How to teach children to floss? - Hardy Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

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Published by Hardy Admin at September 14, 2021

Let Them Know The Importance of Flossing

Brushing your teeth in a proper way and on a regular basis contributes to the elimination of the majority of plaque. But at the other end, brushing by itself is inadequate at removing food debris and plaque that has become lodged in parts of the mouth where the bristles of the toothbrush can’t reach like the spaces between the teeth or below the gums. Flossing is critical in this. It effectively eliminates food particles that have become trapped between the teeth. If left alone, they can become breeding grounds for harmful germs and bacteria which eventually leads to the formation of plaques. Warn your kid that they can develop foul breath or bad breath (Halitosis), gingivitis or gum disease, or additional plaque formation and excessive cavities in their teeth if they refuse to floss everyday.

See When Kids Starts to Loose Their Baby Teeth

Emphasize the impact of flossing with your youngster in combating these oral problems. If plaque is not eliminated, it can cause trouble on not just the teeth, but also on the gum tissue, likely to lead to potential major difficulties. The American Academy of Periodontology, a specialty focused on gum health, states that brushing and flossing your teeth at least two times a day is the most effective approach for minimizing the possibility of developing gum disease.

A large number of dentists believe that flossing is equally as significant as brushing. It is, unfortunately, a harder routine to establish, in part due to the unfavorable view of flossing held by several parents. Baby teeth, like adult teeth, should be brushed and flossed on a regular basis. Not only can a good dental hygiene practice help keep your kid’s teeth clean and cavity-free, but it can also actually reduce the chances of your child developing gum disease or another form of periodontal disease. Raise your children and teach them about appropriate oral hygiene in order to prevent dental cavities and toothaches. Flossing is a rather pleasurable practice to maintain, and it’s vital to communicate this to your children.

Moreover, you can propose to your child’s pediatric dentist to explain and emphasize the importance of flossing to your child in one of his or her routine dental checkups. Pediatric dentists are adept at communicating abstract topics to youngsters and are likely to do it better than the majority of parents.

Read Dental concerns for brushing teeth

Make Flossing Fun Again

Though flossing is often not fun and interesting, it also doesn’t have to be viewed as a troublesome chore. Wanting to make flossing interesting for your child will contribute in the creation of a regular habit. Given time, effort, and persistence, you may help your child develop lifetime dental hygiene habits. Several tips and approaches for persuading your youngster to floss consistently are as follows:

Floss With Your Kid or All Family Members – You cannot presume your youngster to have exceptional and proper oral hygiene if he or she is uninformed of the processes. If you want to foster a passion for flossing in your child, floss together. It is so much more delightful and motivating to perform troublesome activities alongside another person, particularly if the individual is a family member or relative. You can build a family regimen of regular flossing and brushing teeth. Besides that, this will insure that your personal flossing schedule is followed.

Turn Flossing a Game – To spark your kid’s interest in flossing, you could create a nice and amusing game using a combination of information about the advantages of flossing. Either your youngsters battle against one another, against their mom or dad, and even against the clock, turning mundane tasks into enjoyable games can allow flossing to be more tolerable. Maintain a record of your child’s progress and reward points, or incorporate a catchy tune or story every time they floss. Whichever approach you use to spice up this session, remember to give a reward to your child for diligently completing the task. Make a fun table or chart in which you can award your child a star or sticker for properly flossing. The more stars or stickers they get, the better the prizes they can get. As the stars rack up, the treats’ worth increases. Simply alter the rewards on a regular basis to maintain your child’s attention.

Design a Flossing Scorecard – Creating an appealing flossing scorecard and displaying it above or beside the bathroom sink is among the most ingenious and creative strategies to motivate your kid to floss daily. This boosts the satisfaction of flossing by allowing you to keep a record of their progress with quirky stickers or vibrant markers, provide non-monetary incentives for successfully getting the job done, and create a priceless family tradition that your children will remember for years to come.

Let Your Child to Select His or Her Own Flossing Instrument – It may be challenging for your child to utilize standard floss. They may find the concept of looping the string around their fingers or sliding the dental floss between their teeth bothersome. Letting your youngster get and pick their own floss sticks or water flosser eradicates this issue. Floss sticks are available in an array of vibrant colors, patterns as well as flavors. Children may even stumble upon a brand that features a popular superhero or their favorite cartoon character. In case you’d like to cut waste and forgo replacing dental floss entirely, water flossers are more economically efficient. They last about a couple of years and are generally regarded as more convenient and practical flossing instruments than traditional approaches. Also, water flossers let your youngster personalize them through the use of decorations.

Everyday or nighttime checks of their ‘Big-Kid Teeth’ is recommended. – For a child, the period of losing primary teeth and emerging ‘big-kid teeth’ is exhilarating. It’s not simply because the tooth fairy will visit, but also because witnessing those new sparkling pearly teeth come in from nowhere might seem magical and wonderful to a kid. Urge your youngsters to examine their ‘big-kid teeth’ sites every night before going to bed and tell them it’s for the purpose of ‘creating enough room’ for strong and healthy permanent teeth to grow. Convert their own mouths into an investigation area comparable to the local museum’s dinosaur bone dig exhibit.

When Flossing Has become a Problem

After your youngster started flossing their baby teeth for the first time, their gums may bleed. This is a common occurrence. Generally, this is not an issue as long as the bleeding stops quickly. Other kids may have an abnormally sensitive mouth or a strong gag reflex, making flossing tough. To relieve this fear, communicate with your child that it is okay for them to discontinue flossing their teeth and take a rest if they become annoyed or afraid. Getting them to take a few calm breaths can help support their relaxation. If your child is autistic or has behavioral problems, he or she is more than likely to experience dental problems, like flossing issues. You can try and contact a pediatric dentist who specializes in addressing the special needs of children.

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