we also have trouble getting them out again, although fortunately neither child… read more

Can you brush with baking soda? It's good to brush your teeth with and it doesn't have a strong taste. If you are worried about… read more

We were told to set up a hygiene chart for our 8 yr old daughter to help her out. We were told to give her stars or smileys for everytime that… read more

@KimberlyLouiseMorris, that's a great idea!!!:-)

We have a problem with my son not aiming for the toilet, then not cleaning up after himself. Anyone else have this issue?:-(

I have a friend whose son does the same thing. She buys the cheap cheerios and puts them in the toilet and tells him to aim for them. She is… read more

Another thing I found useful was to place a bright orange ping-pong ball (table tennis) in the loo; instant and long-lasting improvement… read more

@FranVic, I was thinking of putting a square of toilet paper in there and have him aim for it.

I don't know how to help with the hygiene issue, because I'm struggling with that myself. However my oldest boy Donny used to shower… read more

My son has a hard time transitioning from the shower to the bed. He's fallen asleep in the bathtub with the water running. Needless to… read more

We have to knock on the door several times while Alex is showering to make sure he is following a taped list of what he has to wash (taped… read more

My son sleep-walks and gets in the tub and sleeps. It can be scary!!!:-(

My son likes the ones that spin but lately they have been to expensive... there the best because all they have to do is push on there teeth… read more

When my son was much younger, personal hygiene was a challenge. Just getting him to move from taking tub baths to taking showers was like a… read more

@Nataliaride, what is loofah??:-)

I believe loofah is another word for a body sponge

Try using just water as hot as he can take it, its very good at cleaning the teeth. as far a the floride that he needs you can also try using… read more

Try trimming his nails while he is asleep, my 7 year old hates his nails clipped so i started trimming them while he is asleep.

Aim is an inexpensive, mild toothepaste. My son got settled on this expensive brand and now it has to be that which is why I wish I had not… read more

94 answers and counting. I ditto what many have said. Many boys struggle with showers (I read that in a scouting leader manual). We are past… read more

I just found a toothpaste that is made with Xylitol and has no flavor and no flouride. The taste of it (because there is none) actually makes… read more

This post is a few months late, but Kingfisher (?) found in health food shops, offer an aniseed (licorice) flavoured toothpaste, if… read more

We have never really had issues with this. My daughter enjoys her showers and actually has meltdowns when we don't get her into the… read more

@RoseaNdThorn the question is a few months old, but it's an issue that plagues our community. We still are in search of answers, so I… read more

My ds does not let me brush his teeth. I will sometimes say at night... ok but if you brush your teeth you can get treats tomorrow... Meaning… read more

I pick my battles with him. Keep his hair cut short so he don't have to comb it and he brushes his teeth without tooth paste and an… read more

I use Sensodyne to numb Stephen's Gums and Teeth. Sometimes a Half Hour before (When he returns from his Mother's) I give Stephen… read more

@Me2 I found a site which has a long list of toothpastes without mint and one is flavorless I think. Here is the site addy : … read more

http://sale.dentist.net/t/categories/toothpaste/mint-free-toothpaste

For showers for my daughter, I keep the shower curtain open and I tell my daughter she can wash her body and I will get the hair. She doesnt… read more

My ds has a few toothbrushes... One is light up so he can brush in the dark... better then not at all. LOL.. He's 10 too. He has a spin… read more

Try Orajel toddler..I know he is older but it has almost no taste and its ok if he swallows..it has a little Thomas the Train on front..I also… read more

Hi, this is my first time being on this site and my first time writing a comment. I have a 13 yr old daughter who this past June was diagnose… read more

Toms of Maine toothpaste has been my saving grace. We just found it in February. Before that he had to get 6 crowns. Maybe that would help. My… read more

We use Tom's Silly Strawberry toothpaste with flouride. My son will not tolerate mint either and he likes it. Also it is all natural… read more

There are bubblegum flavored pastes out there. Go to a holistic store and get paste with xyletol if possible. There are new studies out that… read more

You can try mixing baking soda and water into a paste and have him use that. People used to use that a long time ago before chemical filled… read more

Wow there are alot of comments here. My 8yr old has autism and she actually now brushes, flosses, uses mouthwash and rinses and spits with no… read more

I just joined, and I don't have any brilliant answers for any of this, but it is absolutely wonderful to know that I am not struggling… read more

my son likes to think as everything as a race so when I was having trouble with brushing teeth I would make it into a game. We would brush… read more

There is a time when my son wants something...when he decides he wants something, I'll ask did you brush your teeth? Did you floss? Did… read more

I soo know what you are saying. I try to make it a race or bet you can't be bathed and dressed in 5 minutes and then over exaggerate by… read more

I don't.

everybody hello my son say hi i try encourage him smel good taste good and electric tootbrush maybe that help i hope so the others patients… read more

We use baby orajel with my one son.

Mine is 16 years old and has to use bubble gum flavored tooth paste because any type of adult tooth paste burns his mouth. Showers he has to… read more

omg this sounds so familiar. My ten yr. old daughter passively refuses showers, then once we get her in we can not get her out. I have to… read more

Im really surprised at how many familys deal with this. It seems just when we find something that works, it will no longer work. The only… read more

take breaks when needed,get others to help in times,and never give up!

about needing a flavorless tooth paste, maybe you can research how to make it yourself with no flavor. (?)

Im tempted to dump dish soap on him and send him to play in the rain lol

Oops sorry.. What I meant to type is my daughter don't like to be smelly & will express that to us, but by then it's been a… read more

@Me2 lol I don't blame you sometimes I tell my daughter fine go and stink but don't complain to me if your fishes pack up their food… read more

as far as my son goes, (hes six.) we basically tell him a million times, "its not going to hurt", and give a million hugs! if its… read more

I guess it depends on the situation and every child with Autism reacts differently. So, I don't judge what route parents take to get… read more

when my son was smaller we would clip his nails while he was sleeping. @teresa we been there with the holding thing too

Persistance and bribes.

if it were just the fact of bathing only, I would let my daughter do it on her own. However, my daughter is incontinent and has accidents, she… read more

@Me2 I learned something today as I retrieved paperwork for the courts concerning Stephen. I was told that though Toothpaste is good to use,… read more

I would say, MOTIVATION is the key to unlock any door. You want them intrinsically motivated so that LONG TERM they are able to create a… read more