Getting kids to take care of their oral hygiene is always difficult, especially when it comes to flossing. Children often struggle with the fine motor skills necessary to perform hygiene tasks on their own, and dental floss in particular can be a high hurdle to clear.
That doesn’t even consider the simple fact that many kids aren’t interested in flossing at all. If you find yourself struggling with how to get your kids to clean between their teeth here’s a guide with some tips that could help you.
Why Is Flossing Important?
To communicate the importance of flossing to your kids, it’s important to have a strong understanding of it yourself. Flossing is one of the most crucial, yet often neglected, things that someone can do to improve their oral health.
Bacteria in the mouth clump into plaque deposits that set on, and between, the teeth. This plaque is the primary cause of gum disease, which results in bad breath and inflammation of the gums. Brushing is critical, but it leaves a lot of the bacteria stuck between the teeth behind. That’s why flossing is so crucial.
The Best Method of Flossing
When you teach your child to floss, it’s best to help them understand the proper way to go about it from the very beginning. That way, they’ll never have to unlearn any bad habits.
Have your child pull out around 18 inches of floss, wrapping one end of it around one finger almost completely. Then, your child should wrap the remaining amount around the other finger a few times. Finally, gently slide dental floss between each tooth, wrapping up each section afterward so that they have a fresh piece for each tooth.
Tips for Teaching Children to Floss
Teaching kids to floss isn’t just about technique, it’s also about getting them excited and willing to try doing it every day. There are a few things you can do to get your kids motivated. The first is to make brushing a family activity; when your child sees that you care about your oral health, they’ll be likely to care about theirs as well.
Reward systems, like sticker charts, can also be enormously helpful as a motivator. Give your child a calendar and put stickers on it for every day they floss, which they can exchange for a prize of some sort.
Start these good habits early, and you’ll be able to help your child prevent a lifetime of oral health problems!
About the Author
Dr. Ryne S. Paulson is a pediatric dentist who is an expert at putting children at ease. To help him do that, he’s made his office a fun place for kids, including offering prizes and balloons for children who make it through their appointment. Dr. Paulson received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, then completed two years of pediatric residency on the islands of Hawaii.
If you have any questions about teaching your child to floss, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (307) 266-1997.