Jenni Pettican

Disabled content creator and model. Jenni suffers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) & Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

"I’ve had a really tricky oral care experience – there are so many rules around oral care that can be really unrealistic when you deal with an energy limiting condition and/or chronic pain. Accessing dental care is tough due to spaces being inaccessible, dentists might not be knowledgeable about conditions like mine, which can affect teeth and financial pressures. I hate admitting it but if I brush my teeth once a day for over a minute then I’m doing well. But no one talks about this kind of thing so it can be embarrassing and shameful to think about.

My disability has taken its toll on my oral health. Sometimes I’m too tired to brush my teeth, it’s surprising how much energy it takes. Brushing my teeth causes pain in my teeth and gums because they’re sensitive, but the vibrations in my toothbrush can also cause hand pain. Inaccessibility is a big problem too whether that’s the cost of dentistry, the ability to physically get into a dentist or the knowledge of dentists around disability in general and how conditions can affect the teeth and gums.

I may have made small accommodations for myself like sitting down to brush my teeth to reduce pain and dizziness but this isn’t just an issue for the person with a disability to overcome. Oral care brands and dentist associations need to be more inclusive in their products, knowledge and spaces. This could include making products specifically for disabled people, but also adapting current products to be more inclusive.

I think dentists should listen to patients with disabilities and adapt to their needs. Learning about how different medical conditions and disabilities and how they affect teeth, gums, jaw, anaesthetics and more would help to understand a patient better. Explaining what they are doing as they are doing it can also be helpful for lots of people. Making dentistry spaces from the waiting rooms to the consultation room more accessible all help to improve the overall oral health experience - from having accessible entrances and seating to thinking about sensory elements such as light and smells.""

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