Tips for Helping Children With Autism Cope With Dental Visits

Booking the Appointment

• Tell the dentist office your child is on the autism spectrum and ask if they have a hygienist who has experience working with kids with disabilities.
• Be sure to book a day and time where your child is the calmest and avoid times when they may be tired or irritable.
• Request a private treatment room. Some dentist offices have pediatric treatment chairs in clusters and some in private rooms. The fewest distractions possible will help the visit go more smoothly.

The Day of the Appointment

• Have a reward for your child for after the appointment. Maybe a wrapped new toy or the promise of a trip to the park. Pick something highly motivating for them to get them excited about the appointment. Rewards can sometimes be faded out over time, but using them in the beginning is a great way to build motivation.
• Read more here. 

Dental Tool Kit

Visits to the dentist and oral care at home can be difficult for people with autism. Autism Speaks partnered with Colgate and Philips-Sonicare to create a dental guide and video for families of children with autism and dental professionals.

These tools are designed to:

• help families and caregivers find the right dentist
• teach families and caregivers how to effectively prepare for a visit to the dentist
• decrease anxiety about going to the dentist
• provide information for families to help begin a lifetime of good oral care
• provide dental professionals with tips about how to make the experience more successful for their patients with autism

See the Dental Toolkit here at Autism Speaks. 

Archived Webinars from the National Autism Association

WebiNAAr Recordings
NAA’s WebiNAArs are recorded and archived on our website.
For free access to all recorded webiNAArs, please register here.

Recorded WebiNAArs:

Vision Therapy’s Role in Attention, Stimming, Toe-Walking and other Visual-Motor AbilitiesPresented by:  Larah Alami, OD FAAO & Barbara Kotsamanidis-Burg

Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and Neuro-Modulation: The Potential of Cannabinoids in Treating AutismPresented by: Dr. Ronald Aung-Din

Wandering: How Affordable Smart-Home Technology Can Help Keep Our Kids SafePresented by: Holly Mero-Bench & Kevin Meacham of Vivint Gives Back

The Many and Varied Uses of SymbolsPresented by:  Anne Johnson-Oliss, M. Ed

Solutions to Help Children Self-Regulate: The Science Behind Deep Pressure Therapy
Presented by:  Lisa Fraser, CEO of Snug Vest

Bridging The Gap: A Guide for Autism Families to Establish Relationships with their Police Department
Presented by: Jerry Turning, Police Captain and Autism Dad

At Home with Autism:  Your Blueprint to a More Peaceful Home
Presented by:  Janeen Herskovitz

Haircuts, and Doctors, and Dentists, OH MY!
Presented by:  Colleen Spano, Founder & President of Sunshine Behavior Consulting

Ready, Set, Potty!Presented by:  Brenda Batts, Ph.D., Director of Focus on the Future Training Center

I Want to be Treated Like a Girlfriend Again . . and Other Thoughts of Long Ago
Presented by:  Mary Romaniec, Author, Advocate, Mom

Learn to Thrive, Not Just Survive:  Stress Reduction for Special Parents
Presented by:  Siobhán Wilcox, Stress Management Consultant, Author

A Street-Wise Approach to the IEP Process:  You are your child’s CEO
Presented by:  Mary Romaniec, Author, Advocate, Mom

Preventing Restraint and Seclusion in Schools – What Can Parents and Advocates Do?
Presented by: Barb Trader

Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum – the Basics
Presented by: Chantal Sicile-Kira

The Role of Enzymes in Autism, Gut Health and Food IntolerancesPresented by: Dr. Devin Houston

Autism & Wandering for First RespondersPresented by:  Lori McIlwain

Sexual Education for Kids on the Autism Spectrum
Presented by:  Brodie Simmons

Natural nutritional immunotherapy: An integrated protocol for the treatment of autism spectrum disordersPresented by: Marco Ruggiero, M.D., Ph.D

Income Tax Planning for Families with Children with Special NeedsPresented by: Michael Beloff, CFP®

Oxalates: An Important Etiological Factor in the Diagnosis and Treatment of AutismPresented by: William Shaw, Ph.D.

How Hyperbaric Therapies Can Help Improve Inflammatory and Autistic ConditionsPresented by: David Dornfeld, DO

Seizures in Autism Spectrum DisorderPresented by: Richard E. Frye, M.D., Ph.D

PANDAS/PANS in AutismPresented by: Scott Smith, P.A.

Using Diet & Nutrition to Help Your Child
Presented by: Julie Matthews, Certified Nutrition Consultant

Autism-Related Wandering: Keeping Our Kids Safe
Presented by: Wendy Fournier, NAA President

Archived Webinar - Practical Strategies to Reduce Stress & Anxiety in Children During Medical Appointments & Procedures

Visiting the doctor or dentist, having blood drawn for labs, shots, vitals checks, and other medical procedures are often very stressful for children, compounded in children with ASD because of transition and communication issues. Learn some practical strategies and tips to make these experiences less stressful and more successful for the children (and the parents!).

Watch the archived webinar here.

Expert Advice on Caring for Your ASD Child’s Teeth for Life

We all know that dental health is important, but it can present extra challenges to children with autism.

Taking care of your children’s teeth is an important aspect of their overall health and can prevent more serious problems from developing later on. Most dentists advise brushing your child’s teeth from the appearance of their first tooth but some children will take longer to adapt to a dental care routine than others. If you are working towards a regular dental care routine, it will probably take a while — and this is fine.

Brushing your autistic child’s teeth
Your child may find the sensation of tooth brushing alien and very unpleasant. If they are struggling in the atmosphere of the bathroom, why not try moving to a more comfortable atmosphere, such as your living room?

Read more here. 

Visual Supports Ease Medical Visits for Kids with Autism

What are you going to do to me?” “When can I go home?” When a child with autism arrives for an appointment at our clinic, these are some of the important questions we try to answer visually.

 Read more here. 

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15 Recommendations on Brushing an Autistic Child's Teeth

Take things slow; there is no need to rush through the process. There are no horsemen chasing you and an autistic child often requires more time than a typical child when learning to deal with something that might be bothering them terribly. Talk the child through it. Left, then right, over and over until it becomes routine. Count the strokes. When you give a definite amount to go for, there is a goal set. The child knows ho much longer he must endure it, making it easier to go through with it. He also knows exactly when to switch sides, go up and down or back and forth. Give the child as much control as you can. When they get to decide times when to brush teeth, how many strokes to do, what toothbrush to use, what toothpaste to use, what stool to stand on, etc., things will be easier on both of you. Let the child do most of the brushing. No matter how terribly it works out, it empowers the child and lets him or her feel capable. You can always go over it afterwards. If the brush is a problem, opt out and go for a toothette with a sponge at the end instead of bristles

 Read more here. 

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A Special Needs Guide to Dental Hygiene

Establish a daily ritual 1. Be Creative The National Institutes of Health have a guide for caregivers emphasizing the importance of creativity and a daily oral hygiene routine – and those were the keys to my family’s success. Finger toothbrushes for infants only encouraged my son to bite my finger. Instead, I offered him a clean, wet washcloth to chew on for a few minutes in the morning and before bedtime. I helped him move the washcloth around his mouth so that all of his teeth were scrubbed. Then I offered water to drink, since he didn’t know how to rinse and spit yet. 2. Brush Together The next step was to allow my son to chew on a child-size toothbrush while I brushed my own teeth. This desensitized him to the toothbrush’s texture while I modeled appropriate dental hygiene for him. Sometimes it’s necessary to try several different types of brushes, such as a spin brush. After many months, when he was accustomed to the texture, I added non-fluoride toddler toothpaste to his toothbrush so that he would get used to the idea of flavoring on the brush.

 Click here to read more. 

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