Parents often complain about their children’s dental issues. However, the number seems to be greater for parents of autistic children. Most parents with Autistic children rate their dental health as either poor or fair.
A dental surgeon could make recommendations that could pose many challenges to the child diagnosed with autism. Parents must cope with dentist visits which may entail loud noises, strange smells and their child’s unfamiliarity with the doctor in a mask. These are just a few of the things that can make an autistic child uncomfortable.
Diagnosed with autism or not, many children need to see a dentist. Often the visit is delayed and the child ends up with an emergency, requiring the help of a surgeon, or even emergency services.
Below are a few valuable tips to help your autistic child cope with dental care; remember, a stitch in time saves nine!
At home, try to start practising good dental hygiene.
Start with Vocabulary Familiarization
Children must be exposed to repeated scenarios to help them learn things faster; one involves vocabulary. Try using it to the child’s advantage and as a building block to help them learn the importance of dental care along with other important teachings.
Make sure the child is able to repeat things such as:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Time to brush
This will help you in reinforcing a sense of responsibility in the child.
Monitoring your Child’s Diet
Autistic individuals have limited diets and are gifted with a strong sense of like and dislike, especially when it comes to their food choices.
This often increases the risk of cavities among young children. For instance, a child may stick to Chocó diet most of the time and refuse to eat anything else, only further worrying parents.
Try to limit sugary intake and other acidic foods that could end up breaking the enamel.
Help the child with brushing his/her teeth regularly. If the child is on a diet that you believe could end up complicating their cavity issues, discuss this with your dentist and seek advice.
Must Read : Children With Autism and Their First Dental Visit – How To Prepare
Embed as part of your Child’s Daily Schedule
We all perform better with a clear set of expectations and children are no different. Everyone performs their best when the expectations set are clear and straightforward.
Using Visual Schedules such as these for brushing teeth could make it a fun activity for your child.
Practise a schedule before everyone gets exhausted and retires to their beds. Make a visual schedule for everyone to follow. It helps to outline brushing as a priority.
For an unlimited collection of such visual PECS, please check our PECS Autism program.
In addition to the above tips, here are a few other things to help children develop a positive approach to their dental care:
Avoid using unpredictable endings, such as “we are almost done.”
Explore other options available in the market when it comes to choosing the right toothpaste flavour.
Try practising along with the child to enforce acceptance of the activities the child is to perform.
Ensure Routine Dental Visits
Dental visits are not a luxury, but are an absolute necessity. Each and every individual needs to see a dentist once or twice a year to ensure dental health.
Planning ahead will help you cope with unexpected situations and successfully complete activities.
How do you feel about the need for dental care? Do you have other important things to share to help our entire community?
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
