The Power of Books and Reading

 The Power of Books and Reading: Supporting Children’s Oral Health, including Neurodivergent Children 

I was delighted to be asked to write this blog for the British Society of Paediatric Dentists (BSPD), to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.

Books hold extraordinary power. They open doors to imagination, build empathy, strengthen language skills, and shape how children understand the world. Books also inform children about our bodies, behaviours, feelings and emotions, as well as teaching useful life skills, like looking after our teeth. They prepare children for life experiences such as a first visit to the dentist.

Good oral hygiene can affect your child’s ability to eat, sleep, talk, play; even how they feel about themselves. Yet tooth decay is now the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine years in England (Gov) with roughly one-fifth of five-year-olds affected by this largely preventable disease. (Gov)

How Can Reading Help?

Reading allows children to discover, process and revisit ideas at their own pace. Stories invite them to consider new experiences and explore feelings like nervousness, excitement, or frustration. Furthermore, picture books provide the magic ingredient for visual learners.

When we read storybooks about oral health, we are not simply sharing information but building lifelong habits to prevent children suffering from tooth decay. 

Supporting Neurodivergent Children Through Storytelling

Did you know children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both, have higher levels of untreated tooth decay than their peers? (NHSEngland)

Having an autistic son, and being neurodivergent myself, I understand the challenges parents and carers may face regarding oral care. A child with heightened senses can easily become overwhelmed and may even find the taste or texture of toothpaste uncomfortable.

Now imagine walking into a dental practice for the first time, seeing bright lights, hearing the hum of unfamiliar equipment, smelling new smells and experiencing the feel of gloves and instruments. A simple picture book can make all the difference, putting your child at ease and helping make their first dental visit a calm and positive one.

Upon reading my book Say Hello to Hedgy, (a book exploring social and sensory differences), dental nurse and oral health promotor Lucy Borthwick (Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust) wondered if a book could be created to encourage children to visit the dentist; Hedgy, the neurodivergent hedgehog character was an obvious choice!

A Neurodivergent-Friendly Book

We were keen to include elements to support neurodivergent children and those with sensory or additional needs. My son has always found new places challenging and responds better to visual cues than verbal instructions. Therefore, Hedgy Visits the Dentist is filled with colourful illustrations showing children what to expect. It covers many sensory aspects to prepare children for their first dental experience and help to combat any anxiety or nervousness. A simple story with engaging narrative and helping parents set expectations of what happens when you visit the dentist.

To engage the senses, we included an award chart, stickers, and a link to Hedgy’s two-minute toothbrushing song. Neurodivergent children often thrive on structure and predictability, so we decided to arrange the tips to healthy teeth and gums into a simple five-step-plan. A finger maze at the end of the book reminds children of the main tips for maintaining oral health. 

Visual, story-based learning with simple language and step-by-step guidance makes complex ideas easier to understand. Early exposure to books about good oral health helps children build positive relationships with their teeth and adopt effective daily brushing routines from a young age.

Other Books Supporting Children with Oral Health

Robey and the Dentist by Edward Saunders - A charming story with engaging illustrations and important messages. It shows that a trip to the dentist can be a normal part of growing up. It also contains a meaningful message about valuing healthy teeth over just white ones.  Written by a young boy and later shared by his family in his memory, a truly touching tribute. 

Hey Duggee: The Tooth Brushing Badge - A fun board book based on the popular CBeebies show Hey Duggee.  Duggee and the squirrels meet a lion with smelly breath and the squirrels teach him a catchy toothbrushing song. Ideal for little ones.

Open Wide… What’s Inside? by Alex Rushworth - This entertaining book turns the science of oral health into a fun story. Meet the naughty little characters known as ‘Sugarbugs’ who represent bacteria as they feast on leftover food and cause smelly breath!

Ultimately, the true power of books lies in their ability to gently, yet profoundly, shape habits and beliefs. When we combine stories with educational themes, such as oral health, we empower children with knowledge that lasts a lifetime! Books such as those mentioned above play an important role in helping young children build positive toothbrushing habits, which can significantly benefit their oral health both now and in the future. 

By supporting all children, including neurodivergent learners, we nurture not only better readers, but healthier, more confident individuals ready to thrive and happy to smile. 

Julie Alison McDonald

Author/Illustrator