Teeth Brushing Sensitivity
What is it
Children with sensory issues may avoid brushing their teeth due to the uncomfortable or irritating sensation it brings. Various health professionals consider two categories of symptoms for children: hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity.
Hyposensitivity refers to limited sensation or numbness in the oral region. Children may feel anxious by the lack of sensation, causing the child to avoid further brushing of the teeth.
Hypersensitivity refers to heightened awareness and sensation with anything in the mouth area. Children with hypersensitivity can perceive toothbrushing as unpleasant overstimulation (The Warren Center, 2023).
What can you do to help your child?
Exploring different textures of toothbrushes and flavors of toothpaste is essential in determining what works best for your child to enhance teeth brushing performance. Below, we'd like to discuss the options of toothbrushes and paste. Likewise, teaching your child about adequate timing and strength of brushing teeth can help with irritation (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).
Brushing too hard
Brushing too hard may affect your child’s enamel, causing the dentin to be exposed and irritated (Cleveland Clinic, 2022). If forceful rushing continues, it can damage teeth and bone structures, so it’s crucial to discuss typical brushing practices with your child.
Newer toothbrush bristles should be straight, so if your child’s bristles are pushed down, it could be a sign your child is brushing too hard (Southridge Pediatric Dentistry, n.d.).
Another tip to help your child avoid brushing too hard is to instruct them to hold their toothbrush lightly (Southridge Pediatric Dentistry, n.d.).
Teeth Brushing Frequency and Duration
Instruct your child to brush for two minutes twice a day, spending 30 seconds apiece on each section (or “quadrant”) of the mouth (Southridge Pediatric Dentistry, n.d.).
Toothbrush
A typical toothbrush can feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar to children with sensory challenges. It’s essential to use a toothbrush that feels comfortable for your child. Instead of using a typical store-bought toothbrush, locate one with soft or silicone bristles. This can help produce a gentle feeling that helps desensitize the child’s mouth, stopping unwanted irritation (The Warren Center, 2023).
Teach your child and help them replace their brush at least once every three months or sooner if fraying occurs.
Check out our blog, Toothbrushes for Oral Sensitivities, to dive deeper into different types of toothbrushes for your child!
Toothpaste
Select a toothpaste flavor your child likes, such as bubblegum, orange, or anything in between (The Warren Center, 2023). Providing your child with a flavor they choose can increase teeth brushing performance through internal motivators or enjoying the taste. Toothpaste also comes in different colors, which can be another factor in your child’s choice to brush their teeth (The Warren Center, 2023). However, this strategy doesn’t work for all kiddos. Some children prefer flavorless toothpaste, as it causes the least amount of discomfort in their mouth (The Warren Center, 2023).
The most important thing to remember is it's all about trial and error! If something doesn’t work, try another thing! This process isn’t linear, and every child is different. However, by testing out various toothbrush textures and changing different toothpaste flavors, you can determine what works best for your child.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, August 4). Teeth Sensitivity. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10954-teeth-sensitivity
The Warren Center. (2023). Brushing teeth for children with autism.
https://thewarrencenter.org/help-information/autism/brushing-teeth-for-children-with-autism-and-sensory-processing-disorder/#:~:text=Children%20with%20hypersensitivity%20can%20perceive,improve%20their%20oral%2Dmotor%20skills.
Southridge Pediatric Dentistry. (n.d.). Risks of Children Brushing Teeth Too Hard. https://southridgepd.com/risks-of-children-
brushing-teeth-too-hard/#:~:text=For%20starters%2C%20as%20one%20of,the%20teeth%20in%20the%20mouth
