Teach Proper Brushing Techniques With Finn
Carmen Knight, M.A.T., Early Childhood and Special Education
Most parents have dealt with the struggles of getting a child to brush their teeth and to do so properly. Children with sensory integration disorder, autism, and developmental delays often struggle more than other children with the task of brushing their teeth. There are several factors that make this task challenging for these children. It may be that the child does not like the way that the toothbrush or toothpaste feels in their mouth. It could also be the smell of the toothpaste itself. Children with developmental delays and autism may have a difficult time remembering the steps to clean their teeth properly. I found a fantastic tool that Early Interventionists and Therapists can use to teach this important skill. It's so cute that patients will be asking for Finn the Shark Dental Plush each time you arrive at their home!
Brushing teeth properly is important to prevent future dental and health problems. Helping children make brushing a habit versus a chore will benefit them for years to come. For children with sensory issues or special needs, brushing can be a challenge. Remembering to brush or even remembering the steps to brushing can be hard for these children. Reviewing the process with Finn will help make it more enjoyable.
Brushing Teeth:
- Begin at the back of your mouth
- Brush in small circles with a pea sized amount of toothpaste
- Make sure to brush the front, back, and sides of your teeth
- Make sure to spit out all toothpaste and rinse with water when you are finished brushing
Most of the above steps can be demonstrated and made into a fun process with Finn the Dental Shark. For children that have difficulty remembering these steps, write them down or use a simple drawing on small post it notes and number them 1-4. Draw a mouth and put an arrow to the back of the mouth to remind them to start with their back teeth. For the second step, create a picture of a tooth with a circle on top to remind them to brush in small circles. The third step can be a drawing of teeth with arrows pointing to the front, back, and side of the teeth. And finally, with a simple drawing, show the final step of spitting toothpaste from mouth. Depending on the child's needs, you may need to add more steps to the process. Whatever the number of steps you present, allowing a child to practice with Finn will give them confidence to properly perform this task on themselves.
SmileMakers has many items that can help you serve your patients with developmental needs. Check out the great selection on the Therapists & Early Interventionists page of the web site.