Interview: Autism and oral care

April 2 is World Autism Day. A perfect time to pay extra attention to this special disorder. We do this by talking to Tharia, the social media expert at blue®m. Her younger brother has autism so she can therefore tell us a lot about it. The focus in the article? Oral care and autism. “People with autism sometimes get all gallic about things that you and I think are perfectly normal. A simple act like brushing their teeth is quite a challenge for them,” says Tharia. Oral hygienist Ilse Hilgenkamp, joins us to give advice on good oral hygiene for people with autism. Interesting! Will you read along?

A short introduction

People with autism process information in their brains in a different, individual way. As a result, they often have trouble assessing social situations correctly and find it difficult to cope with change. Other things, on the other hand, can be very easy, such as working very precisely or being able to see details quickly. Scientists worldwide have been intensively researching autism for years. But what autism exactly is, is still unknown.

Tharia, if you would have to explain what autism is, what would be your answer? 

“Many people think of autism as people who have difficulty switching, can count very quickly, are socially awkward and don’t know how to handle emotions well. Yet that is always too short-sighted. Autism manifests itself very differently in everyone, so there is not necessarily an unambiguous label to stick on it. That is why they only place everyone with autism on the spectrum. It used to be divided into three categories. There was classical autism, asperger’s and PDD-NOS, but those terms are no longer as relevant.”

But what is typical in autism? 

“Over-stimulation or just under-sensitivity is a common trait in autism. People on the spectrum sometimes get all gallic about things that you and I think are perfectly normal. A simple act such as brushing one’s teeth can be quite a challenge. It’s not so much the brushing itself, but the toothpaste and brush that make the feeling in the mouth “different” than what they are usually used to. They have difficulty regulating and adjusting. Because they are less able to see and understand stimuli in their context, they come across as very absolute. This applies not only to stimuli that come from outside, but also to what they experience inside. Also, some people on the spectrum are very structure and motion sensitive. They are used to something going a certain way, but also that it feels that way. There is a certain routine that they are used to, which makes switching very difficult for them. That’s something that a lot of people can’t imagine. That it can be genuinely annoying to brush your teeth. But that has to do with those excess stimuli.”

Ilse, as an expert, perhaps you can offer some advice? For example, how can brushing become more bearable? 

“Regularity in the actions of brushing is very important. Brush at a set time, always with the same toothbrush and toothpaste. Preferably in front of the mirror. Because both hypersensitivity and hypersensitivity can occur, it is very important for the oral care professional to be able to figure this out. From there you can recommend the right oral care products.”

So what exactly are the right oral care products? 

“As Tharia said; People with autism are often hypersensitive. Hard brushes can then feel too harsh. A soft toothbrush is often a pleasant option in such cases. Sometimes an electric toothbrush can be a solution because it gives the same pressure. Although it does make more noise. The ultra soft day-to-day manual toothbrush from blue®m is another good option.

As for toothpastes, those with a milder mint flavor are more often tolerated better. A children’s toothpaste can possibly also be a good option. Parents of a child with autism can work with pictograms so that the child knows exactly how the brushing ritual will be. In addition, it is important that the child can also look along in the mirror so that they see exactly what is happening. Singing or listening to a song that has to do with brushing teeth also helps.”

So Tharia, an unexpected or different feeling in the mouth is experienced very differently by them compared to people without autism. So what about eating and drinking? 

“They also experience that very differently indeed. For them the sensations are different, much more sensitive. That’s also why people with autism, in the extreme cases, limit themselves to a very minimal diet. They eat what they know and shy away from an unfamiliar texture and taste. As a result, a pretty one-sided diet.”

Ilse, what are consequences of a one-sided diet for the mouth?

“A one-sided eating pattern can lead to vitamin/mineral deficiencies. This will give an earlier chance of inflammation in the long run, for example. If a lot of ‘sticky’ / sugar-rich food is eaten, there is a greater chance of cavities forming. By alternating as many healthy products as possible, you prevent deficiencies and thus inflammation.”