Get a Tip
All tips > Health and hygiene > brushing teeth
>> Brushing teeth<<
These tips have all been sent in by other parents, carers and professionals in the learning disability community. We hope they will give you plenty of ideas to try, but please remember Netbuddy is not responsible for the information provided or any of the activities suggested.
Cotton bud & Listermint
A neat trick on occasions you can't brush someones teeth is to dip a cotton bud in Listermint or any mouthwash and rub the bud around the base of the teeth and gums. Can help with reducing swelling in swollen gums.
Soft brush
I use a toddler tooth brush because it's nice and soft, with adult toothpaste .....then we make funny noises/faces in the mirror to get him to laugh. Works every time!
Choosing the toothbrush
Encourage the person you are supporting to choose their own toothbrush.
Make it fun
Make the toothbrush more exciting by putting a bell on the end. Use rewards and stickers for good teeth clearning. Read books on going to the dentist, and use dolls & puppets in role play to make it fun.
Teeth the Musical
'Teeth – the Musical' is an entertaining training DVD about brushing teeth and the importance of dental hygiene. Produced by JUMPCuts and funded by NHS Somerset, there is also a trainer's pack and student workbook available. www.jumpcuts.org.uk
Relax with a head massage
Whilst doing personal care for clients with PMLD recently, I had one young man who hated having his teeth cleaned and would bite the toothbrush. One morning whilst washing his hair, I started to give him a head massage. He relaxed so much that the other support worker was able to brush his teeth for the whole 3 minutes.
Flavoured toothpaste
My daughter prefers flavoured toothpaste like strawberry or banana flavour because she says it doesn't feel like it's burning her mouth.
GC Tooth Mousse
GC Tooth Mousse comes in different flavours, small tube, very expensivebut used occasionally, good for killing bacteria, as special needs often have hands in mouth. Brush teeth with normal toothpaste, rinse, then use mousse, you dont rinse the mouth.
Kin toothpaste
Toothpaste that is recommended by special needs dentist is Kin. If you are having trouble rinsing out mouth, use a big syringe (no needle!!), and insert inside cheek. Also works with liquid medicines.
Collis Curve toothbrush
The Collis Curve toothbrush is great for people with oral sensitivity. It cleans all the surfaces of the teeth at the same time, using simple backwards and forwards brushing. Easy for carers and great for children themselves. www.colliscurve.co.uk
Open up!
We got a little ‘mouth-opener’ gadget from our dentist for the hard to reach back teeth/gums because Gilly can’t/won’t keep her mouth fully open.
Like a dentist
We stand behind Duma and approach him from over the shoulder, like a dentist. It makes the brushing more gentle and you can see better than if both of you are bending over the sink. Play favourite music at same time.
Take your position
I sit on floor with Charlotte's head in my lap. Brushing her teeth in this position means her head is supported and not able to move around so much and I can see what I am doing plus the hand position is easier.
Finger brushing
Try using the soft toothbrushes that fit over your finger from a chemist or Mothercare. They are great.
Hot, cold or just warm!
Instead of reaching for the cold tap (which we automatically do) try using WARM water. It worked a treat for me and Hassam, cleaning his teeth was far less traumatic
Funky toothbrushes with timers
I have found that some supermarkets and toy shops sell toothbrushes that contain floating toys that light up in the handle which turn off after 3 minutes to indicate when to finish brushing; there are also musical ones around too which seem to be encouraging my son to brush his teeth more thoroughly!
Theme tune
Use a favourite song roughly 3 mins long to brush teeth to (spice girls wannabe is a good one!)
Eazy squeezy
Susie has limited use of her hands to brush her teeth independently. She likes to squeeze the toothpaste directly into her mouth instead of trying to load the toothbrush as this is often a struggle. It ends up there anyway!
Find something that does work
Milly has sensory issues, she prefers to clean her own teeth using her finger instead of a toothbrush. We sometimes clean her teeth with a thin damp flannel with some toothpaste on it.
Fluoride pills for toddlers
We gave Jules fluoride tablets which we got from the chemist. They gave her good strong teeth as she was growing.
Make it fun!
John loves to be tickled, so I say we're going to 'tickle your teeth' and then he is quite happy !
Teeth grinding
Vibrating teethers (from TFH) have really helped our son to stop
grinding his teeth. The normal teethers didn't work but the vibrations
obviously give him the sensory feedback he is trying to get from grinding his teeth.
Clean teeth without gagging
For children who have poor swallow reflex / cant take fluids and food orally and have difficulty with choking when cleaning teeth – use ‘biotene’ as does not froth like ordinary toothpaste www.biotine.co.uk
Got a tip to add to this page? Tell us
Tips on this internet site have been contributed to Netbuddy and are not the responsibility of Netbuddy. If you have any concerns about the person you are caring for, consult a doctor, therapist, teacher or other qualified professional. Please review the terms of use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the terms of use.
.jpg)
