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Tips please: How do you get a PDA child to brush their teeth?

ItsMyMind

Hello

This question goes out to anyone with experience of managing PDA in primary school aged children.

I have an 8 y/o daughter awaiting formal diagnosis but who I suspect has the PDA strain of ASD.

The morning teeth-brushing routine takes a ridiculous amount of cajoling, persuading, pleading every morning. I would just love to hear from other parents with a similar problem. Have you managed to find a solution that works every day? If so, what was it and why did it work?

I have read about making it into a game or a race, requesting in a different way that suits a PDA child but sometimes, you just don’t have time in the crazy-busy morning routine when all you want to do is just get out of the house!!!

Some mornings I am so close to tears with the frustration of it and having to pretend that I’m not in the least bit tense when inside I am screaming “Just. Brush. Your. Teeth!”

How do you deal with your frustration/anger/rage?

(And yes, some days I do feel like the worst parent in the world)

  • Try to turn brushing teeth into a game that will interest the child.

  • in reply to NAS64911

    Thanks for the toothpaste tips. It’s more the inertia problem: she feels defeated by the task as soon as it’s required of her (I know this feeling well myself).

    What you’ve posted about your daughter and sanitary towels brought me up short. It’s very easy to get caught up in the here and now and not think about needing to have long term strategies in place.

    I joke about dreading the teenage years of both of my children (like lots of parents probably do) but reading your feedback reminds me of the extra lengths we may have to go to support our Aspie daughter when she is a teenager.

    I am also awaiting formal diagnosis and it’s easy for me to assume my daughter will have the exact same patterns of behaviour I do and that I will understand her in ways that neuro typical people may not. However, just because I never displayed the behaviour you’ve posted about your daughter doesn’t mean my daughter won’t and I just might not ‘get it‘ despite having the same/similar diagnosis as her. It’s little revelations like that which rock my foundations a bit, even though it’s good to know and better to be pre-warned.

    Thank you for sharing x

  • Presumably you have tried giving her super soft bristles and fruit flavoured toothpaste and mouthwash. My daughter is ASD, probably PDA. One option would be to let her not brush her teeth at all. The dentist can coat her teeth with fluoride to prevent decay. Let her deal with the consequences of not brushing her teeth. Only then will she be motivated to keep her teeth clean. I have the same battle with sanitary towels - my daughter leaves used ones on the floor and nothing will get her to put them in the bin. You have my sympathy. I know what you are going through.