{"id":974,"date":"2020-02-05T18:08:47","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T18:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/alexandriapediatricdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/teaching-good-daily-flossing-habits\/"},"modified":"2020-02-05T18:08:47","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T18:08:47","slug":"teaching-good-daily-flossing-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/alexandriapediatricdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/teaching-good-daily-flossing-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Good Daily Flossing Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

HAVING HEALTHY SMILES<\/b> isn\u2019t just about brushing twice a day. It\u2019s also about flossing, and the best time to build a lifelong daily flossing habit is in childhood. This is where parents come in, but where we as pediatric dentists come in is to give parents a few tips to keep in mind when teaching kids how to floss.<\/p>\n

Why Floss Baby Teeth?<\/h3>\n

Many parents mistakenly think that because baby teeth are only there for a few years, it\u2019s not important to try very hard to keep them cavity-free. Yes, baby teeth will eventually be replaced with permanent teeth, but healthy baby teeth are better for chewing, talking, and guiding the permanent teeth into place<\/strong> than cavity-filled baby teeth. It takes brushing AND flossing to keep baby teeth healthy.<\/p>\n

When Is the Right Time to Start Flossing?<\/h3>\n

Kids take a while to develop the dexterity and hand-eye coordination they need to be able to floss their own teeth, but we shouldn\u2019t wait until then to teach them or set an example<\/strong>. Parents demonstrating good brushing and flossing habits is an essential part of kids growing up with those habits. Another is to floss their teeth for them, and age two and a half is generally a good time to start.<\/p>\n

More than anything else, consistency is key<\/strong>. Children who are comfortable with the idea of flossing as part of their day are much more likely to keep it up once they\u2019re doing it for themselves.<\/p>\n

Flossing Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n

When teaching kids how to floss, there are a few things you can do to help get them engaged and motivated.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Explain why flossing is important.<\/strong> When kids know why flossing matters, they\u2019ll be more willing to do it.<\/li>\n
  • Make sure they know that Big Kids floss.<\/strong> Children are eager for ways to prove how grown up they are, whether it\u2019s riding a bike without training wheels, tying their own shoes, or flossing!<\/li>\n
  • If regular floss is too tricky, try flossers or floss picks<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Good Flossing Technique<\/h3>\n

    For parents who stick to traditional floss, technique is key. You\u2019ll want to show your child how to pull out the right amount of floss (about a foot and a half) and loosely secure it around their middle fingers with just an inch or two to slide between the teeth. Take that inch or two and carefully curve it around a tooth in a C-shape and wiggle back and forth instead of pulling straight down to the gums<\/strong>, which can be dangerous.<\/p>\n

    After gently cleaning in both directions between two teeth, slide the floss back out and shift to a clean section of floss for the next spot. It\u2019s important to use clean floss each time<\/strong>, or you\u2019re basically just moving plaque from one area to another instead of getting rid of it!<\/p>\n