How Do I Floss My Child’s Teeth When They Have Autism Spectrum Disorder?

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How Am I Going To Floss My Autistic Child's Teeth?
How Am I Going To Floss My Autistic Child’s Teeth?

Children’s oral health (aka dental health) is essential for their overall health and well-being. As parents, you know how important it is to prevent dental issues.

You also know this isn’t so simple to do when your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Especially since establishing and following a daily flossing routine is quite challenging.

Remember last week we discussed Tell – Show – Do for toothbrushing. Same goes for flossing.

Today we’re talking Tell – Show – Do strategies for your at home flossing routine.

Strategies For Your Home Flossing Routine

Almost everyone thinks you need to brush and then floss, right?

Not really. It’s actually a good idea to floss first and then brush, so this way you brush away everything that was caught in-between the teeth.

Dental Floss Choices

  • Hand held Flossers in fun colors and fun shaped handles
  • String floss (aka regular floss) waxed (recommended) or unwaxed
  • String floss in plain (no flavor) or fun flavors (like grape or bubblegum)

    What Is Order To Floss Teeth?

    Most of the time the order you’ll floss is the same as toothbrushing, since you’re going slowly and introducing flossing, it may be helpful to try this tooth flossing order ~

    1. Top front teeth
    2. Bottom front teeth
    3. Top right back teeth
    4. Top left back teeth
    5. Bottom left back teeth
    6. Bottom right back teeth

    Flossing Steps

    My Mom Is Telling Me About Flossing My Teeth
    My Mom Is Telling Me About Flossing My Teeth

    Remember Tell – Show – Do. This is the Tell and the Show steps.

    1. Start by showing your child the floss and have them touch the floss,
    2. Touch the floss to the back of their hand and
    3. Then slide it gently up and down along the side of one of their fingers,.
    4. Gently touch the floss to their lips,
    5. Ask your child to open their mouth (as big as they can) and
    6. Touch the floss to one or two of their front teeth,
    7. Count together how long they can keep their mouth open.

      Next Comes Flossing

      This is the Do. These are the 5 steps to help stream line your flossing technique.

      Whether you’re using a hand held flosser or string floss always remember to gently slide the floss between your child’s tooth and their gums.

      The gums between the teeth are triangle shaped and you want to gently slide the floss to the side of the gums next to the tooth, never straight up onto the gums.

      If you decide to use a hand held flosser, step 3 is where you start. Keep a tissue or two close by so you can clean off the floss as you go from tooth to tooth. You don’t want to transfer the stuff in-between teeth from one tooth to the next.

      If you’re using string floss, you’ll begin with step 1.

      1. Wrap about18 inches of floss around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of your opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as you move along.
      2. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
      3. Guide the floss between your child’s tooth and gums using a gentle, rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
      4. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it around the tooth into a C shape against the tooth. Always gently slide floss into the space between the gums and each tooth.
      5. Hold the floss against the tooth away from the gums. Gently rub the side of the tooth with an up-and-down motion, following the shape of each tooth. Don’t forget the back of their last teeth.
      My Mom Just Flossed My Teeth
      My Mom Just Flossed My Teeth

      4 Important Tips To Remember

      • Always support your child’s head,
      • Always have good lighting so you can see inside their mouth as well as what you are doing,
      • Always be able to easily move the floss around their mouth and
      • Always find the safest and most comfortable position for you and your child to floss their teeth.

      What To Remember

      Yes flossing is hard and can be a struggle, but it is important because it is the only real way to clean in-between teeth.

      Introducing flossing and incorporating it into your child’s daily oral hygiene routine takes time and will take multiple revisions and repeats. Tell – Show – Do is a great way to introduce, review and reinforce flossing everyday.

      The #1 most important thing to remember is to praise and reward your child and yourself for a job well done!

      Does your child have ASD? What are your at home care challenges? How is your routine going? What are your successes? What have you learned works for your child? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook

      More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

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      Published by kidstoothhotline

      As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist with over ten years of experience practicing Pediatric Dentistry, I understand that parents and caregivers are in need for information to care for their children's oral health. You may not have your normal lines of communication open or you cannot easily call or visit your child’s Dentist and obtain answers to your questions. Some families may not yet have a Pediatric Dentist to call. My expertise and knowledge can help serve as your source as I provide answers with information that is current, informative and the Gold Standards of Care which are the practice Guidelines approved by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. I want to help you access this important information by answering your questions through this site. You may want to submit your own individual questions or you can view my postings and answers to other families questions that may apply to your child's needs. I am committed to helping you stay informed, after all it is all about your child.