The best you can do is set a good example by caring for your oral health. Promote tooth-brushing with stannous fluoride toothpaste twice a day, ensure a healthy balanced diet which reduces the use of "nonhealthy rewards" like candies, sweets or soft drinks and see a dental team regularly for oral health preventive care. You can ask their dentist or your dental hygienist to try out different cleaning devices to see which will work best and give hands-on clear instructions and guidance to help assist your child in how to clean their teeth. For example, a customized series of photos to put on a bathroom mirror might help them to follow the same routine daily.

In most countries, every child should see a dentist before their first birthday. Early childhood decay is a common problem worldwide and can be seen in children as young as 18 months. For this reason, it is especially important for children with disabilities to have any risks for oral disease to be identified and prevented. Parents can also be educated on how to care for their child’s teeth and address particular challenges related to their disability

Electric toothbrushes are often reported to be easier to use when you brush some else’s teeth plus they have a round head to remove more plaque than a normal toothbrush. New electric toothbrushes also have supportive features such as indications when pressure is too hard, brushing timers etc. It is possible to modify the handle of any toothbrush to help those with limited manual dexterity or those who have problems in grip strength.

There can be many reasons for this. The best strategy is to time toothbrushing at a time when your child is comfortable and relaxed. For example, it is possible for you to use a bubble machine, so your child leans their head back or laughs and opens their mouth. You might also use a small specially designed prop or finger guard to slide between the teeth for a short time to access the inside of the teeth. It is really important to get into a routine of brushing so that your child will keep their teeth for life. You should ask their dentist to evaluate and then the dental team can show you the best way to perform daily oral hygiene and recommend suitable aids.

This can be very challenging and gradual desensitisation is key. You should ask your speech and language therapist for guidance with exercises and programmes which will include massage of the facial muscles and oromotor therapy. You can also ask your dentist for direct practical instructions and training with this.

Bleeding gums is a sign of inflammation due to remaining plaque/bacteria. The teeth and gums have to be cleaned properly every day to let it heal. It is NOT because you are brushing too hard or that it’s caused by medication so don´t let it prevent you from carrying out required mouthcare. Plaque is difficult to see with the naked eye and to check for plaque you can stain it with disclosing tables to make it easier to see and make sure that it´s all removed. It’s also very important to floss or clean with interdental brushes between the teeth to remove the plaque that hides there and causes inflammation and bleeding. Ask your dental team for specific tips advice and instructions.

Firstly, you should always use a toothpaste with stannous fluoride to prevent dental cavities. There are mild, and non-flavoured toothpastes available. Ask your dentist or local pharmacy for recommendations to try. If you or your child has an impaired swallow then there are non foaming formulations of toothpaste that are suitable

Yes, absolutely, for many reasons: there is still bacteria that can cause inflammation of the gums and halitosis. Its very important to brush the teeth with a toothbrush to remove plaque and ensure daily comfort and freshness, as well as to provide intraoral stimulation so that the mouth does not to become oversensitive. Thorough brushing also prevents calculus (tartare) build up and prevents aspiration pneumonia.

It does not replace toothbrushing, but it certainly adds to a better oral hygiene in high caries risk patients. If the patient is not able to spit, you may soak a gauze with a mouthwash and apply it directly onto the teeth and gums, trying to leave the least amount in the mouth to avoid the swallowing of these products.

Autonomy is important. We recommend that you to allow them and then, do a final "supervision" to ensure the quality of oral hygiene procedures. This support or supervision maybe also be carried out using a hand over hand technique to guide the individual.

The presence of saliva helps to lubricate teeth and oral mucosa and provides minerals and immune cells to protect teeth from decay. The loss of saliva due to a reduced control of oral muscles and swallow has more of a social impact than an oral health implication but may cause chaffing of the corners of the mouth. There are options to limit drooling, including orofacial therapy, drugs such as botulinum toxin or even surgery but any procedure which dries up the saliva puts the teeth at great risk of decay so should only be carried out together with an enhanced preventive regime

Visit your dental professional for more personalized advice. He/she will search for the origin of the bad breath. It could be due to caries, periodontal problems, gastrointestinal problems, mouth breathing, respiratory infections, etc.

The importance of aesthetics is up to the patient but teeth that are more crowded are more difficult to clean. Certain oral functions such as speaking and eating, may also be affected. Teeth that are very proclined are also at risk of trauma People with disabilities should not be denied orthodontic care for reasons related to their disability. However excellent oral has to be assured otherwise there may be damage to the teeth if food and plaque gets caught around the braces and brackets. Speak to your dental professional on whether or not an orthodontic treatment should be implemented.