Brushing and flossing are the keys to making sure your mouth is happy and healthy. The best way to protect your child’s teeth is to start a proper oral hygiene as early as possible. Fortunately, you can start teaching your child about flossing somewhere between the age of 2 to 3. Keep in mind, you should monitor your child while he or she is flossing until somewhere between the age of 8 to 10.
Why Flossing is Important
Flossing is necessary to remove plaque that is trapped between the teeth and in your gum line out of reach from your toothbrush. Ideally, your child should floss at least once a day and should spend two minutes doing it. It is highly recommended to speak to your child’s dentist about recommendations for the right way to teach your child to floss.
You can get floss in a lot of different colors and flavors. Consider making your child part of the selection process. Flossing his or her teeth will be more exciting if they had a hand in picking out the floss they use every day. This is only going to increase the chances of him or her doing it every single day.
Proper Steps To Flossing
Step one: Get your child to cut off a piece of floss that is roughly 2 feet long. This should be long enough to floss their entire mouth.
Step two: Have your child wrap each end of the piece of floss around his or her finger.
Step three: Show your child how to guide the floss around his or her teeth and through the gum line to pick up plaque and food. Consider pulling the floss out and showing the child what the floss is collecting from your (or their teeth) to see why this is so important.
If you keep these tips in mind and follow these three steps, you should have no trouble teaching your child to floss.