Published on 12, July, 2020
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.
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.
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.