Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
March 2017
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Vol:
18
Issue:
1

Patient and carer involvement in evaluating a toothbrushing programme for children and young people with neurological motor impairment

Abstract
Background: People with cerebral palsy (CP) can have difficulty with eating and drinking safely and efficiently. A
toothbrushing regime which includes routine use of suction and non-foaming toothpastes may be beneficial to
reduce foam, debris and aspiration risk during brushing. This project sought to obtain feedback from children and
young people with severe motor impairment, their parents or guardians and care staff of a toothbrushing
programme, which introduced the use of nonfoaming paste and suction. Method: Two participant groups were invited to contribute to evaluate a toothbrushing programme based on nonfoaming toothpaste and suction for children and young people with cerebral palsy who are unable to eat and drink safely. The groups were: Care staff involved in providing daily oral care to children and young people with CP, and twelve children and young people with CP who are unable to eat or drink safely and who use community dental services based at the specialist centre for children and young adults with neurological and motor impairment. Results: Lack of co-operative motor ability was identified by care staff as the greatest obstacle to thorough oral hygiene practice for children and young people with neurological motor impairment. Before the service evaluation, over 66% of staff thought that use of non-foaming toothpaste and suction would be useful. Some staff were concerned that suction use may be unpleasant for some children with sensory oral issues. A patient/carer oral hygiene education programme, using non-foaming toothpaste and suction, resulted in positive feedback from the carers or family members providing oral hygiene.

Key words: Cerebral palsy, toothbrushing, carers

10.443/JDOH/Emanuel_07

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
16
Page End
22
Authors
R Emanuel, E Ray-Chaudhuri, J Parry, L Borthwick, D Sellers, S Dobson

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 2
  3. 3

  1. The development of a mouthcare information leaflet for carers of older people
  2. 4
  3. 9

  1. Audit of the use of clinical holding at Birmingham Community Healthcare Special Care Dental Service
  2. 10
  3. 15

  1. Patient and carer involvement in evaluating a toothbrushing programme for children and young people with neurological motor impairment
  2. 16
  3. 22

  1. Continuing Professional Development Programme
  2. 23
  3. 24

  1. Diary Dates 2017-2018
  2. 25
  3. 25

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