Flossing is an important step in preventing cavities, bad breath and most importantly gum disease. The American Academy of Periodontology which focuses on gum health says that regular brushing and flossing once a day is the best way to prevent gum disease —but fewer than 15 percent of Americans floss daily. But to get things going, your child will need your help.
Parents should start flossing for their children as early as age 2 or 3 and definitely by age 6—as soon as their baby teeth move close enough together. Depending on their motor skills and abilities, you can gradually teach them to floss on their own with the goal of having them floss independently by age This may mean more work for parents for a few years, but it will pay off in the long run.
To floss correctly, take 18 inches of floss or a little more and wrap around your middle fingers. Use your index fingers to gently move the floss up and down around each tooth making a C- shape. Here are a few good ones:. The act of flossing should be performed once each day and may take approximately two minutes. The pediatric dentist can offer specific suggestions regarding how and when your child should floss. Step Two: Wrap the ends of the floss around the middle or index finger on each hand.
Step Three: Gently guide the floss between the teeth, gently curving the floss around the tooth and sliding it carefully under the gum line. Children should understand that the goal of flossing is to clean the area between the gum line and the side of each tooth.
Floss is available in lots of colors and flavors, so try to find one that your child will like. Some children prefer to use pre-threaded flossers or floss holders for better control. If plaque is not removed regularly, the bacteria it contains can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Continue helping your child floss until your child is able to floss thoroughly on his or her own.
As a general rule of thumb, if your child is not able to tie his or her own shoelaces, your child does not yet have the manual dexterity needed to properly floss his or her teeth.
Many parents do not. Tip: A common flossing mistake is to wind the floss around your index fingers instead of your middle fingers. You will need your index fingers for tightly grasping the floss in the next step.
Tip: Before moving on to a new tooth, wind the part of the floss that you just rubbed against the previous tooth around the dirty middle finger, and unwind an equal amount of floss from the clean middle finger. Try making flossing more exciting by following the below suggestions. However, this is just one study. According to the American Dental Association, the order of brushing and flossing is not important.
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