Dental health for jarjums with sensory needs

Establishing a teeth brushing routine at home

Dental hygiene starts at home. Ideally, it should start at a young age when all other routines are being taught. The earlier your child learns oral care, the lower the chance they will develop serious dental problems later in life.

Starting a dental routine may be difficult at first, but it is a necessary phase every parent and child goes through.

Let your child know in advance that they will need to brush their teeth in a specific amount of time. Give them a few minutes to make a shift from what they are doing
to thinking about brushing their teeth.

Create a visual schedule of tasks and include teeth brushing morning and night. For night teeth brushing, avoid waiting until your child is too tired before
beginning the routine.

Use a song or visual timer so your child knows how long the task will take.

Finding the best toothbrush

Lots of children have sensory issues, including those with autism. Feeling bristles rub their teeth and gums can be uncomfortable or even painful. They may also gag when the brush moves toward the back of their throats.

The key is to experiment with different kinds of toothbrushes, including toddler toothbrushes with softer bristles or a sensory brush for older children. Some toothbrushes, such as a U-shaped one, are made with silicone bristles instead of hard plastic, which your child might find more tolerable. Some children with sensory needs might struggle with brush strokes and fail to brush their teeth thoroughly. For this, you can try a Collis Curve or three sided toothbrushes. For more information on these toothbrush styles, speak with your dentist at your next appointment.

Finding the right toothpaste

It’s not just the toothbrush that can bring discomfort to a child with sensory issues. The wrong kind of toothpaste can significantly affect your child’s experience with toothbrushing.

Observe how your child reacts to the taste and texture of the toothpaste. If your child is verbal, you can ask if it feels and tastes okay. It may take several tries before
you fully understand which textures and tastes are okay for your child.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one perfect product for children with sensory needs. Instead of searching for a perfect product, focus on trying different ones and see what works best for your child. If you feel that the taste or smell of toothpaste in general is too strong for your child, you can try mint free toothpastes with mild fruit flavours such as watermelon or strawberry.

The most important thing to remember is to find a toothpaste that is suitable for your child but still contains fluoride for strong, healthy teeth. Herbal toothpastes without fluoride are not recommended.

Toothpastes for different age groups

0 to 18 months of age
Children do not need to use toothpaste when brushing.

2 years of age to 5 years of age
Use a children’s toothpaste that has fluoride as an ingredient. These toothpastes have less fluoride present than those for older children and adults. They are also available in different flavours, which children may prefer.

6+ years of age and adults
Use a toothpaste that has fluoride as an ingredient. Different toothpastes will have different amounts of fluoride. For children aged 6 years and older it is recommended to use one with 1450ppm fluoride. You can find this information in the list of ingredients on most toothpaste packages.