If\nyou\u2019re autistic or the parent of an autistic, dental care can be challenging.\nSo many dental products and instruments cause harsh tastes and sensations that can\nquickly send an autistic spiraling. I\u2019ve been there myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing\nthe importance of good dental health, I\u2019ve had to seek out alternatives to\nstandard dental products to give my teeth the cleaning they need. With these\ntips, you can take the stress out of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding\nthe right dentist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Routine dental cleanings are necessary, but I\u2019ve 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\u2014all 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\u2014in fact my first hit\u2014caught my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Appropriately named EndYourFear<\/a> (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\u2019s office!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For my most recent treatments, I tried the sedation. It sounds counterintuitive, but I was a little antsy about the sedation. I\u2019ve been under anesthesia before (though note, sedation is not as powerful as anesthesia) and waking up from that was weird<\/em>. Would this sedation leave me feeling strange and dizzy? For the most part, no, and I won\u2019t hesitate to be sedated again for future treatments. If you\u2019re thinking about sedation, I will share a bit about my experience if you want to know what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most sedation for dentistry is administered orally, so you likely won\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nbottom line is, do some research on finding a dentist where you or your child\nwill feel safe and comfortable. Consider sedation dentistry if it will make\ntreatment easier for you. Sedation dentistry might also be available for\nchildren in some locations\u2014in the Wake County, North Carolina area, I\u2019ve heard\ngood things about Little Tooth Co.<\/a>\n(Dr. Jean You) pediatric dentistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toothpaste<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding acceptable toothpaste has proven very <\/em>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\u2019s of Maine<\/a> children\u2019s toothpastes, which come in strawberry and orange mango flavors. They do not have the harsh edge that many toothpastes do. They\u2019re marketed to children, but so what? No one\u2019s checking and it gets the job done. Another company I recommend testing out is Hello Products<\/a>. They offer fluoride-free training toothpaste for young children. Lastly, consider unflavored toothpaste or flavors available on Amazon you can\u2019t find in retail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toothbrushes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s several varieties available and the price per unit (they\u2019re 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\u2019t want to try this, I can tell you any regular, soft-bristled, $1 toothbrush from the store will do. You do not <\/em>need a toothbrush with fancy schmancy features. Try different ones until you find one you like best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Floss<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Flossing\nis probably the hardest part of dental care for me. I\u2019ve tried to use the floss\nyou wrap around two fingers and I can\u2019t fit both hands into the back of my\nmouth. I\u2019ve also used floss picks, but finding good floss picks that aren\u2019t coated\nin the alcoholic mint flavor I avoid in toothpaste, is challenging. A friend\nbuys these grape-flavored\nfloss picks<\/a> for her son. I\u2019ve bought Plackers<\/a> children\u2019s\nflossers in \u201cfruit smoothie swirl\u201d flavor. Even still, I usually don\u2019t like the\nfeeling of it going between my teeth and my gums usually bleed! <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019re a bit pricey\u2014usually at least $35\u2014but 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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So far I\u2019ve 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\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: I was not paid for any of these comments\/product recommendations and I received nothing for free. I\u2019m simply a happy customer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019re 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\u2019ve been there myself. Knowing the importance of good dental health, I\u2019ve had to seek out alternatives to standard dental products to give … Continue reading Dental Care for Autistics<\/span>