Teaching your child about flossing shouldn’t be a difficult task. Unfortunately, for many parents, it is often challenging and causes some kids to forgo this important oral hygiene habit altogether. To ensure your little one remains cavity-free, here are three tips to help them embrace the art of flossing.
Choose a Kid-Friendly Flossing Technique
Determining how your child will best remove bacteria in between their teeth requires trial and error. Between traditional dental floss, floss picks, or even water irrigators, finding the right solution might mean giving each a try. Those most commonly used by young smiles are regular waxed dental floss or floss picks. No matter the method, you’ll want to make sure your child is performing the correct motions to ensure bad oral bacteria is removed. Also, it’s essential that they do not push or pull on the floss, as this can damage their teeth and gums.
Find a Way to Make Flossing Fun
There are countless ways to keep kids engaged while flossing. Some of the most popular options for parents to use include:
- Turning on music and starting a dance party
- Creating a reward system that encourages kids to brush correctly in order to receive stickers, a trip to the park, or another fun and exciting prize
- Flossing together as a family, as this helps little ones witness the importance of oral hygiene as well as how you, the parent, take proper care of your teeth and gums
Teach How to Floss Using Toys
If you want to help your child get excited about flossing, you can always enlist the help of a few toys found around the house. You can even create something on your own! One of the best ways is to use Legos or similar products and place Play-Doh between the small connective blocks. Using string, your child can learn how to gently move between “teeth” to remove the “bacteria.”
There are endless opportunities when it comes to teaching kids how to floss, so don’t be afraid to ask your child’s pediatric dentist for help. Before you know it, your little one will be a master at flossing, enjoying a healthier, happier smile.
About the Author
At Brush Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Mira Albert leads a team of pediatric dentists who make it possible for little ones to achieve healthier smiles. Offering a fun and exciting environment filled with kid-friendly amenities, we believe in helping children become enthusiastic about oral hygiene while keeping parents informed of ways they can work to improve and help their children maintain healthier teeth and gums at home. If you are looking for tips or suggestions to get your child excited about optimal oral hygiene, contact us at (630) 504-2223.