Oral Health for Children with Autism | Holistic Dental Care London
Supporting Your Child’s Dental Care with Understanding, Compassion, and Confidence
At Optimal Dental Health, we understand that children with autism experience the world, including dental visits, in their own unique way. Oral health is a vital part of overall wellbeing, and with the right support, your child’s dental care can feel safe, positive, and empowering.
This holistic guide has been created for parents and carers seeking gentle, autism-informed dental care. It offers practical advice on oral health, sensory differences, and how to prepare for dental visits, while empowering families to make informed choices.
Our philosophy is simple:Dentistry should adapt to your child, not the other way around.
Why Oral Health Matters for Children with Autism | Oral Health and Autism
Good oral health supports far more than healthy teeth and gums. It plays a role in:
- Comfort and self-confidence
- Nutrition and digestion
- Speech and communication
- Overall physical and emotional health
For children with autism, oral care can be more complex due to sensory sensitivities, communication differences, anxiety, or difficulty with routines. With understanding, patience, and the right dental approach, these challenges can be managed gently and effectively.
Understanding Autism and Oral Health
Every autistic child is unique, with their own strengths, preferences, and needs. Factors that may affect dental care include:
- Sensory sensitivities to taste, texture, sound, light, or touch
- Difficulty with changes in routine
- Anxiety around unfamiliar environments or procedures
- Differences in motor coordination affecting brushing and flossing
- Communication differences that make it harder to express discomfort
Recognising these factors allows an autism-aware dentist to provide compassionate, flexible care that meets your child exactly where they are.
Our Holistic Dental Approach
At Optimal Dental Health, we focus on the whole child. Emotional comfort, trust, and sensory needs are just as important as clinical excellence.
Our holistic and neurodiversity-affirming dental care may include:
- Longer appointment times
- Clear, simple explanations with visual support
- A calm, sensory-aware environment
- Noise-cancelling headphones or fidget tools
- Respecting your child’s pace and personal boundaries
- Inhalation sedation for anxious children when appropriate
Dr Sara Johnstone, is experienced in providing gentle, patient-led dental care for autistic children.
Daily Oral Care at Home: Practical Tips
A supportive routine at home can make a significant difference to long-term oral health. Helpful strategies often include:
- Choosing toothbrushes with textures or sizes your child prefers
- Using mild or flavour-free toothpaste if strong tastes are overwhelming
- Brushing at the same time each day to build predictability
- Using visual schedules or step-by-step guides
- Breaking oral care into small, manageable steps
- Allowing your child control, such as choosing their toothbrush or brushing location
There is no “right” way, only what works best for your child.
Preparing Your Child for a Dental Visit
Dental visits are often easier when expectations are clear and stress is minimised. You can help by:
- Talking about the visit in advance using positive, simple language
- Sharing photos or videos of the dental clinic
- Booking familiarisation visits with no treatment involved
- Agreeing on signals your child can use if they need a break
- Bringing comfort items such as headphones or favourite fidget toys
Your insight as a parent or carer is invaluable. Please share anything that helps your child feel safe and supported.
Communication, Consent, and Trust
Clear communication builds confidence and trust. Our holistic dental team aims to:
- Use plain, respectful language
- Explain each step before it happens
- Gain consent throughout the appointment
- Adapt communication for non-verbal or minimally verbal children
- Involve parents or carers whenever needed
Every child deserves to feel heard, respected, and in control in the dental chair.
Sensory-Aware Dental Care
Small adjustments can make a big difference for children with sensory sensitivities. These may include:
- Dimming lights or reducing visual stimulation
- Minimising sudden or loud sounds
- Using quieter dental equipment where possible
- Adjusting the dental chair slowly
- Allowing regular breaks
- Noise-cancelling headphones if needed
- Offering weighted blankets or grounding techniques
Our goal is to create a dental environment that feels calm, predictable, and supportive.
Oral Health Education & Long-Term Support
Oral health is a journey, not a one-off visit. We support families through:
- Preventive care planning
- Advice tailored to your child’s developmental stage and abilities
- Guidance on diet, habits, and oral hygiene tools
- Long-term monitoring and continuity of care
We believe oral health works best as a collaborative partnership between families and our holistic london dentists.
Benefits of an Autism-Informed Dental Approach
- Reduced anxiety around dental visits
- Improved trust and cooperation
- Better long-term oral health outcomes
- Increased confidence for children and carers
- Care that respects individuality, autonomy, and neurodiversity
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have experience with autistic children?
Yes. We are proud to have a specialist paediatric dentist Dr Sara Johnstone on our team, trained in patient, flexible, and sensory-aware dental care.
Can carers attend appointments?
Absolutely. Parents and carers are always welcome and encouraged.
What if brushing is difficult at home?
We can explore alternative tools, techniques, and routines tailored to your child’s needs.
Can my child visit the practice before their first appointment?
Yes. We’re happy to arrange a short familiarisation visit to help your child feel comfortable.
What if my child is anxious or non-verbal?
Our London dentist uses gentle communication, visual cues, and behaviour-supportive techniques suited to each child.
Are appointments sensory-friendly?
Yes. We can reduce noise, dim lights, and make adjustments based on your child’s sensory preferences, including noise-cancelling headphones and fidget toys if needed.
About the Author
Dr Sara Johnstone is a Specialist Paediatric Dentist at Optimal Dental Health, London, with extensive experience in providing gentle, patient-led dental care for children, including those with autism and additional needs.
She is known for her calm, compassionate approach and her ability to adapt dental care to each child’s individual sensory, emotional, and communication needs. Dr Johnstone has a particular interest in neurodiversity-affirming dentistry, focusing on building trust, reducing anxiety, and creating positive dental experiences from an early age.
Dr Johnstone undertook specialist training in paediatric dentistry and continues to pursue advanced professional development in behaviour-supportive techniques, sensory-aware care, and minimally invasive treatment. She works closely with parents and carers to develop personalised oral health plans that support long-term wellbeing and confidence.
At Optimal Dental Health, Dr Sara Johnstone plays a key role in supporting families through preventive care, familiarisation visits, and tailored treatment approaches. Her philosophy is simple: every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and in control during their dental care journey.
Book Your Childs Consultation
Whether you are a parent, carer, or supporting an autistic child, we are here to guide your family’s oral health journey with understanding and care. Call our team today on 020 3921 1000 or email hello@optimaldental.co.uk to book a 15-point dental health check.
