Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and oral health

People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) usually have different challenges in maintaining good oral hygiene practices.

Evidence shows that this causes them to have poorer oral health and more difficulties in accessing the dentist than the general population.

Introducing children with SEND to the taste and feel of toothpaste and toothbrushes early when their first tooth appears helps them get used to having their mouth cleaned.

They should also have a dental check before their first birthday. Doing this early on helps in their journey to having good oral health.

Sensory differences or difficulties during toothbrushing

There are things you can do to help if your child experiences sensory differences or difficulties during toothbrushing.

Try different kinds of toothpastes until you get one they're comfortable with. From non-foaming toothpaste to those with varying flavours that contain the recommended amount of fluoride.

Fluoride is the active agent that strengthens teeth, making it hard for cavities to form on them. For children under 3 years, we recommended at least 1000ppm (parts per million) fluoride.

The range of options available for SEND families keeps expanding to cater for their varying sensory needs.

You can also try different types of toothbrushes. A soft-bristled toothbrush is generally preferred, with varying bristle and bristle-head designs such as double-sided and triple-sided bristles.

Make oral care a daily routine and at a time when they're relaxed - this helps a lot especially before going to bed at night.

While we recommend 2 minutes of toothbrushing, do not feel under pressure. Instead, take it in more regular, smaller time intervals if 2 minutes is too long.

We encourage spitting and not rinsing after brushing, but if they find it difficult spitting, then use a clean cloth and wipe in the mouth and cheeks.

Toothbrushing videos

Making oral care an enjoyable activity during the day and at night can make the process easier.

One way you can do this is by playing toothbrushing videos, for example:

You can also give incentives that reinforce positive activities like stickers, charts or claps and high fives, as well as putting fun toothbrushing visuals in the bathroom.

More information on SEND and oral health

For more oral health tips for those with SEND, visit:

Oral health