Brushing Teeth Question | Autism PDD
Every time I try to get my son to brush his teeth he hides even if I make it a game! He take the brush and throws it across the room he starts gagging every time I put the tooth brush in his mouth!!! I think he has cavities! I am a little afraid to take him to the dentist with the fight he'll put up
I need some help with this one! He is three years old
I know with Jeffrey they have to sedate him to clean his teeth, do the x-rays, put a protective sealant on his teeth, etc. I don't know if you want to go that route or not. I would suggest talking it over with his neuro or his peds. doctor and see what they suggest.
Tammy
P.S. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!
i bring my son to a dentist that specializes in handicapped children. was like you very afraid to take him. he developed an abcess of a cavity then i felt worse had to have the tooth pulled. check with the dentist if they have training with handicapped children. my sons dentist wonderful with him. he is nervous when we go but never gives me or them a problem. they don't even have to restrain or hold him down. they let them pick out favorite thing to watch or listen to in chair. he listens to his favorite music. music has always calmed him.have you tried an infant plastic finger toothbrush?? goes over your finger instead or a vibrating toothbrush... might have sensory issues with the feel of a regular toothbrush.
I think eating cheese after meals is supposed to help reduce chance of cavities, but don't quote me on it .
I don't know if this helps but I took Trevor to the dentist for everyone's appointment, he watched grandma, grandpa, auntie, his step dad, me and his brother (twice) and the second time he watched his brother he wanted his turn so having the really great understanding dentist that we do, we put him in the chair immediately even though he didn't have an appointment and he did it. As long as the dental tech sticks to the routine that Trevor now has memorized he's OK. If she tries to deviate from it he tells her NO! and points at what he wants her to do. The teeth brushing was the same way. He watched me, he watched his step dad, he watched everyone and eventually realized it was OK and tried it. I still have to help if I really want them to be clean and there is still a bit of a fight with it. If you get the toothbrush too close to the back of his mouth he will gag and choke. I will say he doesn't like the motorized ones. He freakes out and tries to throw it away. I'm next to positive that for him it is a sensory issue. Won't try that one again here!
Tabitha...don't know where you live but I can buy mouthwash anywhere, anytime, etc.I was talking about those anticavity rinses like ACT...I bought the Walmart brand which states "Kids' Anticavity, Alcohol Free, Fluoride Rinse" and it's bubble gum flavor. Equate brand...
Nate is only 3 and likes to use it...I think it's because it's the only time it's ok to spit!
~Hollie
Ok since ds seems to have oral issues as most of you know, I got an elec toothbrush. Ds still screams and I still have to sit on him. In fact he seems almost more afraid of the elec toothbrush. It was a one at walmart. Could it be the sound bothering him? Does it sometimes just take getting used to? It seems like it could be kind of loud in the mouth this one. I'm not sure maybe I should test his and see how I feel about it myself.
Amber
maybe it's the sound, or maybe the vibration thingies freak him out? Dominic has trouble with the toothbrush too, though he's pretty receptive to bribary and blackmail on my part. Lol. -- stuff like "you can watch a carebear video for 10 mins after you brush".. junk like that.
I know I got tired of the daily battles and gagging and biting and tears day and night too..
We go to a ped dentist that also works with kids with all handicaps. Costs a little more, but definately worth it. They take him back by himself and he never seems to have any problems. Sometimes I think he just doesn't want to do it if I say so...
Also, we made up our own social stories book for him and he can read it front to back and then in the bathroom we say," Remember, just like in your book" and even take the book in there and he follows the pictures.
Do you think the gagging is a sensory thing???? Will he use mouthwash at all? I know they're young, but we taught Nate not to swallow and we still don't give him very much, but the mouthwashes for kids have flouride in them. Will he chew on the toothbrush if you just give it to him any other time?
~Hollie
Don't all mouthwash products have alcohol in them? I know here they limit the time of day you can buy them. And you can only buy two containers in 24 hours now. Oh yeah, they won't sell it after 2 in the morning either.
Tammy
Nicholas is afraid of the electric tooth brush too...he doesn't like the vibration near him, or the buzzers for that matter at the barber shop, its strickly scissors or he totally freaks out...
But we've tried the reg. toothbrush, an Elmo one, a Barney one, a Blue Clue's one...he picks them out at the store we make a huge deal and he's all smiles until we try to use them, then its clenching down and meltdown time...I use a face cloth, and he has really been letting me get in there and do a good job...I let him play in the sink w/ some toys while we do it and he plays w/ the running water and so far so good, eventually I'm hoping to get the toothbrush in there but it will take time.
best of luck!
Ali
we made the toothbrush a toy. there is one for in the bathtub, one for the carseat and one for the toybox in addition to one in each bathroom.
the electric toothbrush was a challenge. started as a fight and eventually, he allowed its use. now he has the choice of either that or the alternate regular toothbrush.
we found books and videos at the local library about dentist visits and tooth brushing. I really think those helped.
we switched him to a children's toothpaste. he picked out the one with Big Bird and the one with Mickey (one in each bathroom).
his dentist had to sedate him for the first few visits. he had cavities that needed filling and cleaning that way. the xrays haven't happened yet but we go back next month. fingers are crossed for those.
I found a how to brush teeth chart on the 'net, printed it out, and taped it to the mirror above the sink. There were days I'd hear him in there reciting steps and trying it without me. I think that was a big help too.
funny thing: our dog just had teeth pulled, my little (DS, PDD-NOS, age 6) was thrilled the vet sent a doggie toothbrush and doggie toothpaste home for the dog. Little is ready to help brush the dog's teeth, except the dog's slobber is in the way.
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