It may sound hard to believe, but kids should start flossing quite early in their lives. Experts even advise them to develop the habit as soon as two of their teeth touch. Still, just how is a parent supposed to make that happen? There’s no need to worry; your Columbus dental practice has tips for teaching your child to floss. Just keep reading to learn methods that help little ones with flossing and preserve their oral health.
Share Step-by-Step Instructions
The top obstacle to getting kids to floss is that they don’t know how. So, make sure to share the relevant step-by-step instructions.
In particular, embody the process by showing the following actions:
- Tear off an 18- to 24-inch piece of dental floss that’s gentle on young gums.
- Wrap the floss ends around your index and middle fingers.
- Gently slide the floss back and forth between your child’s teeth.
- Shift to a clean section of floss for each tooth.
- Repeat steps 1-4 until all teeth are clean.
Give Your Child Some Choices
Kids often resist flossing when they feel forced. To compensate, offer up appropriate choices for how your child can floss.
One idea is to let your kiddo pick their own floss (or dental picks). After all, stores sell these items in a wide range of styles, flavors, and colors; many options exist. That means your child could choose a brand they like and feel some control over their flossing.
Outline Flossing’s Importance
Some kids refuse to do things when they don’t know “why” they should. With that said, try using visual aids to demonstrate the importance of flossing.
A well-known method is to cover your hand with peanut butter and have your child try removing it with a toothbrush. Eventually, they’ll notice that the brush doesn’t eliminate the mess. That’s when you should explain that some foods are like peanut butter; you can’t remove them with brushing alone. Instead, people must floss to get rid of the debris.
Show the Fun of Flossing
When all else fails, show your child that flossing can be a fun activity. They’ll then feel more motivated to follow the habit.
Ways to make flossing fun include:
- For every day your child flosses, give your child a gold star that they can add to a special chart.
- Have the whole household floss their teeth simultaneously, making it a family activity.
- Play your child’s favorite song to make it fun, as doing so helps the habit feel interactive.
Teaching your child to floss is tiring, but you’ll strengthen their long-term oral health that way. Make note of that as you monitor their hygiene habits.
About the Practice
Columbus Dental Arts is based in Columbus, NJ. Led by Drs. Fraser, Wolf, and Filangeri, our practice strives to provide top-tier comprehensive dentistry. We thus offer a wide range of services under one roof, from dental checkups and cleanings to dental implants and more. Naturally, our team also serves patients of all ages – kids included! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (609)-324-9500.