Good oral health is important for all babies, toddlers and young children, because it helps prevent issues with their teeth and gums.

While CP doesn’t cause oral abnormalities, it can make oral and dental hygiene more challenging. This is because children with CP can have trouble controlling the face and mouth muscles that open and close the mouth and move the lips and the tongue.

Oral health challenges for babies, toddlers and young children with CP can come from:

• having trouble chewing or moving food in a backwards motion when eating
• gagging, vomiting or having reflux
• grinding teeth
• mouthing objects
• biting parts of the mouth, tongue and cheeks
• the effects of some medications, as they may reduce saliva or contain sugar
• having the mouth often or always open
• drooling
• having crooked teeth or a poor bite (due to teeth not lining up well)
• a sensitive mouth or sensory challenges (disliking or avoiding some foods or textures)
• not being able to eat orally.

These issues can result in tooth decay, weakened enamel, gingivitis (gum disease), bad breath, mouth sores or damaged teeth.

Babies, toddlers and young children with CP may also have difficulties with eating and swallowing (dysphasia), or food pocketing, which is when the child holds food in their mouth for an extended time without swallowing. This can be due to a lack of mouth sensation, which makes it difficult for the child to know when to swallow.

Young children with CP can be more likely to develop tooth cavities because of extra saliva, food or liquid remaining in their mouth when it is not swallowed properly.

Babies, toddlers and young children who take their food and fluids via a feeding tube still need their teeth brushed and flossed regularly. It is also important to make sure that their lips and all the areas inside their mouth are regularly moistened and lubricated. This will help with your child’s gum health, bad breath and overall comfort.

If you are concerned about your child’s oral health, talk to your GP, maternal and child health nurse, or paediatrician for advice or a referral to an allied health professional.

An occupational therapist will provide an assessment and a treatment plan for your child and can give you tips and techniques for managing your child’s oral hygiene.