oral health promotion for children with autism
DESCRIPTION
pdfTRANSCRIPT
! Children with autism ! Identified as moderate to high functioning ! Participating in
ISAAC Foundation
! Increased Caries Risk › Diet, oral hygiene practices, parent/guardian
involvement
! Poor oral hygiene common › Behavioral, psychomotor, sensorimotor
symptoms associated with ASD
! Less utilization of professional dental care
! Can an educational program increase the oral health knowledge of children with autism?
! Null hypothesis › Educational program will have no effect
! Quantitative and qualitative data collected using a pretest/posttest › 8 questions
" 6 Ordinal Scale (0-5) " 2 Open Ended
! Results were analyzed using an ordinal scale and based on observations due to low participation in surveys.
! Improve oral health knowledge of children with autism through an educational program 1. Educate on basic oral hygiene & modifications
for children with sensory issues 2. Demonstrate proper brushing using “show-tell-
do” 3. Nutritional education & learning activities
! Conference room at Fire Station 4 ! Sample size: 8 children ages 2-10 › 4 with autism › 1 with sensorimotor issues › 3 siblings without autism
! Lesson plan included oral discussion & interactive learning activities › Brushing, basic homecare, fluoride and toothpaste › Nutrition › Puppets to practice brushing, magnetic food boards › Also sensory outlet activities: rice buckets, “pellet
mats”
• Give%your%child%healthy%snack%foods,%such%as%fruits,%vegetables%and%cheeses.%%
• Snacking%on%celery,%carrots%or%apples%can%help%to%clear%away%loose%food%from%teeth.%
• Buy%foods%that%are%sugar=free%and%unsweetened.%%
• Serve%foods%that%are%high%in%starch%or%sugar%with%a%meal%instead%of%as%a%snack.%%
• Encourage%water%with%every%meal%and%snack.%The%liquid%will%help%to%remove%bits%of%food%from%the%teeth.%%
• Limit%eating%and%drinking%between%meals%and%near%bedtime.%Especially%sugary%treats%and%drinks.%%
• Limit%certain%food%that%can%get%between%teeth%and%that%are%hard%to%remove%from%the%grooves%of%their%teeth.%These%foods%can%include,%raisins,%jelly%beans,%doughnuts,%pretzels%and%granola%bars.%%%
Nutrition(
• If%a%baby%tooth%is%knocked%loose%but%not%completely%out,%call%the%child’s%dentist%immediately.%They%will%collect%some%information%from%you%about%the%accident%and%tell%you%if%you%should%bring%your%child%in%or%not.%%
• If%a%permanent%tooth%is%knocked%out%call%your%dentist%immediately%for%an%emergency%appointment.%%
• It%will%be%critical%to%get%your%child%to%their%dentist%within%30%minutes%of%the%accident.%%
• Gently%rinse%off%the%tooth%with%water%to%remove%debris.%Keep%the%tooth%moist,%either%with%the%child’s%saliva%or%milk%on%the%way%to%the%dentist.%%
Injury(
Keep%your%child’s%smile%healthy%
%
%
%%
%
%
• Take%your%child%to%the%dentist%for%their%first%appointment%no%later%than%their%first%birthday.%
• Even%before%your%child%gets%his%or%her%first%tooth,%you%should%wipe%their%gums%with%a%warm%wash%cloth.%
• Begin%using%toothpaste%to%brush%your%child’s%teeth%when%they%are%two%years%old.%Use%very%little,%a%pea%sized%amount.%Taking%care%to%make%sure%the%child%does%not%swallow%the%toothpaste.%
• Use%a%soft=bristled%toothbrush.%
• Brush%each%surface%of%each%tooth%in%a%gentle%circular%motion.%This%motion%insures%you%are%cleaning%along%the%gum%line%as%well.%%
• Brush%the%chewing%surface%of%each%tooth%in%a%back%and%forth%motion.%%
• You%can%make%this%a%fun%activity%by%singing%a%song,%having%a%daily%sticker%chart%or%making%a%game%out%of%it.%%
• Once%two%teeth%are%touching,%begin%to%floss%once%a%day.%%
• Once%old%enough%let%your%child%brush%his%or%her%own%teeth%in%the%morning.%Then%you%brush%them%at%night.%%
Oral(Care(
Tooth%decay%is%the%number%one%chronic%illness%in%the%U.S.%among%children.%This%can%begin%even%before%the%child%has%teeth.%No%matter%the%age,%oral%care%is%a%vital%preventative%method%in%keeping%your%
child’s%mouth%healthy.%
%%Don’t%put%your%baby%to%bed%with%a%bottle%of%milk%or%juice.%%
Don’t%allow%your%baby%to%have%the%bottle%with%milk/juice%at%all%times%of%the%day.%%
! Children responded well, and were more involved than anticipated
! Enjoyed practicing brushing on puppets, answering simple questions
! Low participation by parents to complete pre/post tests
! Observational data collected due to low participation in pre/post test › Increased knowledge in oral health practices › Increased confidence in performing homecare › Increased ability to distinguish healthy &
unhealthy foods
! Null hypothesis could not be disproved
! Small sample size, convenience sample ! Low participation in pre-test & post-test ! Qualitative observational results only › Low value, insignificant data
! Continue working with ISAAC Foundation ! Increase sample size ! Longer presentation with more topics
and activities ! Include non-autistic siblings to increase
participation ! Address more modifications to
homecare, “quick brush” methods