{"id":467,"date":"2026-08-18T16:25:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.columbusdentalarts.com\/blog\/?p=467"},"modified":"2026-08-24T04:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T04:26:08","slug":"tips-on-teaching-your-child-to-floss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.columbusdentalarts.com\/blog\/?p=467","title":{"rendered":"Between-Teeth-Cleaning with Kids: Tips on Teaching Your Child to Floss"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It may sound hard to believe, but kids should start flossing<\/a> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Share Step-by-Step Instructions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The top obstacle to getting kids to floss is that they don\u2019t know how. So, make sure to share the relevant step-by-step instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, embody the process by showing the following actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Tear off an 18- to 24-inch piece of dental floss that\u2019s gentle on young gums.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Wrap the floss ends around your index and middle fingers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Gently slide the floss back and forth between your child\u2019s teeth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Shift to a clean section of floss for each tooth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 until all teeth are clean.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Give Your Child Some Choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Kids often resist flossing when they feel forced. To compensate, offer up appropriate choices for how your child can floss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Outline Flossing\u2019s Importance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Some kids refuse to do things when they don\u2019t know \u201cwhy\u201d they should. With that said, try using visual aids to demonstrate the importance of flossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A well-known method is to cover your hand with peanut butter and have your child try removing it with a toothbrush. Eventually, they\u2019ll notice that the brush doesn\u2019t eliminate the mess. That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Show the Fun of Flossing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When all else fails, show your child that flossing can be a fun activity. They\u2019ll then feel more motivated to follow the habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ways to make flossing fun include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n