Promoting Oral Health for those with Autism and Sensory Issues

This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Interim Senior EYFS Advisory Teacher, Karen Loft, for the attention of all schools and Early Years settings to support children with SEND.

Working in partnership with Oxford Health we are able to share with you these important resources to support children’s dental health; especially those children identified with SEND and sensory difficulties.

Our health campaign for July and August 2021 is Promoting Oral Health for those with Autism and Sensory Issues, together with resources about Dental Anxiety and Phobia.

Autism and Sensory Issues

Our poster subject is Autism – Caring for your Child’s Dental Health. You will also find attached some leaflets to guide parents and to support children and adults with autism to look after their teeth and visit the dentist.

We have included Easy Read resources and a social story for children with autism (‘David going to the dentist’ which has been produced by the Irish Dental Association).

A copy of the booklet produced by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) advice for parents of children with autism is also attached.

Further Website Resources

National Autistic Society

• Going to the dentist – Guide for autistic adults (autism.org.uk)

• Going to the dentist – Guide for parents and families (autism.org.uk)

• Dental care and autism – a guide for dentists

Oral Health Foundation

• https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-care-for-people-with-special-needs

Sesame Song Video

Dental Anxiety and Phobia

Our poster subject is Visiting the dentist – ways to ease your child’s dental anxiety and we have included the Dental Phobia and Anxiety guide produced by Anxiety UK which can be accessed here.

Further Website Resources

• www.dentalphobia.co.uk has a range of factsheets

Oral Health Foundation

• https://www.dentalhealth.org/News/health-charity-sets-out-the-five-ways-to-help-you-to-reduce-your-dental-anxiety

NHS – Fear of the Dentist

• https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/fear-of-the-dentist-help/

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us: Oral.Health@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk.

Further health and wellbeing information can be found on the HWS homepage here. 

Vision Center, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and up-to-date information about vision care have recently published an in-depth guide on Autism and the Eyes, covering critical topics like stimming, tics, and eye contact. You can read the full article here: https://www.visioncenter.org/resources/autism-eyes/ 

• In-Depth Research: Our guide is backed by ground-breaking studies, including those from Yale and Washington State University, offering unique insights into how autism affects eye movements, eye contact, and visual responses. 

• Comprehensive Coverage: From eye tics and stimming to the latest in diagnostic technologies like eye-tracking, our article serves as a one-stop resource.
• Holistic Treatment Options: Our guide goes beyond just identifying issues; it also provides a range of treatment options, including vision therapy, glasses, and behavioural therapy.