An overview of foods and drinks
Overview
Introducing tooth-friendly foods and drinks into your child's diet and reducing sugary ones is good for their teeth and overall health. We know can be challenging for some autistic children who may have a limited or selective diet.
About our "One step at a time" boxes
We know that some days can be really hard, and making small changes one step at a time can help with brushing. That’s why we’ve made special “One step at a time” boxes. These give you easy tips to try, step by step. They’re just a starting point for tough days, and the idea is to build up from there. It’s all about taking small steps and being kind to yourself. Hear from Shila as she shares her experiences of taking it one step at a time to build towards eating a wider range of foods here.
Why does my child have a limited or restricted diet?
Some children are very sensitive to things like food textures, colours, or smells. This can make eating certain foods feel uncomfortable or even scary. You might know it as "over-responsiveness" (hypersensitivity) or "under-responsiveness" (hyposensitivity). Because of this, they might eat only a small range of foods. Some autistic children also find it hard to move their mouth in the right way to chew and control food and liquid. This might make them avoid chewy or mixed foods, put too much food in their mouth, ‘pocketing’ food in their cheeks, or let food or drink dribble out. Understanding these challenges can help you explore what adjustments to make so you can gradually reduce sugary foods and drinks and introduce tooth-friendly food and drinks.
We recommend looking at this Autism Central resource which covers sensory sensitivities, safe foods impaired interoception (where children may not feel hungry or thirsty) and neophobia (fear of trying something new) as a good starting point.
Understanding drink choices
Autistic children might have strong likes and dislikes when it comes to drinks. That’s why it’s important to know how much sugar is in different drinks and how they can affect teeth. Here are some things to think about when you want to try more tooth-friendly drinks.
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Flavoured water: Even if it says “no added sugar,” it might still have some sugar. Fizzy flavored water (or carbonated water) can harm your teeth because it has acids that wear them down.
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Fruit juices: These are nutritious but have a lot of sugar, which can cause holes in your teeth. It’s best to drink them in moderation, and having them with meals can help protect your teeth.
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“No added sugar” drinks: This label means no extra sugar is added, but natural sugars are still there. These are better than sugary drinks, but it's still important to drink them with care to help protect your teeth and gums.
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Sipping slowly vs. drinking it all in one go: Sipping a sugary drink over a long time is worse for your teeth than drinking it all in one go.
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Sugar-free fizzy drinks: Even without sugar, these drinks have acids that can harm your teeth.
Basic guidelines for nutrition and weight
Having a balanced diet may be difficult for autistic children because they often have specific food preferences and sensitivities. Where you can, try to include a variety of foods in their meals, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy or alternatives. Serving portion sizes appropriate for your child's age and activity level can also help with weight management.
One step at a time: Building towards stronger teeth
For children who are underweight and a concern to health professionals, it can be difficult to balance the need for more calories with the importance of good oral health. One way to manage this is by applying toothpaste to the teeth at an additional time during the day. This extra application can help counteract the effects of sugar by increasing fluoride exposure, which protects the teeth. We advise that you don’t do this too near to meal or snack time as this can change the taste of food and drink (which can lead to foods being dropped from already limited diets). These small steps that make a difference in eating and drinking.
Tooth care
To help keep your child’s teeth and gums as healthy as possible, it’s recommended to have three meals and two snacks each day. This routine gives saliva the chance to protect the teeth from acid attacks, while still making sure your child gets enough energy. We understand that sticking to this pattern can be difficult for some autistic children, who may prefer to snack more often. However, saliva works best when there are no more than five acid attacks on the teeth each day. More than this can make it harder for saliva to do its job and keep teeth protected.
During these break times, it’s best to avoid sugary snacks and choose tooth-friendly drinks like plain milk or water. Having regular, structured eating times can also support children who find it difficult to recognise when they are hungry, thirsty, or full, by giving them consistent and helpful external cues.
We understand that this can be challenging for some families, especially for autistic children who may have particular food preferences or face difficulties around eating. To support you, we’ve included more information below. You can also read how to reduce sugary foods and drinks here.
Watch again
Jump straight to what parents and early years professionals have said about eating and drinking.
