[quangle~wangle~q...]

DS (8 yrs, PDD-NOS) has trouble with keeping his mouth open and his lips apart to get his teeth clean.

I have to clean his teeth, as he just does not do a good job by himself, though I always make sure he has a go himself first.

He does have a small mouth and it is crowded with teeth now that he has some of his adult teeth through, which probably doesn't help, but also makes it more important to clean them as there is some overlapping.

He can open his mouth well enough to scrub the molars, but when I get him to put his teeth together so I can clean the front ones, he just can't seem to hold them in that position. As soon as I apply the brush, he pulls them apart. More frustratingly, he can't seem to lift his top lip so I can get to his front top teeth. It almost is as if he is physically incapable of manipulating his lip, or at least holding it in the position.

I have to back him up against the wall (otherwise he just leans his head back further and further away from me) and use my fingers to hold his top lip up, but even this isn't working very well.

Does anyone have any suggestions as it is getting harder and harder to clean his teeth? Also, would it be something I could consult an OT on, or what type of therapist is best for this sort of thing?

Any tips would be great, thanks


edited to add - he doesn't complain of any pain and he CAN open his mouth wide, just not HOLD it that way once the toothbrush goes in.

This post has been edited by quangle~wangle~quee: 23/05/2012, 12:12 PM

[kandj]

Hi, my son has major problems with us trying to get a tooth brush into his mouth (he's 3). We see loads of therapists for different things, for the teeth brushing we talk with his OT as its sensory for him as well as fine motor control.

[Mintjelly]

I am wondering if you can get one of those brushes that fits on the ends of your fingers.

Sort of like a pen lid with a brush attached at the end. My reasoning is that he may be able to manipulate it better with a shorter 'handle'. (Now this is where my post gets weird and I apologise in advance.) I am not sure if I have only seen them as a dog product or if I have seen them also for humans.

If you have not seen anything like that around I do know I got a sample pack of travel toothbrushes once (I still have the packet somewhere) that had really little brushes and the heads were kind of round, which again might be a little easier for him to actually manipulate on his own.

I have probably not been of any help, but the thought popped into my head and I wanted to share in case it had merit.

Good luck xoxoxoxo

[niggles]

Can you try making the face at other times? For the camera perhaps?We call that front teeth move the 'cheesy grin' face. DD pulls a big smile and it exposes her teeth. Just an idea that might be worth trying.

[3_for_me]

It may just be the feel of it in his mouth. I have sensory issues with my mouth(most likely related to undiagnosed asperger's- it was suggested but never assessed when I was a child), I have to force myself to brush my teeth at the age of 29. It really stresses me out having things in or near my mouth and the tooth brush(especially the feel of the bristles) touching my gums or if it accidentally touches my tongue is awful!

Is he able to tell you at all what the issue is?

[Party of 5]

My DS 6 has just been diagnosed with PDD-NOS and I have always had to brush hi teeth. But we got him a electric tooth brush and he is more than happy to clean his teeth himself