Flossing Information For Kids!

The importance of flossing is often underestimated. Many people who are diligent brushers will neglect flossing or dismiss it as being not quite as important as brushing. This is not the case! Flossing is the only way to remove plaque from the areas that your toothbrush can’t reach. The most common place for dental cavities and tooth decay to form is in between the teeth. This makes flossing absolutely necessary for your oral health!

You should begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as the teeth begin to touch one another. As the child ages, he or she will need to learn how to brush and floss for themselves.

Teaching Kids To Floss

Below are a few helpful tips when it comes time to teach your children how to floss their own teeth:

1. Gentle Floss – You may want to purchase floss made for sensitive gums. The special coating on this form of floss will make it gentler on your child’s gums, avoiding the pain and bleeding that can sometimes go along with learning to floss.
2. Flossers – Little fingers can sometimes have a hard time navigating floss around the back teeth. Handheld flossers are a small tool that holds a piece of floss in place, making it easier for small hands to floss the back teeth.
3. Amount Of Floss – Teach your child that he or she only needs around 16-18 inches of floss each time they floss. This is the typical measurement between the fingertips and the elbow.
4. Loosely Wrapped – Don’t allow your child to wrap the floss too tightly around his or her fingers. If the fingers turn dark red or purple during flossing, the floss is wrapped too tightly. The floss needs to be taut, but not tight enough to cause discoloration or pain in the fingers.

For more information on the importance of your child’s oral hygiene, or with help teaching them to floss, please make an appointment at Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our office is located in Firestone, CO!