While flossing isn’t the most thrilling activity, it’s still something your kids should practice often. The habit (when done daily) keeps smiles clean and reduces the risk of severe oral issues. That said, what if you need some help teaching your child to floss? You needn’t worry; your Carrolton pediatric dentist is here to assist you. Simply keep reading to learn four great tips for teaching your child how to floss between teeth.
Demonstrate Its Importance
If your child doesn’t see the point of flossing, use visual aids to demonstrate its importance. Your little one should grasp why dental floss matters that way.
For example, cover your hand with peanut butter and have your child try removing it with a toothbrush. They’ll likely notice after a while that their brush doesn’t eliminate the mess. Once they have, you can explain that some foods are like peanut butter; they can’t be removed by brushing alone. You need to use tools like dental floss to get the remaining debris off your smile.
Show How It’s Done
Perhaps your child knows they should floss but doesn’t know the steps. In that case, get them started by showing how the process works.
More specifically, perform the following actions:
- Tear off an 18-to-24-inch piece of dental floss that’s gentle on young gums.
- Wrap the floss ends around your index and middle fingers.
- Gently slide the floss back and forth between your child’s teeth.
- Shift to a clean section of floss for each tooth.
- Repeat throughout until all teeth are clean.
Offer Some Choices
No one likes being ordered or forced into things. Given that fact, offer your child appropriate choices in how they go about flossing.
For example, you could let your little one pick their own floss or dental picks. Stores sell these items in a wide variety of colors, flavors, and styles, so plenty of options would be available. Your child could choose a brand they especially like, ensuring they feel some control over their flossing.
Make Flossing Fun
Should your child find flossing dull, you could change their view by making the habit fun. You’d simply need to add some zest or excitement to oral care.
Popular approaches include:
- Create a chart and give your child a gold star each day he or she flosses.
- Make it a family activity and have everyone floss their teeth simultaneously.
- Play your child’s favorite song to make it fun and interactive when they floss.
While teaching your child to floss may seem tedious, it’s crucial to their long-term oral health. Remember that as you consider the tricks above!
About the Practice
DD Family Dentistry of Carrolton is based in Carrolton, TX. Led by Drs. Devarakonda and Morrison, our practice offers warm and personalized dental care. We always tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to your smile’s needs, ensuring ideal results. Combined with our pressure-free environment, this approach can give anyone a flourishing grin! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (972)-236-7906.