Charity calls for greater use of dental storybooks to help children with autism achieve better oral health

The research, published in Special Care in Dentistry, found that almost two thirds (64 per cent) of caregivers felt that dental stories were a useful tool for both themselves and their child in preparing them for a visit to the dentist.

The stories were delivered to children via a range of different media, including picture based story books, photographs and video; caregivers were questioned before and after the stories to analyse the effect they had on the children’s attitudes to visiting the dentist.

The Oral Health Foundation believes the use of dental stories could lead to a significant benefit in the long term oral health of children with autism by helping to develop behavioural routines involving positive behaviour such as tooth brushing.

Speaking on the issue Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “Everybody needs to look after their oral health, but for children with autism developing the required behaviour to do so effectively can be difficult due to the level of intimacy involved when they are learning to look after their oral health effectively.