Does anyone else have issues with teens with ADD and poor dental hygene?

[ng24]

My son just turned 17 and has inattentive ADD. He has very poor dental hygene. He avoids brushing his teeth. He has always been this way. He is very particular about all other aspects of personal hygene. BJe does his hair, wears nice clothes and wears cologne. What is it about his teeth? Does anyone else have this problem?

[anirush]

YES! My 13 year old grandson hardly ever brushes his teeth. He also has long hair that if we don't stay on him will mat like crazy. HIs mom was like that in middle school, too, and now is a clean freak. So she outgrew it eventually but dealing with that is hard.

[ng24 in reply to anirush]

Thank you for your response. It’s nice to know that there iis hope around the corner! I just called my dentist and decided that I am going to schedule cleanings for him every two months. I will pay for the cleanings and will take that money out of normal things that I would buy for him. I hope this works. Maybe he will get sick of hearing nagging from the hygentist. I keep wondering if this is a sensory thing.

[seller]

My son is now 22 and although I think he's better about brushing his teeth, I'm not entirely sure....! We had the same problems, and I think it may have something to do with time management. These kids wait until the last minute to do things, so they get up too late to shower and do things like brush their teeth. My son usually looks okay and likes nice clothes, but used to splash on cologne instead of showering and chewed gum instead of brushing his teeth. The check-ups are probably a good idea. He had 5 cavities once, which I'm sure was related to not brushing/flossing.

[ng24 in reply to seller]

Thanks! I never thought of it being a time management issue I am sure that’s what it is! I feel so gross if I don’t brush my teeth. Can’t imagine. Yuck! Have you tried anything in the past that helped encourage him to do so? If I mention brushing teeth he is more apt not to do it just to defy.

[seller in reply to ng24]

I have to tell you that my son was the true definition of the word defiance! Asking or telling him to do ANYTHING just made him NOT do it. So, no - there is nothing you can do to make him brush his teeth! Not at this point, anyway. I always figure that someday a girl (or a boss!) will tell him he has bad breath and then maybe he will start brushing! I think taking money from his clothing fund or something to pay for cleanings is a great idea. My son was enamored of "Curve" cologne and used to douse himself to the point that everything he owned smelled like this stuff. I still hate the smell!!

[ng24 in reply to seller]

Thanks! I am glad I am not the only one

[Mom-of-5]

Yes my son hates to take showers and doesn’t brush his teeth neither.

[26ash]

Yes

[ng24 in reply to 26ash]

How old is your teen? How do you handle it? Is this a common problem?

[Hidden]

It's a good thing he is not on an amphetamine based med or his teeth would be 3/4 gone. I have spent thousands and brush and rise four times a day and this disgusting film comes out of my mouth. It is having a mouth that is so dry no matter what crust cakes in the corners of your mouth if you not all in on prevention your teeth will literally decay straight out if on an amp based med. I'm 40 and have three implants still. Bad teeth your screwed nobody will respect you so help him by any means.