!

!
!

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-telldo
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

Keep%your%childs%smile%healthy%
%

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%
childs%mouth%healthy.%

Nutrition(

Oral(Care(

Injury(

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%childs%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.%%

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.%%
%

%%Dont%put%your%baby%to%bed%with%a%bottle%of%milk%or%juice.%%
Dont%allow%your%baby%to%have%the%bottle%with%milk/juice%at%all%times%of%the%day.%%

If%a%baby%tooth%is%
knocked%loose%
but%not%
completely%out,%
call%the%childs%
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%
childs%saliva%or%
milk%on%the%way%
to%the%dentist.%%

! 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