Oral Health Challenges of Children with Special Needs

As a parent of a child with special needs, you likely know more about them than anyone else. That includes any challenges you might have when it comes to their oral health care routine.

It is not uncommon to struggle to properly maintain their oral hygiene, putting them at a greater risk for cavities and gum disease. Children with special needs are also more prone to behaviors like tongue thrusting, jaw clenching and teeth grinding, and sometimes they may also have oral malformations such as enamel defects, high lip lines, and even variations in teeth size and shape.

Because of these challenges, it can be difficult for these children to be seen by a dentist. They can sometimes be fearful of new situations and people, as well as of the possibility of pain, making a trip to the dentist stressful and scary.

If you have a child with special needs, here are a few areas you should look out for when caring for their oral health, and why you should take them to a pediatric dentist trained in caring for children with special needs.