Diet, oral hygiene practices and dental health in autistic children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

UNLABELLED Studies reporting the dietary habits of children with ASD in relation to dental health are scarce, and similar studies are non-existent in Saudi Arabia. PURPOSE to report baseline information about the diet, oral hygiene and dental health of a group of autistic children in Riyadh. METHODOLOGY 450 self-administered cross-sectional questionnaires were distributed to parents of autistic children enrolled in three major autistic rehabilitation centers. RESULTS parents reported that (70.9%) of the children preferred food that is high in sugar and (96.7%) consumed soft drinks regularly. Parents reported their children brushing once 34.0% or twice 29.0% a day, and 28.8% brushed on an irregular basis. 82.6% of the children had no gingival bleeding during brushing. 51.5% of the children had no previous dental visits or dental treatment, 48.5% had undergone dental treatment using different behavioral management techniques. CONCLUSION Children in this study showed frequent consumptions of foods with high sugar contents and soft drinks, which coupled with improper oral hygiene practices and insufficient dental visits, may have contributed to the risk of developing dental caries and teeth erosion. Frequent tooth brushing, low-sugar diets and early dental visits for check-ups and regular fluoride applications are highly recommended for ASD children.