Consequences of Allowing Children to Skip the Floss

While most children don’t find flossing to be on their list of favorite things to do, it is a necessary part of achieving and maintaining good oral hygiene. We know that most kids have a tough time flossing their back teeth, it takes them extra time to floss, and that flossing can sometimes cause bleeding of the gums. However, flossing is the only way to remove plaque, food debris, and bacteria from in between your child’s teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach.

What Happens if Your Child Skips Flossing

Below are just a few of the scary consequences of allowing your child to skip his or her daily flossing routine:

• Dental cavities – If plaque is allowed to accumulate between the teeth, it will begin to eat away at the dental enamel, creating cavities. These cavities between the teeth are common in those who don’t floss.
• Plaque and tartar – Plaque can be removed from the surface of the teeth with regular brushing and flossing, but plaque that has hardened into tartar can only be removed during a professional dental cleaning.
• Bad breath – If your child suffers from chronic bad breath, it may be because of food debris building up between the teeth. The resulting bacteria will emit an unpleasant odor.
• Yellow teeth – Leaving bacteria, plaque, and food debris between the teeth for long enough will cause the teeth to appear yellow or dull. Removing these substances from your child’s teeth will create a cleaner and whiter smile.

For all of the above reasons, we here at Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry know how important it is to teach your child the proper way to floss and to reinforce this importance through leading by example. To make an appointment for your child to receive a dental cleaning and a checkup, please contact our Parker, Colorado pediatric dental office today.