If you’re autistic or the parent of an autistic, dental care can be challenging. So many dental products and instruments cause harsh tastes and sensations that can quickly send an autistic spiraling. I’ve been there myself.

Knowing the importance of good dental health, I’ve had to seek out alternatives to standard dental products to give my teeth the cleaning they need. With these tips, you can take the stress out of the process.

Finding the right dentist

Routine dental cleanings are necessary, but I’ve always dreaded them. The sounds of the cleaning instruments, the vibrations of the electric polisher, the flavors of toothpaste available, the viewing mirror that feels like a coin in my mouth, the x-rays inducing my gag reflex—all this and more make me apprehensive of dentist visits. After asking around, I was encouraged to investigate sedation dentistry. A quick Google search turned around several local dentist offices that offered sedation dentistry, but one in particular—in fact my first hit—caught my eye.

Appropriately named EndYourFear (formerly of Dr. Elizabeth Rushin, now of Dr. Nathaniel Leedy), this office specializes in treatment to patients afraid of visiting the dentist. They pride themselves on compassionate and friendly service to clients, welcoming them like family. I was sold both on the website and the reviews, and decided it was time, both for my mental and dental health, to try a new dentist. Since visiting this office, I can add myself to the list of happy patients and can heartily recommend them to anyone in the Wake County, North Carolina area looking for a dentist. I never would have imagined I could be so happy, relaxed and welcome at a dentist’s office!

For my most recent treatments, I tried the sedation. It sounds counterintuitive, but I was a little antsy about the sedation. I’ve been under anesthesia before (though note, sedation is not as powerful as anesthesia) and waking up from that was weird. Would this sedation leave me feeling strange and dizzy? For the most part, no, and I won’t hesitate to be sedated again for future treatments. If you’re thinking about sedation, I will share a bit about my experience if you want to know what to expect.

Most sedation for dentistry is administered orally, so you likely won’t need to stick a needle. I took one pill an hour before treatment and then received more once at the office (two different drugs). It made me relaxed and quite simply not care about the treatment I was getting. Most people say they don’t remember having the treatment after the fact, but in my case, I do remember some of being there. However, treatments that combined took a few hours felt like they only took about one, if that. Before the drugs wear off, they do leave you drowsy and uncoordinated, so they actually brought me outside in a wheelchair and you will need another person to drive you home.

The bottom line is, do some research on finding a dentist where you or your child will feel safe and comfortable. Consider sedation dentistry if it will make treatment easier for you. Sedation dentistry might also be available for children in some locations—in the Wake County, North Carolina area, I’ve heard good things about Little Tooth Co. (Dr. Jean You) pediatric dentistry.

Toothpaste

Finding acceptable toothpaste has proven very hard for me. So much toothpaste out there tastes like it was sent through a liquor shower on the conveyor belt. It might be a bit of trial-and-error to find a toothpaste you like. The fruit flavors can be a better bet. I use Tom’s of Maine children’s toothpastes, which come in strawberry and orange mango flavors. They do not have the harsh edge that many toothpastes do. They’re marketed to children, but so what? No one’s checking and it gets the job done. Another company I recommend testing out is Hello Products. They offer fluoride-free training toothpaste for young children. Lastly, consider unflavored toothpaste or flavors available on Amazon you can’t find in retail.

Toothbrushes

I am unashamedly a plastic reducer. I use a toothbrush made with bamboo. Once it has reached its limit the handle is compostable and the bristles are recyclable! On Amazon there’s several varieties available and the price per unit (they’re usually sold in bulk) is comparable to a store-bought toothbrush. I have found I actually like the feel of the bamboo in my mouth better than plastic. If you don’t want to try this, I can tell you any regular, soft-bristled, $1 toothbrush from the store will do. You do not need a toothbrush with fancy schmancy features. Try different ones until you find one you like best.

Floss

Flossing is probably the hardest part of dental care for me. I’ve tried to use the floss you wrap around two fingers and I can’t fit both hands into the back of my mouth. I’ve also used floss picks, but finding good floss picks that aren’t coated in the alcoholic mint flavor I avoid in toothpaste, is challenging. A friend buys these grape-flavored floss picks for her son. I’ve bought Plackers children’s flossers in “fruit smoothie swirl” flavor. Even still, I usually don’t like the feeling of it going between my teeth and my gums usually bleed!

Then I learned about water flossers, or oral irrigators. These are devices that look similar to electric toothbrushes, using a stream of powered, concentrated water to do the same job as filament-based floss. They’re a bit pricey—usually at least $35—but I decided it was an investment worth trying. The most familiar brand is probably the Waterpik flosser, but the one I have is manufactured by Mospro. This one is designed such that you can travel with it and it comes with a bag for this purpose. It runs on electrical power and must be charged.

So far I’ve liked it. It gives my teeth a nice massage and I feel more comfortable flossing, but even then my gums still sometimes bleed. It has both normal and soft settings, and I prefer the soft. If you try the water flosser, a few tips: as you’re getting used to it, you will probably get water on your clothes. Bite down on your teeth so the water goes directly onto your teeth and gums instead of elsewhere in your mouth. The water shoots out at such at speed it will feel weird if it lands on your tongue.

Note: I was not paid for any of these comments/product recommendations and I received nothing for free. I’m simply a happy customer.