Background: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders are shown to have poor periodontal health and dental hygiene habits. Extensive research has revealed that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently encounter heightened levels of stress, despair, and anxiety in comparison to parents of neurotypical children. The aim was to understand the relationship between the dental hygiene of children with ASD and the stress generated in their parents. Methods: A scoping review was carried out to identify any gaps or research opportunities for clinical practice concerning oral care and stress levels in parents in the PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. Results: A total of 139 articles were reviewed. Of these, only 10 met the selection criteria for inclusion. Our results reveal a lack of studies presenting evidence on the topic of poor dental hygiene in children with ASD and high stress levels in their parents. Discussion: There is ample evidence that children with ASD have poor dental hygiene, as well as higher levels of stress in their parents. However, little or no evidence links these two variables. Future studies should focus on this link, which could have practical implications for improving dental care for children with ASD.

Background/Objectives: Research indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit a deficiency in skills and initiative when it comes to adhering to daily oral hygiene routines. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of oral pathologies, thereby placing a significant emotional strain on their parents. In addition to the typical stress they already experience, parents of children with ASD are also burdened with pediatric oral health issues. However, a review of the literature reveals a lack of studies measuring stress in parents of children whose oral health affects their autistic condition. This research aimed to design and to validate a stress scale for parents of autistic children with poor oral hygiene. Methods: The study used an exploratory, non-experimental design to validate and determine the reliability of the scale. Scale reliability was assessed through a cross-sectional pilot test to evaluate internal scale consistency, with a focus on item similarity. We used Aiken’s V to estimate the validity of the scale, and Cronbach’s α for calculating scale reliability. Calculations, estimations, and statistical analysis were conducted using SPSS. Results: Expert validation, a pilot test, and a cross-sectional, non-experimental design established the reliability of the scale. Conclusions: We conclude that the 20-item scale exhibits validity (0.95) and reliability (0.965), ensuring its applicability in future research.