Parenting comes with a lot of duties but is also very gratifying. As parents, we must teach our children self-care skills, such as feeding and cleaning up after themselves. A critical component of an efficient hygiene regimen is oral care. Most parents do an excellent job of teaching their kids how to brush correctly, but flossing is frequently more challenging.
How to Effectively Teach Your Child to Floss
Kids can start using dental floss independently at around seven or eight, but it’s always early enough to teach them! It would help if you began teaching your kid to floss when they have two teeth close to one another. Why is brushing important? This question should be addressed before we get started. Brushing is the first line of defense against decay, bad breath, and gum disease, but flossing is a close second. Brushes can’t reach certain areas of the lips, but dental floss can. Food and plaque tend to be concealed between teeth and along the gum line. If flossing does not eliminate food particles, cavities or gum disease may result. A few of the different types of floss include:
- String Floss: Give your child a piece of floss about 18 inches long and have them wrap most of it around one finger, typically the pointer on the left or right hand. The remaining floss will be wound around one finger on the opposite hand by the person (but be careful not to wrap it too tightly!). The finger with the most floss will release the most between each tooth, and the other finger will pick up the floss used.
- Flossing Picks: Dental floss tools are preferred by many kids (and even many adults). Although they are more straightforward, standard floss still outperforms them in effectiveness. Picks are still an excellent option for children who struggle with traditional floss, but we advise using traditional floss for adults. Picks for dental floss come in harp or Y shapes. Just move the floss up and down the teeth like regular floss. When the floss appears old, rinse it between teeth and replace the pick.
When you decide on a type of floss to use with your child, how do you make flossing fun? Do it jointly! Play upbeat music, make goofy faces at yourself in the reflection, and start flossing. Hopefully, your child will appreciate flossing as much as they love spending extra time with you! A flossing chart is a beautiful tool for motivating your kid to floss every day. Put a sticker on the chart each time your kid brushes their teeth. Offer a prize of some kind each time they floss for five days. Allow them to select the floss. Take your child to the store to choose the kind and flavor of floss he wishes to use before starting to teach him how to floss. An excellent incentive is having their favorite color or flavor when they floss.
Kids World Pediatric Dental can Help You Teach Your Child to Floss Effectively.
Your kid should see a youth dentist every six months for dental cleaning, exam, brushing, and flossing. Call (210) 787-1200 to make an appointment with Dr. Marielena Torres-Ricart at Kids World Pediatric Dentistry immediately!