Autism is becoming more prevalent in the US. According to the CDC “Approximately 1 in 68 children in the United States has an Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Most children with autism are affected by tooth decay and other dental diseases. Childhood tooth decay is the #1 chronic children disease. Tooth decay doesn’t just affect children with special needs but the general population. Not all children with autism are getting the proper oral health care they need. Some children with autism are suffering in silence because of their inability to speak.
Autism is a lifelong brain disorder that affects …show more content…
According to the national children's oral health foundation “More than 25% of children aged 2-5 years and 50% of those aged 12-15 years suffer from tooth decay”. Tooth decay is caused when the child’s teeth are exposed to sugar. Many liquids that your child consume are very rich in sugar. Liquids including: milk, soda, and juice. The healthiest liquid a child can drink is water. It does not contain sugar and it’s great for a growing body. Parents tend to let their child fall asleep with a bottle or sippy cup that is filled with a sugary liquid. The sugar inside the liquid are being eaten by the acid-producing bacteria on the child’s teeth. The more the bacteria eat the more they will produce acid onto the child’s teeth. The sugar coats the child’s teeth when they are sleeping, this will allow the sugar to stay on the child’s teeth for long periods of time and cause the teeth to decay quickly. There are other ways the child can develop tooth decay, allowing the child to suck on candy for long period of time can contribute to tooth decay. There are ways to prevent the child from developing tooth decay. Brushing and flossing the child’s teeth twice a day can minimize their chances of developing tooth decay greatly. Never brush the child’s teeth with fluoride. They may still swallow the toothpaste even though you told them to expectorate or “spit”. If the child has ingested too much fluoride, then they can develop Dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a cosmetic condition that affects the teeth. One can develop it after ingesting too much fluoride. Fluorosis only affects the teeth that have erupted. Fluorosis ranges from questionable to severe. Teeth that have mild fluorosis will have white patches and teeth with severe fluorosis will have brown stains. There is no cure for fluorosis Instead of giving the child sugary drinks when they go to bed, you can give them water instead. It’s safer for the child’s
Autism is a lifelong brain disorder that affects …show more content…
According to the national children's oral health foundation “More than 25% of children aged 2-5 years and 50% of those aged 12-15 years suffer from tooth decay”. Tooth decay is caused when the child’s teeth are exposed to sugar. Many liquids that your child consume are very rich in sugar. Liquids including: milk, soda, and juice. The healthiest liquid a child can drink is water. It does not contain sugar and it’s great for a growing body. Parents tend to let their child fall asleep with a bottle or sippy cup that is filled with a sugary liquid. The sugar inside the liquid are being eaten by the acid-producing bacteria on the child’s teeth. The more the bacteria eat the more they will produce acid onto the child’s teeth. The sugar coats the child’s teeth when they are sleeping, this will allow the sugar to stay on the child’s teeth for long periods of time and cause the teeth to decay quickly. There are other ways the child can develop tooth decay, allowing the child to suck on candy for long period of time can contribute to tooth decay. There are ways to prevent the child from developing tooth decay. Brushing and flossing the child’s teeth twice a day can minimize their chances of developing tooth decay greatly. Never brush the child’s teeth with fluoride. They may still swallow the toothpaste even though you told them to expectorate or “spit”. If the child has ingested too much fluoride, then they can develop Dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a cosmetic condition that affects the teeth. One can develop it after ingesting too much fluoride. Fluorosis only affects the teeth that have erupted. Fluorosis ranges from questionable to severe. Teeth that have mild fluorosis will have white patches and teeth with severe fluorosis will have brown stains. There is no cure for fluorosis Instead of giving the child sugary drinks when they go to bed, you can give them water instead. It’s safer for the child’s