in

California

BAD DENTAL HYGIENE

Can anyone explain why my friend won't help her kid properly with their dental hygiene?

She has asked for advice and refused to take it so many times.

Her kid has already had to have several dental surgeries, and her mouth often smells so bad, it will stink up a room, and can be smelled from feet away.

A friend bought her a special HUM toothbrush for her kid, since it has an interactive game that is supposed to show kids what spots they are missing and stuff... And she has had it for MONTHS and not given it to her yet, and when asked why, by me and the person who gifted it to her, she said her kid hasn't "earned it" yet. Wtf? She said her kid won't appreciate it unless she works for it, and she has to work towards earning it. I don't understand how anyone could believe that rationale. Me and the other friend just do not understand, at all. My own kid was there one day and kept telling her "I'm watching your kid brush teeth and they are doing it wrong, you should come watch them and tell them how to do it right." And she said she'd handle it later (but she usually has her kids, seven and five, bathe and brush teeth unattended, which I just don't get)

So my kid told her "that's bad parenting, you should get in there now," and she was really offended my kid said that, but like.... .y kid was right, she wasn't doing anything important in that moment, just hanging out at the kitchen table with me.

Is it embarrassment? Is it something else? I don't understand why she won't put in more effort on her kids teeth? Her own teeth look like they are in great shape, and I've seen her brush and know she knows how to, and brushes well herself, just won't make her child do it right.