Autism Awareness Month: Oral Care for Children With Autism

No one could imagine the challenge that is parenting, teaching, and caring for a child with Autism. For you as the parent, everyday tasks can seem almost impossible. Sensory issues can make brushing teeth and other oral care practices uncomfortable or even painful for your child. But good oral care is fundamentally essential for overall health, so it’s important to find ways to make it more manageable. Here are some tips to help, as well as a recommended product that can make a big difference.

Start Early and Keep It Simple

One of the best things you can do to make oral care easier for your child is to start early, making it part of their daily routine from the start. Begin by wiping your child’s mouth after meals with sterile mouth wipes when they’re an infant, and introduce a silicone toothbrush as soon as their first tooth comes through. Keeping oral care a regular part of your child’s routine from an early age can help them get used to it and even find comfort in the familiarity.

Another important tip is to keep things as simple as possible. Don’t worry about using fancy toothbrushes or toothpaste with lots of flavors and sparkles. Just focus on the basics: wiping, brushing, and flossing. Use appropriately sized products that are a good fit for their mouth and comfortable for you to hold, since you’ll be doing all of the oral care for your child.

Use the Right Products

The right products are key for your child’s needs. BabyBuddy.com offers oral care products that are designed specifically for children with sensory issues. The Brilliant Oral Care Round Head Bristle Toothbrush has ultra-soft bristles that are gentle on sensitive teeth and gums. The unique round head design also helps to clean teeth, cheeks, gums, and tongue all at once, making brushing more efficient and effective.

BabyBuddy.com also offers tooth gel that contains xylitol to help protect teeth from decay and fight the bad bacteria in the mouth. Their flavor options are available in fruit and plain versions to avoid strong mint or cinnamon flavors that may be too strong for children with sensory issues.

Other Tips for Making Oral Care Easier

Starting early, using the right products, and the following points are other suggestions of things you can do to make oral care more manageable for your child with autism:

• Break brushing into several mini-sessions if needed. Quick and rushed oral care is not adequate, so it’s better to do several short sessions if that’s what works best for your child.
• Consider mouthguards for children with more severe autism who are prone to self-injury or seizures.
• Pay attention to diet and nutrition, as sugary and highly refined carbs can contribute to dental problems.
• Use sunglasses, ear covers, or headphones to help your child feel more comfortable during professional oral care visits.

Patience and Effort

Oral care can be challenging for children with autism, but with the right suggestions and products, it can be made more manageable and productive. Starting early, keeping it simple, and using the right products like those from BabyBuddy.com can make a big difference in their overall oral health and in your routine with them. Remember to be patient and persistent, and don’t hesitate to seek out professional help if needed. With some consistent effort and the right tools, you can help your child maintain good oral health and overall well-being.

We have plenty of child oral care kits and toothbrushes that we think will work well with your autistic child, or even if they are mouth sensitive.