Information in this article was made available from a guide for parents and dental providers of children with special needs developed by the Oklahoma Dental Foundation in partnership with several funders.  The entire guide is available for download at: Oral Health Care For Children With Special Health Care Needs

The following is an excerpt from pages 8-10 of the guide.

Good oral care begins at home. Children need a daily routine of care for their teeth and gums to stay healthy. Many children can be taught how to brush, rinse and floss independently. Some will need continued supervision through adulthood, and others will need this task performed for them. All will benefit from this routine activity becoming a standard part of everyday life. Daily home care is the best way to prepare the child for care in a dental office.

The person teaching or providing home oral care will face many of the same challenges as the dentist in getting the child to cooperate. Other sections of this guide have useful information about behavioral and/or physical challenges. The following tips will also help to overcome the challenges of creating or providing an oral care routine.