Tips for Tooth Brushing and Oral Care! There are six steps to brushing: 1. Children with special needs and sensory challenges often struggle with coordination and motor planning skills. While your child is looking into the mirror or at your face, use a soft washcloth to firmly rub his/her cheekbones, borders of the nose, cheeks, chin, and lips. Let your child do the bulk of the brushing, initially don't worry about the results, this will empower your child and make them feel more in control. Brushing teeth is a sensory experience. I have tried a set for Beddys and it actually worked wellI was glad that you mentioned it . General Sensory Strategies. 4. They may stand on the outskirts of situations to try and mitigate some of this sensory input. Prepare Your Child For Tooth Brushing. Now you can begin using the following techniques: Brushing therapy is recommended every two hours while they child is awake. self-control. Use play or songs to catch your child's attention, so they want to listen. Allow the child to familiarize him/herself with the toothbrush before using it. Sensory strategies can be discreet: Provide fidget objects for students who need help focusing. Sing a song, count down or use a timer to teach the appropriate length of time. Tip # 5: Use a Vibrating Toothbrush For sensory seeking children, a vibrating toothbrush is a great way to engage them in toothbrushing! Use massage to the scalp prior to hair brushing. Here are some quick tips from our experts: Use an electric toothbrush. Encourage the child to hold the toothbrush and brush their tongue, teeth, inside of the cheeks and roof of the mouth. Brush teeth. Often helpful during transitions or challenging activities. The process of brushing teeth can be an irritate for some kids with Oral Sensory Defensiveness. There may be several reasons why a child may have a difficult time during toothbrushing. Weighted Vest - Only use for 15-20 minute increments. Toothbrushing is a skill that every child learns - but why do some children struggle more than others when it comes to brushing their teeth?We break down the WHY behind a variety of challenges related. Don't die on the clothing mountain. brushing ADDITIONAL SENSORY STRATEGIES FOR TOOTH BRUSHING \ If you child likes deep pressure, give them bear hugs or squeezes, or have them give \ themselves a big hug before attempting to brush their teeth \ Your child can tense up like a statue or push on a doorframe and then release to calm themselves prior to tooth brushing Use simple, age-appropriate language. Preparation Before Tooth Brushing: Provide deep touch beginning with the child's arms and legs, and progressing towards the face and mouth. Using a timer can help your child spend an appropriate amount of time and effort on brushing. #210 - Tips for Middle and High School Students with Brittini from @playtheotway. Fidget objects with moveable parts that can be manipulated without disrupting others in the class can improve attention to task. They might crave intense forms of sensory experiences and engage in movement activities such as jumping, falling, crashing, and pushing. Strategies could include setting up the . Promote balance by standing behind your child to secure his body. What we can do as OTs, teachers, or parents is help teach coping strategies because so many of . Get items out of the cupboard. ), discusses sensory processing strategies for home. Hair Brushing Sensory Strategies If your child is sensitive to touch, use a brush with a large head. For others, it may be due to other underlying causes, such as sensory sensitivities. Brushing your teeth is an essential part of oral hygiene and good habits should be established in earliest childhood. This gives them visual feedback and can give them a better sense of control. The proprioceptive system also has an important regulatory role in sensory processing as proprioceptive input can assist in controlling responses to sensory stimuli. Start slowly. There are some strategies that can be incorporated before starting a child's personal hygiene routine to increase success during toothbrushing. Sometimes having something like a Weighted blanket, weighted lap pad, compression clothing, or even noise blocking headphones on their ears can help. Many times a child who may be biting may be craving . You can use this FREE printable personal hygiene sensory strategy toolkit to create a calm and relaxed experience in the bathroom that can allow your teenager to become more independent with personal hygiene care skills. Try backward chaining. Break it down into steps. Auditory sensitivities. Use a very mild-flavoured toothpaste. Allow your child to hold the toothbrush while you gently guide his/her hand as tolerated. Use the other one in your child's mouth, but start using it without toothpaste, just warm water (the temperature of the water may make a big difference). Because toothbrushing is a complex sensory and motor task your child could benefit from implementing a variety of strategies to develop confidence in managing their own oral health needs. Develop a Reward System 5. In the classroom, place child away from sources of We break down the WHY behind a variety of challenges related to toothbrushing - specifically from a sensory perspective but also looking at the specific skills required. At home, children's teeth should be brushed last thing at night before bed time and on at least one other occasion. Brushing teeth is a sensory experience. With no clear plan. Allow the child to brush his/her own teeth while watching in the mirror. Brush the bottom front teeth outside and inside five times. Teach your child calming breathing techniques. . There is however anecdotal support that strategies may be useful for some children. That is a sign of a true sensory seeker. The technique must be taught by a trained professional in order to establish . Swishing water or coconut oil in the mouth may be desensitizing enough for your child to be able to handle toothbrushing. They come back in 20 minutes later, sweating, out of breath, spinning and moving faster than before, perhaps talking fast, acting silly, using a high pitch voice, maybe still running or moving fast and not able to stop or hear you tell them to wash their hands. If not, it can back fire on the nervous system and create further sensory dysregulation and sensory processing difficulties. Tip # 2: Turn hair brushing into a Game . 00:26:31 - Toothbrushing is a skill that every child learns - but why do some children struggle more than others when it comes to brushing their teeth?We break #184 - Sensory Strategies to Make Toothbrushing Easier | Listen Notes Tip # 3: Use Role Play in Hair Brushing It can increase a child's ability to optimize their arousal and activity levels as well as decrease sensory defensiveness. 2. Hair Washing Cutting Brushing. Children who have feeding needs, including children who do not actively participate in the activity The sensory avoider may have big reactions or shut down. Declan, an 11 year old with autism. Running the vibration around the mouth and face as well as in the mouth can be a great way to meet oral sensory seeking needs. Sensory Strategies to Make Toothbrushing Easier Toothbrushing is a skill that every child learns - but why do some children struggle more than others when it comes to brushing their teeth? Strategies for living with sensory differences. Sensory-Friendly Strategies for Home - Part 2. Try an electric toothbrush - The vibration provides tactile and proprioceptive input and might help bring more sensory awareness to the mouth. Exhibits gag reflex. An electric tooth brush will allow your child to be more thorough and successful when brushing. You can have them "earn" points for each stroke or set of strokes, have a countdown, or sing a silly song. This can be as simple as a vibrating toothbrush or one of the many vibrating therapy tools like Z-vibe (R). Play in a variety of sensory bins at least 5-6 times per week. Brush the bottom front teeth (inside and outside) five times. Try a rewards system but use a star chart rather than sweet rewards! The special expansion pleats allow the bristles to expand to different tooth widths, making it perfect for kids with oral motor issues. Use one to brush along your child's face so she gets used to the sensation. It's easy to be in a rush and start doing parts of the process, such as squirting the toothpaste onto the brush. Try deep pressure massaging with the brush for at least two weeks to see if you notice any progress with your child. Set timer for 2 minutes. Some children are resistant to toothbrush bristles and / or certain textures / flavours of toothpaste. Hallgasson #184 - Sensory Strategies To Make Toothbrushing Easier s mg 214 epizdot ettl: All Things Sensory By Harkla, ingyen! Moira Pea, BScOT, MOT, OT Reg (Ont. It . For children aged three years and above, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing at least 1000 - 1500 ppm (parts per million) fluoride. Let him/her feel it in the hands, then the arms, slowly working towards the mouth. Weighted lap pad - Another one of my favorite solutions, can be very inconspicuous. Ensure the environment is set up with everything needed for the activity Take some deep breaths. Brush the bottom back teeth (outside, inside, and top surface) five times. She describes how atypical sensory processing affects lived experiences of individuals with autism and outlines. bA1 Sensory - This three-sided toothbrush has a 200% greater coverage per stroke and comes with very soft bristles to prevent sensory overload. Teenagers can use pushups, wall pushups, and isometric exercises as coping strategies to avoid aggression and help maintain attention. In Oral hyposensitivity: Look for a child-friendly toothpaste with a flavour like strawberry, mango or bubble gum. Buy two baby-sized toothbrushes with very soft bristles. To decrease sensitivity, apply pressure to the teeth and gums. Warm, rather than cold water may be better tolerated. October 19, 2016 at 3:41 pm . Some children fight brushing and flossing as a part of their normal developmental stages. Hair washing / cutting / brushing - Sensory . Please see below some general strategies to try: Further information about Sensory Processing. #184 - Sensory Strategies to Make Toothbrushing Easier from All Things Sensory by Harkla on Podchaser, aired Wednesday, 29th December 2021. Tag: sensory processing and toothbrushing Special Needs Kids and Toothbrushing, Part 3; The Sensory-Motor Experience and the Behavioral Strategies that Support Success Now that you know what issues your child have that made toothbrushing difficult, and you have made brush and paste/rinse choices, it is time to think about the influence of timing, the environment, and the approach to the task. If you can not commit to the every 2 hours, than don't do it. self-organization. I love sneaking sensory strategies into our bedtime routines! If your child doesn't like songs, you can simply use a timer to help your child develop a routine. Have your child brush her own hair. When the timer goes off, stop brushing. Brushing needs to be done every 2 hours, faithfully (during waking hours). Use toothpaste containing at least 1000 - 1500 . Using Advice and Strategies - General Advice. Making appropriate changes within a child's environment or creating strategies according to his/her needs and priorities can help the child stay calmer. 2. Stretchy bands such as Theraband around chair or desk legs to . If the hair is long then hold it at the shank to avoid pulling on the scalp Try not to prolong the activity and maybe avoid looking for perfection. Avoid calling to your child across a busy room if possible and approach them from the front, rather than behind. Sensory-Friendly Strategies for Home - Part 2 autismAdmin 2022-05 . 7. Choose the right toothbrush. Some children with autism might display either oral sensory issue (hypersensitive or hyposensitive) or oral motor issue or both. Active children tend to be sensory seekers and are always on the go. Using a vibrating toothbrush does not need to be solely at toothbrushing time. You are your child's expert on their sensory difficulties. Oral Skill Development. Using humor and distraction in the form of a game is another great way to help your child feel less stress and sensory issues during hair brushing. On the flip side, some children require more sensory information to feel and respond to it (sensory seeker). Brush with warm water If your child is sensitive to cold water, giving them some warm water to brush with can help. This will not only help them all day long, but it will also help them sleep better at night. . Electric toothbrushes also provide sensory input to the mouth to . For some children, brushing their teeth feels like a LOT of stimulation all at once. An electric toothbrush may be used to provide additional sensory information. Allow students to access other tactile sensory strategies. These kiddos get to experience life differently because of the ways their brains process the information gathered by their senses but, for many, these differences can cause a child to resist brushing and flossing. By then, it's too late. Toothbrushing is a skill that every child learns - but why do some children struggle more than others when it comes to brushing their teeth?We break down the W Many children diagnosed with autism find tooth brushing a very unpleasant experience due to . - Listen to #184 - Sensory Strategies to Make Toothbrushing Easier by All Things Sensory by Harkla instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed. Something that my mother has been working on this past year with my brother is working on identifying what his fears are . self-awareness. This may seem like a large time commitment,. Far too often, the world we live in is so sensory-rich that the sensory avoider feels overwhelmed. Massage the head/scalp slowly and with deep input to decrease sensitivity. Helpful Tips: Prepare child before hair washing/cutting/brushing so they know what to expect. If you or your loved one is living with autism, gather information first - observe and try to identify patterns of sensory differences . Use pressure touch. #209 - Sensory Strategies to Prepare the Brain and Body for Learning!. Try to use a soft brush that won't yank on the hair. Administer . 2. Use Sensory reducing items. Use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. "Chewies". Holding flannel, see below. Start using this method when the child is brushing their teeth by dipping the end of the toothbrush into a small cup of flavored water. Brush in front of the mirror so that your child can predict when the brush is coming. It also activates the vestibular sensory system. There are many sensory tools available to provide appropriate oral sensory input. Find a silly song to sing whilst brushing, make the time fun and interactive. To help you, some toothbrushes light up when the brushing is complete. Brush the top back teeth (inside, . the ability to handle new situations. The signs of the oral sensory issues may include: In Oral hypersensitivity: Avoid certain food due to its texture, taste and/or temperature.