Improving toothbrushing for autistic children using parental toothbrushing advice workshops

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorParry, Jennifer Ann
dc.contributor.authorBullingham, H.
dc.contributor.authorNewton, J. Tim
dc.contributor.authorRyan, Christian
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-06T14:00:01Z
dc.date.available2026-05-06T14:00:01Z
dc.date.issued2026-04-01
dc.description.abstractAims: • To compare a sensory and behaviour focused toothbrushing guidance with traditional guidance for parents of autistic children• To explore attitudes of parents of autistic children towards toothbrushing, sugar snacking and dental caries. Design: Fifty-two parents with autistic children aged three to 15 years participated. Group 1 parents received 'Delivering Better Oral Health’ toothbrushing guidance. Group 2 parents received the ‘Clinical standard for oral healthcare for autistic children and young people and/or those with a learning disability in special educational settings’ guidance. Randomisation occurred at school-level. Both parent groups received a tooth care product pack, completed a pre-study attitude and experience questionnaire and a toothbrushing performance questionnaire pre- and post-study. The main outcome measures were twice-aday toothbrushing for two minutes and parental attitude scores. Results: Fifty-five percent of parents with children aged 10 years and above reported not finding toothbrushing advice provided at dental visits useful. Although the number of parents brushing twice daily in Group 2 increased post-study, this change was not statistically significant. Parental attitude scores suggest that maintaining good oral health is important to parents of autistic children. Parents provided commentary regarding workshop advice and the challenges of implementing toothbrushing guidance delivered at the workshops. Feedback indicated that for both groups a flexible approach to toothbrushing and access to the products provided in the tooth care pack were valuable. Conclusions: Results suggest that provision of choice and bespoke toothbrushing guidance based on individual support needs is important when providing parental toothbrushing guidance for autistic children.en
dc.description.versionAccepted Version
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.authororcidParry, Jennifer Ann
dc.identifier.authororcidBullingham, H.
dc.identifier.authororcidNewton, J. Tim
dc.identifier.authororcidRyan, Christian§0000-0003-4940-1377
dc.identifier.citationParry, J A, Bullingham, H, Newton, J T & Ryan, C 2026, 'Improving toothbrushing for autistic children using parental toothbrushing advice workshops', Journal for British Society of Special Care Dentistry, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 28-42. https://doi.org/10.63507/IHRE9851
dc.identifier.doi10.63507/IHRE9851
dc.identifier.endpage42
dc.identifier.issn2977-599X
dc.identifier.issued1
dc.identifier.journaltitleJournal for British Society of Special Care Dentistry
dc.identifier.othercrossref: 10.63507/IHRE9851
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0003-4940-1377/work/213927313
dc.identifier.startpage28
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18728
dc.identifier.volume26
dc.language.isoen
dc.relation.urihttps://www.bsscd.org/bsscd-journal-26-1-p3
dc.rights© 2026, British Society of Special Care Dentistry.
dc.rights.accessrightsopen access
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectChild
dc.subjectParents
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAutism
dc.subjectToothbrushing
dc.subjectOral health
dc.subject[Dental]
dc.titleImproving toothbrushing for autistic children using parental toothbrushing advice workshopsen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
CORA_2026_05_06_Improving_toothbrushing_for_autistic_children_using_parental_toothbrushing_advice_workshops.pdf
Size:
511.8 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Accepted Version
Download
Collections
Cork University Dental School and Hospital