Teeth Extraction And Drinking

On Sunday, my 4 year old daughter had 8 teeth taken out, she’s always struggled with tooth brushing and has a very restricted diet, which has led us to this point. However, since she has had these teeth taken out, she is refusing to drink anything. 

We have tried water, smoothies, Fruit Shoot, all of her favourite drinks. Straws, sports cap bottles, even through a Calpol syringe and she won’t touch it. 

Anyone have any ideas on how I can help her? She doesn’t eat any fresh fruit, or watery foods, but has been eating soft foods, since her extraction, so she must be able to swallow?

Obviously, I know that she will be dealing with this big change in her own way, but the nurses said that it’s really important to keep her drinking loads of water, so I’m getting very worried.

  • I agree, I think that she was on quite a bit of pain medication on Sunday, so I feel like it’s only just hitting her and I feel so sorry for her, I really do. 

    She has refused any new ice lollies, but just wants her favourite brand. Although, she has attempted a Fruit Shoot this evening, so I’m glad about that!

  • Hi, I can really mirror what Dawn has said, I was about the same age when I had six teeth removed, I shutdown so deeply that I ended up hospitalised with severe dehydration. Nobody knew what autism was then and my parents were most probably at their wits end. I didn’t  start eating and drinking until the wounds had completely healed. It is a massive sensory overload to have your mouth violated like that. I still have major issues 50 years on. If your daughter doesn’t show improvement then obviously seek help from your GP.

  • Thanks for your replies. 

    We’ve tried her with milk and still nothing, but she is having her favourite ice lollies. I do feel like we’re in a situation now, where we are just giving her her favourite foods, so she doesn’t want to bother with anything else, either. 

    She’s non-verbal, so I can’t ask her, or explain anything to her, which is tricky. But, I can’t imagine that this is a huge thing for her to have to deal with.

    I will make some ice lollies from her favourite juice and see how I get on.

  • Talk to your GP asap.

    I'm so getting as an adult, what one strong possibility might be.  They took 6 of mine under a general.  I was only expecting one.  The sensory shock and trauma kicked off a lot of stuff I didn't understand at the time because I had no idea I was autistic and did not understand what ensued next... almighty meltdown, then I went non-verbal for weeks and could not eat for days.  It was only eat or die that forced me to force food in my mouth. Even brushing now makes me feel really sick. Thereafter the dentist trying to give me plates caused further trauma.  My mouth was  on sensory fire, as it were, and I could not escape the sensory bombardment that was literally in my own face 24/7.

    It could well be something like that for her. If so,...well, the mouth is super sensitive for most people, but for a fair few autistic people this can be to the extent that placing a tooth brush in it is intolerable and this also can lie behind a lot of dietary restrictions on the basis of texture.  Any change to the way the mouth feels is torment.  It could well be what's putting her off drinking; either the feel of the liquid with her missing teeth or the feel of the cup or straw.  Or, as catlover says, the taste has changed due to the wound.  That may resolve as it heals or may switch on a sensory aversion which is difficult to get rid of.

    Long term, specialist autism dentists can take an occupational therapy approach to these problems (you can ask to be referred to special care) and slowly build up autistic kiddies' tolerance the feel of the brush etc.

    In the immediate term though, no human being can do without water very long, so she has to remain hydrated somehow, hence I'd speak to the GP.

  • Could it be a temperature thing? She might be somewhat sensitive after the extractions.

    Maybe try warm fluids, or something completely different that she hasn’t tried before.

    And try ice lollies. Good for swelling and fluid.

    Also, taste. Drinking after extractions isn’t very nice. There’s an unusual taste from the open wounds.

    I wouldn’t worry about her eating fresh fruit, since you can hide it in many different food stuffs.