So I canāt brush my teeth. Like, itās the worst kind of hell. I went to the dentist for a cleaning today and I told the hygienist this, and she was wonderfully helpful.
There are some incredibly soft toothbrushes available- namely, post-surgical brushes. Running them under hot water makes them even softer.
She told me that you donāt really need to use toothpaste- itās mostly marketing. The foam gets to me, so that is really reassuring.
She gave me two particularly soft brushes and some xylitol gum. Trident is a market brand of xylitol gum, which helps with your teeth and can make your breath smell better.
The whole purpose of brushing is to disrupt plaque buildup. You donāt need to brush twice a day, every day with toothpaste if you brush correctly- little circles, focusing on near the gums (where most plaque builds up). So if youāre having a bad sensory day and canāt brush at all, itās not the end of the world.
Hell, you donāt even need a toothbrush if even the post-surgical ones are too harsh. Going over your teeth with the same motions using a washcloth is enough.
She wants to find a fluoride rinse that has a taste I can stand (peppermint is the only mint I can stand) but sheās not particularly worried about it.
I go to Dr. Barr in Chicago. If you can get to the State St. Macyās, his office is nearby. Heās very kind and patient and really understanding of my needs as an autistic person. The hygienist, I donāt know her name, announced everything she was going to do before she did it, and stopped frequently to see how I was doing.
This is really the only positive dentist Iāve ever had- past dentists have been too rough and not bothered to help find ways I can actually brush.
Basically this is a glowing recommendation for Dr. Barrās office if youāre autistic, afraid of dentists, or have sensory needs. This is a recommendation even if you donāt have any of those things.
snowghoul
kaledo-art
2087
turnnoffyourmind
vaporwave
