Therapeutic instructions & tips for use
The Side Biter Instructions
Essential: Complete a comprehensive feeding-swallowing assessment to determine the patient’s level of eating abilities prior to implementing The Side Biter therapeutic chewing system.
Thoroughly clean The Side Biter handle, plunger and the silicone cylinders using the brush included and hot soapy water prior to and after each use. The tool is dishwasher safe and can be boiled for up to 10 minutes. Air dry each section separately.
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Therapeutic Instructions:
1. Therapist selects the biting tip that supports the patient’s level of chewing and swallowing abilities.
2. Therapist cuts food into 1/4 wide strips and inserts into the silicone cylinder that best supports the patient’s therapeutic chewing and swallowing based upon the professional feeding-dysphagia assessment. Food fits securely in the tip.
Do not use with nuts, seeds or other sharp foods.
3. For best results keep the plunger wet with water, butter, oil, broth or juice. Slide the wet plunger into the handle to press food to the biting tip
4. TWIST the plunger to LOCK plunger tabs securely to the base of The Side Biter device. Use water, broth, oil, butter or juice to keep the plunger wet to slide it firmly yet securely into the silicone.
5. Prompt patient to look at the food and then position The Side Biter onto molar surfaces for chewing practice in skilled feeding-swallowing therapy. Cue the patient to take the biter out of the mouth, sweep tongue and swallow.
6. Patient can be cued to hold (if able) The Side Biter with diced food inside in place on the molar surfaces or is given professional physical guidance to bite, chew and swallow in skilled dysphagia therapy. 1 teaspoon amount of food fits into the biting tip.
7. Therapist upgrades the biting cylinder levels based upon their skilled assessment of the patient’s oral and pharyngeal abilities. RE-fill the biter as patient tolerates the eating exercises.
8. Therapist trains the patient as they progress through the biting cylinder levels. Levels are upgraded as the patient improves chewing, eating and swallowing skills.
9. Once the therapist has determined safe, effective chewing and swallowing skills, then the patient can progress to other foods and textures (outside the biter) under skilled supervision of a feeding-swallowing clinician.
10. Wash all attachments thoroughly with hot, soapy water using the scrub brush after use. Boil 10 minutes or use dishwasher. Dry all parts SEPARATELY.
Immediately replace any cylinder or accessory that shows wear or tear. Buy replacement parts HERE, as needed.
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Watch Videos on How to Wash The Side Biter HERE
When to Use The Side Biter Level 1
The Side Biter Level 1 is a “sham bolus” cylinder that has no holes. The individual patient who is unsafe to eat food, based upon medical complications can use this with supervision.
The patient can see and feel the food inside during chewing practice in dysphagia therapy. No food flavor or fragments can enter the mouth.
Do not use with nuts, seeds or other sharp foods.
When to Use The Side Biter Level 2
The Side Biter Level 2 cylinder is specially designed to allow a limited flavor and food particles to enter the mouth on one side of the device through 5 holes.
The holes allow limited food information to flow through the soft tip into the mouth as the patient chews on the cylinder. Holes are on one side to allow the therapist to guide the food to molars, inner cheeks or side of the tongue based upon their skilled assessment of patient needs.
Biting tip contains 1 teaspoon of food.
Do not use with nuts, seeds or other sharp foods.
When to Use The Side Biter Level 3
This clear silicone cylinder is specially designed to allow an increased amount of food, but still limited flavor and food particles to enter the mouth of the device through 10 holes.
The 10 holes allows a gradual increased amount, but still limited food information to flow through the soft tip into the mouth as the patient chews on the cylinder. Holes on the cylinder allow the therapist to guide the food to molars, inner cheeks or side of the tongue based upon skilled assessment of patient needs.
Biting tip contains 1 teaspoon of food.
Do not use with nuts, seeds or other sharp foods.