Table 3 Description of oral health behaviors including oral hygiene and dietary habits in children with ASD (total number = 217)

Brushing frequency

 More than once a day

9(8.3%)

13(12.0%)

22(10.1%)

 Once a day

55(50.5%)

65(60.2%)

120(55.3%)

 Two or three times a week

25(22.9%)

17(15.7%)

42(19.4%)

 Once a week

7(6.4%)

4(3.7%)

11(5.1%)

 Never or irregular

13(11.9%)

9(8.3%)

22(10.1%)

Daily Brushing frequency (dichotomous)

 Once or more

64(58.7%)

78(72.2%)

142(65.4%)

 Less than once

45(41.3%)

30(27.8%)

75 (34.6%)

Tooth brushing routine

 Alone without supervision

7(6.4%)

19(17.6%)

26(12.0%)

 Alone with supervision

20(18.3%)

26(24.1%)

46(21.2%)

 With the help of caregivers

34(31.2%)

35(32.4%)

69(31.8%)

 Only by caregivers

40(36.7%)

24(22.2%)

64(29.5%)

 Never brushes

8(7.3%)

4(3.7%)

12(5.5%)

Tooth brushing routine (dichotomous)

 Unaided

7(6.4%)

19(17.6%)

26(12.0%)

 With help

102(93.6%)

89(82.4%)

191(88.0%)

Using fluoride containing tooth paste

 Always

41(37.6%)

56(51.9%)

97(44.7%)

 Most of the time

31(28.4%)

32(29.6%)

63(29.0%)

 Seldom

15(13.8%)

13(12.0%)

28(12.9%)

 Never

15(13.8%)

3(2.8%)

18(8.3%)

 No idea

7(6.4%)

4(3.7%)

11(5.1%)

Using fluoride containing tooth paste (dichotomous)

 Most of the time

72(66.1%)

88(81.5%)

160(73.7%)

 Seldom or never

37(33.9%)

20(18.5%)

57(26.3%)

Frequency sugary snack consumption per day

 Seldom or never

9(8.3%)

6(5.6%)

15(6.9%)

 Sometimes

32(29.4%)

29(26.9%)

61(28.1%)

 Almost once

21(19.3%)

27(25.0%)

48(22.1%)

 Almost twice

30(27.5%)

32(29.6%)

62(28.6%)

 Three times or more

17(15.6%)

14(13.0%)

31(14.3%)

Frequency of sugary snack consumption per day (dichotomous)

 Twice or less

92(84.4%)

94(87.0%)

186(85.7%)

 More than twice

17(15.6%)

14(13.0%)

57(26.3%)