Growing up, dental health was a huge deal in my family. My dad was a dental laboratory technician in the Air Force for 20 years and still continues that same line of work almost 20 years later. He used to bring home these sneaky plaque revealing tablets to trap us if we didn’t brush well enough, and I myself had a LOT of dental work done. I had braces, expanders, head gear…the works. Taking care of my teeth after all that has been important and teaching my boys to do the same is a priority. This has been a huge challenge with our oldest with his sensory processing and autism spectrum disorders. I’ve come up with some tips for brushing teeth with a child with sensory concerns and difficulties. They aren’t all perfect but they’re a start, even if your kiddo is simply having a tough time with it in general.

1. Find a toothbrush they love. Soft bristles, comfy handle, with a color or character that they’re interested in.
2. Grab a fun timer or find a video they can watch for the span of time to brush. Remember to start small and build up to a longer time frame. Some brushing is better than no brushing. It can be you doing the brushing, the child doing it, or a combination of both.
3. Try a finger brush, silicone bristled brush, or a brush designed for children with special needs if the bristles of a regular brush are too much. You can massage their hand or cheek to familiarize them with the sensation.
4. Start with no toothpaste if they have an aversion to it and slowly introduce small amounts.
5. Lean the child back against you with their head on your chest for brushing and flossing. Go slow and speak/sing softly.
6. Use praise and rewards rather than consequences and negativity. This is an important skill but also something that can be very difficult to handle, so keep it light and upbeat. We love to use “if, then” in our house. “If you let me brush your teeth for one minute, then you can play for 5 extra minutes before bed.” Whatever works!
7. Practice good oral hygiene even if it isn’t perfect everyday, encourage healthy eating (as much as you can!), and visit a dentist every 6 months. Make sure the dentist is aware of your child’s special needs! I cannot begin to tell you how difficult dental visits are for us and how much I dread them, but having a dentist who had a heads up and knew the circumstances was a huge help. The visit may be a total bust but keep trying!
   Remember to be patient and allow you and your child so much grace. We have really great days, not so great days, and some where we scrap the idea altogether. Consistency is key!

Ms. Amy
Infant Nursery Supervisor
Parent Connection Coordinator

The work ‘No’ to a child can get a variety of reactions. You know, the huge blow-out fit, the whines, the eye roll, the stomping of tiny feet, etc. It can be a hard spot to be in when you are standing in the middle of the store and you know the build up is coming as you approach that last end cap of candy…. Your child asks/points and requests to add it to the cart, but do you need it? No. Is the fit going to happen when you tell your child that answer? Maybe. What are you going to do about it?

Say it with me…. No, nope, not today. Sorry, but no maybe next time.

Telling your child ‘no’ is not the end of the world. Its something we need to be doing more of. If the fit happens, you must work though it! In the adult world, we get told ‘no’ daily, all the time. We work though it and process those steps. Allowing your child to have “xyz” all the time and always saying ‘YES’ is setting them up for a fake dream world.

I understand the fits, and the whines can be overwhelming and exhausting. The more they hear the word ‘no’ and can work though what that means for them in their world and process that effectively is setting them up to be able to problem solve and realize that the world is not just for them, we share it with others and our actions effect other people.

So in the store, you tell your child ‘no’ to the candy as you are checking out and the full blown fit explodes. HOLD STRONG. People may stare, who cares! Let it Go! Likely you will not see them ever again in your life and the ones with kiddos will silently be saying, “Yea, I know how that goes.” Explain to your child the reason. The whole “because I said so” reply doesn’t cut it. Give them more than that, they deserve an answer in a way they can understand. Give them the reason and an alternative. “You can’t have the candy at the store, but you can have those cookies we baked after dinner tonight.” Or “You can’t have the candy at the store, but when we get home you can eat the yummy fruit we just bought.” Whatever fits your reasoning. Give them the two sides, make it simple for them.

But what if that doesn’t work? Then they will need to process, and you will need to further work on this communication with them. Explain, don’t let your emotions/embarrassment get the best of you. We MUST tell our kiddos ‘no’. They need to work though these emotions; we don’t always get what we want when we want it. If you are dragging your kiddo out of the store screaming, its fine. Its truly fine. Take a deep breath, don’t give up on them. Work with them. Allow them (and you) time to calm down. Then take the time to reexplain until they come to an understanding. They might not fully get it this round or even the next, but you have to keep trying and working though it every single time.

You’ve got this! Keep trying, keep communicating! Remember, telling them ‘no’ is not the end of the world. They must learn how to process being told no and you must take the time to work though the meaning, emotions, and resolutions with them.