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Autism and Dental Care: Practical Tips for Home and the Dentist

Practical ways to make toothbrushing and dental visits easier for autistic children and adults, from sensory-friendly routines to preparing for appointments and the specialist services available if they are needed.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·9 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Brushing and dental visits can be hard for many autistic people because of sensory differences, unfamiliar places and changes to routine. Small adjustments often help.
  • At home, try a small, soft brush and a mild or low-foaming fluoride toothpaste, and teach brushing one step at a time.
  • Before a visit, tell the practice about sensory needs, how the person likes to communicate and the best time of day.
  • Social stories, photos of the practice and a get-acquainted visit with no treatment can help with preparation.
  • If a general practice cannot meet someone's needs, they can be referred to special care or specialist dentistry, where treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic is sometimes possible.

The Oral Health Foundation says everyone has the right to good-quality dental care, and that autistic people may face extra challenges at the dentist, often because of communication differences and sensory sensitivities. It describes autism as a lifelong developmental condition and stresses that every autistic person is different. We use "autistic people" here, as the National Autistic Society and the Raising Children Network do. If you brush someone else's teeth, see also caring for someone else's teeth.

Why can dental care be harder?

The National Autistic Society explains that mouths are very sensitive, so a person who is over-sensitive may find a cold instrument in the mouth painful. The noise of drills, the taste of mouthwash and dental paste, bright lights and having someone very close can all be distressing. The Raising Children Network adds that unfamiliar, busy or noisy places and changes to routine can make appointments stressful.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust says these sensory challenges can lead some autistic people to avoid the dentist or brushing. It also notes that eating a smaller range of foods, or a strong preference for familiar foods, can make tooth decay harder to avoid, and that teeth grinding is common and often linked to stress (see teeth grinding).

In an Australian study of 140 children on the autism spectrum, published by Autism CRC, a third of parents said their child's oral health was worse than other children's, and a third of the children had had a general anaesthetic at least once for dental treatment. The US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) says tooth decay is common in people with developmental disabilities, including autism.

Brushing at home: sensory-friendly ideas

Suggestions from the Leicestershire trust:

  • Brush: a small-headed manual brush with soft bristles. A three-sided brush that cleans several surfaces at once, or a U-shaped brush with silicone bristles, may suit someone who dislikes the feel of bristles. An electric brush can be distressing for some because of its noise and vibration.
  • Toothpaste: many autistic people dislike the taste and texture, and flavourless or low-foaming toothpastes are available. If brushing with toothpaste is too much, try brushing with water and then applying some fluoride toothpaste around the teeth.
  • Strength: it suggests 1,350–1,500ppm fluoride, the strength the NHS advises from age 7, and says a dentist can prescribe a higher-strength toothpaste for people at higher risk of decay. For younger children, the right strength depends on age and country: see children's teeth.
  • Spit, don't rinse, and use any mouthwash at a different time from brushing.

The trust says the priority is cleaning every surface of every tooth with a fluoride toothpaste. It also notes that some people swallow toothpaste on purpose, because they like the taste or have pica (an urge to eat things that are not food), which is worth raising with a dentist. For a child who cannot spit, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests an amount about the size of a grain of rice, which it says is fine to swallow.

Building a brushing routine

The Raising Children Network suggests breaking brushing into small steps (pick up the brush, add toothpaste, brush, spit, rinse the brush, put it away) and teaching one step at a time. Use visual supports, checklists or video modelling (watching a video of the task), prompt as much as needed and then gradually less, and praise in ways your child enjoys. It also suggests involving your child in choosing goals and using their preferred way of communicating, and says an occupational therapist can help. The AAP says a dentist can suggest adapted brushes or special grips.

Preparing for a dental visit

Ideas from the National Autistic Society, the Raising Children Network, the Oral Health Foundation and Autism Central, an NHS-commissioned programme for families and carers:

  • Find the right practice. Autism Central suggests phoning ahead to ask whether the practice is autism-friendly and can make the adjustments you need.
  • Prepare early. The National Autistic Society says it is usually better to tell your child about an appointment as early as possible, using a calendar if the idea of time is hard.
  • Use social stories and visual supports. A social story is a short, simple story describing what will happen and why. The Raising Children Network suggests photos of the practice door, waiting area and treatment room, and the National Autistic Society suggests a picture sequence of each step, with a reward picture at the end.
  • Visit first. Ask whether you can visit the practice, meet the dentist and see the equipment before any treatment (National Autistic Society, Raising Children Network). NIDCR suggests a "get-acquainted" visit with no treatment.
  • Practise skills, such as sitting in a chair that reclines or following "open your mouth" (Raising Children Network), or looking in the mouth at home (AAP).
  • Choose the time. The first appointment of the day means less waiting (National Autistic Society, Oral Health Foundation). A longer or double appointment, or spreading treatment over several visits, can help (Autism Central, Raising Children Network).
  • Bring what helps, such as ear defenders or sunglasses (Autism Central), headphones, music, fidgets or other comfort items (Oral Health Foundation).

Telling the dental team what helps

The Oral Health Foundation says sharing information in advance lets the team prepare. Things to mention include:

  • sensitivity to bright lights, noise, touch, smells, cold water or injections
  • the taste of mouthwash (the Oral Health Foundation says plain water can be used instead)
  • how the person communicates best. The Raising Children Network suggests asking that only one person speaks at a time, slowly and simply.
  • whether the person would rather wait in the car or outside and be called in when the dentist is ready (Oral Health Foundation, National Autistic Society)

The National Autistic Society asks dentists to explain each step before doing it, avoid metaphors, allow time to process information, and respect sounds or repetitive movements a person uses to cope. It also notes that some autistic people have low sensitivity to pain. The Oral Health Foundation suggests agreeing a stop signal, such as a raised hand, and keeping notes of what works so you do not have to repeat it each time.

If it gets too much, the Raising Children Network says it is fine to stop and try again another day. See also dental anxiety.

Specialist care, sedation and general anaesthetic

Many autistic people are seen in ordinary practices. NIDCR says most people with mild or moderate developmental disabilities can be treated in general practice, and the AAP says most children can be treated in a dental office. When that is not possible, options differ by country.

UK

  • The NHS says people with additional needs should be able to get NHS care from a general practice, and may be referred to special care dentistry for specialised treatment.
  • Autism Central says your dentist may refer you to a community dental service, for people who cannot be treated in general practice. The Leicestershire trust says referrals there can come from any health professional, such as a GP, and should explain why a general practice is too difficult and what adjustments are needed.
  • The National Autistic Society says that if your child is likely to become extremely distressed, you can discuss sedation with your dentist and a medical professional.

Australia

  • The Raising Children Network says paediatric dentists (specialists in children's dentistry) often see children with additional health care needs. It says a dentist may prescribe a mild sedative for a child who gets distressed, and a child who is very distressed and could accidentally hurt themselves or others may be able to have treatment under general anaesthetic.
  • The Australian Dental Association says specialists in special needs dentistry treat people with intellectual disability or medical, physical or psychiatric conditions needing specialist care.
  • Public services vary by state. In Western Australia, for example, the government Special Needs Dental Clinic sees people aged 16 and over with a developmental, physical or intellectual disability who are unlikely to tolerate mainstream treatment (among other criteria), free of charge and under general anaesthetic if needed.

United States

The AAP suggests asking a practice whether it offers sedation or anaesthesia, treatment in hospital if needed, and adjustments such as sensory play objects or private rooms, and which insurance it accepts, including Medicaid.

For how sedation and general anaesthetic work, see dental anxiety.

When to see a dentist
  • Teeth grinding is wearing the teeth or causing jaw pain. The Leicestershire trust says a dentist may be able to fit a mouthguard.
  • Chewing the cheeks or biting the lips is causing ulcers or damage to the gums, teeth or lips (Leicestershire trust).
  • The person is refusing food or mouth care, touching their face, or seems in pain. See caring for someone else's teeth for signs of pain in someone who finds it hard to say.
Get help urgently
  • A swollen face or jaw, intense toothache or a high temperature may be a dental abscess. The NHS says to ask for an urgent dental appointment or contact NHS 111.
  • Call 999 or go to A&E (or your local emergency number) if the person is finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow, or has a lot of swelling in the mouth (NHS).

Frequently asked questions

What if toothpaste is not tolerated at all?

The Leicestershire trust suggests trying a flavourless or low-foaming toothpaste, or brushing with water and then applying some fluoride toothpaste around the teeth. Talk to your dentist if brushing is still not possible.

Do I have to tell the dentist I am autistic?

No. The National Autistic Society says autistic people do not have to tell their dentist, but a chance to do so can be useful. The Oral Health Foundation says sharing information in advance helps the team prepare and adjust the appointment.

Will my child need a general anaesthetic for dental treatment?

Not necessarily. The AAP says most children can be treated in a dental office, and the Raising Children Network says a dentist may be able to prescribe a mild sedative for a child who gets distressed. In the Autism CRC study, children who had needed a general anaesthetic were more likely to also have intellectual disability and greater day-to-day difficulties.

Sources

  1. Autism and dental visits tips, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  2. Going to the dentist, National Autistic Society, accessed September 2026
  3. Going to the dentist: a guide for parents and families, National Autistic Society, accessed September 2026
  4. Dental care and autism: a guide for dentists, National Autistic Society, accessed September 2026
  5. Dental care for autistic people, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, accessed September 2026
  6. Healthcare for autistic people, Autism Central, accessed September 2026
  7. About the Autism Central programme, Autism Central, accessed September 2026
  8. How to find an NHS dentist, NHS, accessed September 2026
  9. Children's teeth, NHS, accessed September 2026
  10. Dental abscess, NHS, accessed September 2026
  11. Taking your autistic child to the doctor and other appointments, Raising Children Network, accessed September 2026
  12. Life skills for autistic children and teens: teaching steps, Raising Children Network, accessed September 2026
  13. Going to the dentist, Raising Children Network, accessed September 2026
  14. The dental team, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  15. Special services, Dental Health Services, Government of Western Australia, accessed September 2026
  16. Dental care experiences and clinical phenotypes in children on the autism spectrum, Autism CRC (Alvares and others, Special Care in Dentistry, 2022), accessed September 2026
  17. Developmental disabilities and oral health, NIH National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  18. Oral health care for children with developmental disabilities, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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