Does your child who has autism let you brush his/her teeth?

[2mum]

My son wont let me near his mouth. Hes 3 and im scared his teeth will suffer. He screams nd squirms and its traumatic for the both of us. He absolutely hates it what the heck are you supposed to do? Hes only just turned 3 but hes as strong as an ox.

[earlgrey]

My dd2 doesn't have autism and she won't let me near her teeth. Won't even go at her teeth herself, and it worries the life out of me. Not much consolation, but I suspect it's nothing to do with autism - with dd2 it's just an intense dislike of toothpaste and even without it the toothbrush just makes her gag.

[2mum]

Maybe some kids just dont like it then. My son wont even put the toothbrush in my mouth, he makes that much noise when i try to clean his teeth im scared my neighbours will call social services! Socci how is your daughter coping with aba, have you seen any changes in behaviour?

[earlgrey]

What's ABA?

[2mum]

Its applied behaviour analysis earlgrey.

[2mum]

I dont know a lot about it tbh.

[mysonsmummy]

could you try the strawberry etc flavoured toothpaste. i bought ds the buzz lightyear electric toothbrush and now he sees it more like a game. can imagine how worried you are though. i also find if i dont brush his teeth properly this breath starts to smell. cant think of any other help at all sorry.

[2mum]

Hi mysonsmummy, i got him a winnie the pooh battery toothbrush. He doesnt like it, but i havent tried strawberry toothpaste. Can you get it in boots or superdrug do u know? I remember using strawberry toothpaste as a child but i havent seen it for years.

[sphil]

DS2 isn't too bad with this but I let him play with the toothbrush and running tap (oops don't tell Water Board) and sing 'This is the way we brush our teeth' which makes him laugh (and open his mouth...)

[2mum]

Maybe singing that wee song would get stubborn ds to open his mouth! Thanks Sphil i will be trying that tonight and be searching the shops for strawberry toothpaste this week.

[spursmum]

Ds will only let me do his if he has done them first IYKWIM. He has a car toothbrush and bubblegum flavoured toothpaste. But god help any dentist that goes near him!!

[emmalou78]

Elijah has come to accept toothbrushing, he will now chew his toothbrush before I swoop in for a polish [whilst distracting him with cbeebies or the breakfast news - he likes the red headline bar] he HAS to through his brush at my head afterwards though, otherwise you get a full scale meltdown... we're working on phasing that one out mind..

A year ago he would draw blood every day but I just got on with it, we had 6 months of battery brushes which got him interestedin doing it himself tehn we slowly replaced them with a normal red toothbrush and so far so good, except for the throwing it part!

Toothpaste has never been an issue, our dentist assured me it was fine to use adult toothpaste for the kids, just makessureits a pea sized amount, though elijah loves toothpaste and used to eat half a tube a week...

So yes, my advice is just do it, it HAS to be done and eventually it becomes routine

[2mum]

Emmalou Im going to persist with the brushing the teeth, its something that has to be done and its not pleasant when he doesnt want it but what can i do.

Socci thats brill that the aba is helping your daughter and her iq has doubled in a year that really is fantastic. The tooth brushing thing must be a sensory problem. Hes been referred to a dentist by the dentist at the child development clinic and is finally going for an appointment next month, i told them hell need to be held down! Theres no way i could take him to my dentist itd just be too upsetting for him.

[mixedemotions123]

Could you try putting the toothpaste on your/his finger and rubbing it on his teeth? sounds very silly but I remember doing it with my ds ASD, at least it gets them used to the taste, and is better than nothing.

[sphil]

2shoes - as well as singing 'This is the way we brush our teeth' I sometimes make a joke of it and sing 'This is the way we brush our hair...wash our face...sweep the floor' etc and pretend to do that with the toothbrush. More laughing - even wider mouth!!!

[onlyjoking9329]

my three hate having their teeth brushed, we started with tescos kiddy toothpaste, if i knew then what i know now then i would have started with adult toothpaste, the change over was a nightmare, i used the stripy one and told them it was vanilla blueberry and strawberry
now they will use anything.

[sphil]

Ha ha Socci - what idiots do you think we look at bedtime? Actually, make that breakfast time,getting dressed time, lunch time, nappy time .... Sometimes I feel like a performing monkey. And the worst thing is......I do it in public too!!

[2mum]

I cant sing so im gonna close my bathroom window here so noone hears me sing the toothbrush song to ds

[RnB]

still a total nightmare for us and he is nearly 5. I find the easiest thing is to offer some kind a reward (train) if he tolerates it

[eidsvold]

if it is any consolation - neither of my dds - dd1 almsot 4 with down syndrome and dd2 18 months old let me near their teeth. I just let them chew their toothbrushes.... dd2 I can sort of get to every now and then BUT dd1 - nope - just make sure she chews both sides of her toothbrush oyswim.

[2mum]

I tried singing it didnt work, maybe when hes a bit older hopefully. I just have to hold him tight and try and brush his teeth. He throws the toothbrush away when i give it to him to chew. So i cant do that. I havent got the strawberry toothpaste yet, i still havent tried that as i know he doesnt like minty toothpaste.

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

ds1 stunned me because although he doesn't like having his teeth cleaned with a normal toothbrush he is fine with an electric one. WOuld never have predicted that! We use strawberry toothpaste.

[Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads]

dentist hasn't seen his teeth for 5 years though- that's a step too far in his book!