Oral Hygiene Activities for Special Needs Children

Special needs children often suffer from oral defensiveness or oral aversion issues, which makes it hard for them to tolerate normal dental hygiene like brushing and flossing. Some children also hold food in their mouth, grind their teeth or have reflux, all of which increase tooth damage. Speech therapists and other special needs educators have a bag full of tricks that can help either desensitize or increase your child's sensitivity, depending on his issues. You can use most of the techniques at home to help improve your child's oral health.

  1. Touch

    • Because many children with special needs shy away from anything touching the area in and around their mouth, it's difficult to get them to open up so you can brush and floss their teeth. Touching the areas around the mouth with pieces of different-textured cloth, such as velvet or satin, can help break down oral defensiveness. You can also use a soft toothbrush to gently brush the areas around the mouth and gums, recommends pediatric occupational therapist Dr. Anne Zachry. Doing face and cheek massage before tooth brushing can decrease hypersensitivity and make the task easier, the California Dental Association advises.

    Chew Sticks

    • Some special needs children with oral hyposensitivity -- children with decreased oral sensitivity who seek oral stimulation by mouthing or biting down on objects -- benefit from specially designed hard plastic toys made to withstand a child's chewing on them. Offering chew tubes or toys can keep your child from chewing on objects that could damage his teeth. Increasing oral sensitivity can also help prevent your child from stuffing food into his mouth or from holding food in his mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities.

    Gum Massage

    • Massaging the gums can serve as a first step toward getting your child to accept having his teeth brushed and flossed. Gum massage introduces sensations into all areas of your child's mouth. Gentle massage helps desensitize an orally defensive child over time. Move slowly and stop at the first sign that your child is developing sensory overload, such as fussing, trying to turn away or pushing your hands away. Some special needs children may tolerate firm pressure more easily than a lighter touch, according to speech-language pathologist Kristina Starnes, M.S. of Carolina Pediatric Therapy.

    Vibration

    • Some toys for children with oral aversion feature gentle vibration; the child can bring the toy to his face himself, rather than you doing so. A vibrating toothbrush gently applied to the sides of the mouth or gums can serve the same purpose, but the child, not the parents, should always direct the activity, the California Dental Association explains. A non-vibrating toothbrush is best for actual tooth brushing, according to the association.

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