Helping Kids Learn To Floss

Some people neglect to floss their teeth under the assumption that it isn’t as important as brushing. However, flossing is the only way to remove food debris and plaque from placed that your toothbrush can’t reach, such as in between the teeth. In fact, the back teeth and the spaces between teeth are some of the most common placed for cavities and tooth decay to form.

It’s important that you teach your children to floss once any of their teeth begin to touch. Initially, you’ll need to help your child floss his or her teeth, but as they get older, they’ll be able to floss on their own.

Teaching Kids To Floss On Their Own

Below are a couple of tips to help you teach your children to floss by themselves:

• Sensitive Gum Floss – For young flossers who are just getting the hang of flossing, you may want to look into purchasing floss specially made for sensitive gums. This will help your child avoid the bleeding and pain that can sometimes accompany the act of flossing.
• Amount Of Floss – Your child may be tempted to unravel the entire spool of floss just because they can! Teach him or her that only 16-18 inches of floss are needed to adequately floss the teeth.
• Wrapping The Floss – Teach your child to wrap most of the length of the floss around one index finger and to wind the rest around the index finger of the other hand. Don’t wrap too tightly, however, as this can cut off the circulation to the fingers.
• Flossing Method – Floss the teeth by gliding the floss between the teeth in a back and forth motion. Use the floss to rub against the sides of each tooth to remove plaque. When moving on to the next space, slide a bit of the floss to the other hand. This way, you’re using a clean section of floss for each space.

For any questions about the importance or methods of flossing for kids, please contact Little Rockies Pediatric Dentistry today. Our Office is located in Parker, Colorado, and we’re always accepting new patients!