Oral Health Promotion for Children With Autism

!  Children with autism !  Identified as moderate to high functioning !  Participating in

ISAAC Foundation

!  Increased Caries Risk ›  Diet, oral hygiene practices, parent/guardian

involvement

!  Poor oral hygiene common ›  Behavioral, psychomotor, sensorimotor

symptoms associated with ASD

!  Less utilization of professional dental care

! Can an educational program increase the oral health knowledge of children with autism?

! Null hypothesis ›  Educational program will have no effect

! Quantitative and qualitative data collected using a pretest/posttest ›  8 questions

"  6 Ordinal Scale (0-5) "  2 Open Ended

!  Results were analyzed using an ordinal scale and based on observations due to low participation in surveys.

!  Improve oral health knowledge of children with autism through an educational program 1.  Educate on basic oral hygiene & modifications

for children with sensory issues 2.  Demonstrate proper brushing using “show-tell-

do” 3.  Nutritional education & learning activities

!  Conference room at Fire Station 4 !  Sample size: 8 children ages 2-10 ›  4 with autism ›  1 with sensorimotor issues ›  3 siblings without autism

!  Lesson plan included oral discussion & interactive learning activities ›  Brushing, basic homecare, fluoride and toothpaste ›  Nutrition ›  Puppets to practice brushing, magnetic food boards ›  Also sensory outlet activities: rice buckets, “pellet

mats”

• Give%your%child%healthy%snack%foods,%such%as%fruits,%vegetables%and%cheeses.%%

• Snacking%on%celery,%carrots%or%apples%can%help%to%clear%away%loose%food%from%teeth.%

• Buy%foods%that%are%sugar=free%and%unsweetened.%%

• Serve%foods%that%are%high%in%starch%or%sugar%with%a%meal%instead%of%as%a%snack.%%

• Encourage%water%with%every%meal%and%snack.%The%liquid%will%help%to%remove%bits%of%food%from%the%teeth.%%

• Limit%eating%and%drinking%between%meals%and%near%bedtime.%Especially%sugary%treats%and%drinks.%%

• Limit%certain%food%that%can%get%between%teeth%and%that%are%hard%to%remove%from%the%grooves%of%their%teeth.%These%foods%can%include,%raisins,%jelly%beans,%doughnuts,%pretzels%and%granola%bars.%%%

Nutrition(

• If%a%baby%tooth%is%knocked%loose%but%not%completely%out,%call%the%child’s%dentist%immediately.%They%will%collect%some%information%from%you%about%the%accident%and%tell%you%if%you%should%bring%your%child%in%or%not.%%

• If%a%permanent%tooth%is%knocked%out%call%your%dentist%immediately%for%an%emergency%appointment.%%

• It%will%be%critical%to%get%your%child%to%their%dentist%within%30%minutes%of%the%accident.%%

• Gently%rinse%off%the%tooth%with%water%to%remove%debris.%Keep%the%tooth%moist,%either%with%the%child’s%saliva%or%milk%on%the%way%to%the%dentist.%%

Injury(

Keep%your%child’s%smile%healthy%

%

%

%%

%

%

• Take%your%child%to%the%dentist%for%their%first%appointment%no%later%than%their%first%birthday.%

• Even%before%your%child%gets%his%or%her%first%tooth,%you%should%wipe%their%gums%with%a%warm%wash%cloth.%

• Begin%using%toothpaste%to%brush%your%child’s%teeth%when%they%are%two%years%old.%Use%very%little,%a%pea%sized%amount.%Taking%care%to%make%sure%the%child%does%not%swallow%the%toothpaste.%

• Use%a%soft=bristled%toothbrush.%

• Brush%each%surface%of%each%tooth%in%a%gentle%circular%motion.%This%motion%insures%you%are%cleaning%along%the%gum%line%as%well.%%

• Brush%the%chewing%surface%of%each%tooth%in%a%back%and%forth%motion.%%

• You%can%make%this%a%fun%activity%by%singing%a%song,%having%a%daily%sticker%chart%or%making%a%game%out%of%it.%%

• Once%two%teeth%are%touching,%begin%to%floss%once%a%day.%%

• Once%old%enough%let%your%child%brush%his%or%her%own%teeth%in%the%morning.%Then%you%brush%them%at%night.%%

Oral(Care(

Tooth%decay%is%the%number%one%chronic%illness%in%the%U.S.%among%children.%This%can%begin%even%before%the%child%has%teeth.%No%matter%the%age,%oral%care%is%a%vital%preventative%method%in%keeping%your%

child’s%mouth%healthy.%

%%Don’t%put%your%baby%to%bed%with%a%bottle%of%milk%or%juice.%%

Don’t%allow%your%baby%to%have%the%bottle%with%milk/juice%at%all%times%of%the%day.%%

! Children responded well, and were more involved than anticipated

!  Enjoyed practicing brushing on puppets, answering simple questions

!  Low participation by parents to complete pre/post tests

! Observational data collected due to low participation in pre/post test ›  Increased knowledge in oral health practices ›  Increased confidence in performing homecare ›  Increased ability to distinguish healthy &

unhealthy foods

! Null hypothesis could not be disproved

!  Small sample size, convenience sample !  Low participation in pre-test & post-test ! Qualitative observational results only ›  Low value, insignificant data

! Continue working with ISAAC Foundation !  Increase sample size !  Longer presentation with more topics

and activities !  Include non-autistic siblings to increase

participation ! Address more modifications to

homecare, “quick brush” methods