What Is The Best Toothbrush For Autistic Child On The UK Market?

Routine activities like getting a haircut or going to the dentist can be stressful for parents of autistic children.

Even more stressful are the things you need to do every day, like brushing their teeth.

Many autistic kids have a sensory processing disorder, meaning their brains have trouble processing information from their senses.

That’s why some have intense reactions to noise, lights or certain textures. The disorder can extend to their mouth.

They might find the feeling of bristles on their teeth and gums to be very uncomfortable. Others hate the taste of certain toothpastes while some dislike the foam.

But not all autistic kids are sensitive to these things. Some are simply unable to stay in place for a couple of minutes while brushing their teeth while others just dislike the activity.

How to Brush an Autistic Child’s Teeth

There are a few tricks you can try to ensure your child maintains good dental hygiene.

Experts recommend using rewards to encourage them to brush, setting up a routine so they know when they are expected to brush their teeth and using a timer or singing a song to let them know when to stop brushing.

You can also try changing the toothpaste to one with a child-friendly flavour or have them brush their teeth in another room (maybe they don’t like the bathroom).

Something else you can try changing is the toothbrush itself.

For kids with high oral sensitivity, a soft-bristled brush can help. For those who won’t stay still for more than a few seconds, try a 3-sided toothbrush that cleans teeth in one stroke.

If a distraction works for your child, get a toothbrush with lights and music (but make sure they are not sensitive to the light or music).

To help you find the best toothbrush for your autistic child, we have picked five toothbrushes that come highly recommended for children with autism.

They are all designed to make the brushing experience easier for both you and your child.

Read on for out full reviews.

Best Toothbrush for Autistic Child Reviews

1. Firefly The Secret Life of Pets Ready Go Light Up Timer Toothbrush

This toothbrush borrows from traffic lights to keep kids entertained.

The lights act as a timer, flashing from one colour to the next to let kids know when to switch to the other row of teeth and when to stop brushing.

This timer function is helpful for autistic kids who have trouble paying attention. The flashing lights also act a distraction for kids who find it hard to stay still.

The rounded head has soft bristles that are gentle on your child’s teeth and gums.

When they are done, the suction cup at the bottom provides an easy way to store the toothbrush securely on a surface or on the wall.

What we like about it:

• Lights provide a distraction for kids who can’t stay still.
• The light-timer makes it easy for kids to brush properly for the recommended amount of time.
• Soft bristles that are gentle on teeth and gums – great for kids with sensitive gums.
• Suction cup provides convenient and mess-free storage.

2. Uviviu Ultra Soft Toothbrush Cleaner Oral Care, 4 Pack

If your child’s main challenge is oral sensitivity, we recommend this pack of extra-soft toothbrushes.

These toothbrushes have a different design from normal ones. For one, the bristles are much thinner measuring just 0.018mm across the tip.

This ensures they don’t aggravate the gums or cause bleeding.

The head also contains way more bristles than in most kids’ toothbrushes. There are around 1,700 bristles, spread out over 34 holes.

The high bristle density helps distribute pressure when brushing.

The four toothbrushes come in four neutral colours.

What we like about it:

• Extra-soft bristles.
• No pressure on gums and teeth.
• Pack of four – saves you replacement costs. Also great if you have multiple kids.

3. B-Brite Children’s Toothbrush with Flashing Timer, Pack of 3

If you are looking for a cheap toothbrush that is ideal for an autistic child, get this 3-pack from B-Brite. Each toothbrush costs less than two pounds.

The toothbrush uses a light-timer to make sure kids brush for the recommended two minutes. The bright flashing light will activate when you press the button and switch off automatically after two minutes.

Just make sure your child is not sensitive to flashing lights.

You don’t have to worry about replacing the batteries – they are non-replaceable anyway. They are meant to last the same time as the toothbrush; three months.

So this 3-pack should last you about 9 months.

The DuPont Tynex bristles are extra-soft, making the toothbrush ideal for kids with sensitive gums.

What we like about it:

• Big flashing light to entertain (and distract) kids.
• Light acts as timer to encourage kids to brush for the proper amount of time.
• Long lasting batteries.
• Reasonable pricing.

4. Babyease Children 3 Sided Toothbrush

If your autistic child cannot brush for the recommended two minutes, this 3-sided brush will help.

It reduces brushing time while still ensuring a thorough cleaning. The 3-sided design allows the toothbrush to make contact with all the teeth in one stroke.

Most kids focus on brushing the front of their upper teeth. As they scrub the top row, the toothbrush also scrubs the back and front of the lower teeth as well as the back of the upper teeth.

There’s even a scrapper at the back for the tongue.

In just a few strokes, your child’s teeth and gums will be clean.

What we like about it:

• Less brushing time while ensuring the teeth and gums are clean.
• Soft bristles that are great for sensitive teeth and gums.
• A bonus scrapper for the tongue.
• BPA and Phthalate free.

5. Firefly Hello Kitty Readygo Soft Toothbrush with Suction Cup

This is another good option for parents looking for a light up kid’s toothbrush.

This one lights up in green for one minute, providing a distraction for kids and letting them know when brushing time is over.

If you prefer them brushing for two minutes, simply press the button again to re-start the flashing light.

The bristles are soft enough for kids with oral sensitivity.

What we like about it:

• Light-timer works great for kids who can’t stay still for long.
• No need to replace batteries.
• Easy and convenient storage using the suction cup at the bottom.