Brushing Teeth
In the print window, choose 'Save as PDF' as the destination. You can then share it on WhatsApp or print it at any shop.
Free to build on screen — printing with Premium
Brushing Teeth
- Paste it where the task happens — near the mirror, on the door — at your child's eye level.
- Point to one picture, say it in short words, do it together. One step at a time.
- Same words, same order, every day. Help less as days pass — let the chart do the teaching.
- Praise every try, not just the finish. Hard day? Do fewer steps — build again tomorrow.
Pick up the toothbrush
Open the toothpaste cap
Put paste on the brush — pea size
Close the toothpaste cap
Turn on the tap
Wet the brush — 2 seconds
Brush upper teeth — 10 times
Brush lower teeth — 10 times
Rinse twice and spit
Rinse the brush
Put the brush back in the stand
Turn off the tap
Parent guide
Before you start
Toothpaste taste and foam can feel too strong. Try a mild or flavour-free paste, and start with a tiny pea-sized amount. Let your child feel the brush on a hand first. Warm water is gentler than cold for many children.
How to teach
Try backward chaining: you do all the steps, but let your child do the very last step themselves. Next time, let them do the last two — working backwards. This way your child always finishes with success, and success is what makes them want to try again.
Celebrate each tick
Don't wait for the whole routine to be perfect. Every single step your child does is worth a smile, a clap, a high-five. Small wins, celebrated out loud, add up faster than you think.
Everywhere, not just here
Use simple, generic pictures so the skill travels. Practice at nani's or dadi's house too, not only at home. A skill your child can only do in one bathroom isn't finished yet — the goal is that it works everywhere.
Questions parents ask
My child hates the taste of toothpaste — what do I do?
Start with a tiny, mild or flavour-free paste, or even a wet brush at first — the habit matters more than the paste. Many autistic children are sensitive to strong mint, so try a child’s fruit-flavour paste and increase the amount slowly as they get comfortable.
How long does it take an autistic child to learn brushing?
There is no fixed timeline — some children master one step a week, others take longer, and both are fine. What helps most is doing the same steps in the same order every day, and celebrating each small step your child does on their own.
Should I brush for my child or let them do it?
Do both for now. Use backward chaining — you do most of the brushing, and let your child finish the last step so they always end with a success. Slowly hand over more steps as they grow confident.