When should I start flossing my children's teeth?

If you have been wondering whether or not it's time for you to begin flossing your child's teeth, look no further. We are asked this question by parents frequently, so here our Clarenville dentists explain more.

The importance of oral hygiene for children

Teeth are an integral part of overall health and with proper care, many people can keep their teeth for a lifetime. Good oral health should begin early – even before a child’s first teeth erupt. Baby teeth generally start to peek through the gums at six months of age.

Besides allowing your child to eat and speak properly, their baby teeth "hold the space" for the permanent teeth that will develop in your child's mouth later. Parents play an important role in caring for their children's mouths and helping them to develop good oral hygiene. The first visit to visit a dental hygienist for professional cleaning for your child should occur before they turn one year old. Routine visits should be scheduled after that as well.

Cavities are very common in North American children. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

When should I start flossing my child's teeth?

You should floss even your child’s baby (or primary teeth). Once your child’s teeth start to fit closely together, usually between the ages of two and six, flossing is an important part of their oral health.

When can children floss their teeth by themselves?

Until your child is able to floss their teeth on their own, you should be helping them to floss and get into the habit of flossing daily. Children are often able to start flossing on their own by about the age of 10.

How can I help them learn to floss?

Stressing the importance of flossing to help your child develop a good habit of flossing, do it for them routinely until your kid is able to do it themselves. You will want to help your child establish a healthy daily habit of flossing early so that when their permanent teeth come in, they have already begun working flossing into their daily routine.

Use floss that is soft and flexible so that it doesn't hurt their teeth and is comfortable on their gums.

Flossing is so very important in maintaining healthy gums and teeth, and it is better to start early than late.

How to get your child to be enthusiastic about flossing

To get your child excited about the idea of flossing, set up a simple game or activity to both provide entertainment and an understanding of the importance of flossing. One suggestion would be a peanut butter flossing activity. Put on a rubber glove and allow your child to spread peanut butter between your fingers. Explain how this resembles plaque and food getting stuck in between our teeth when we don’t floss and allow plaque to build up. Then, giving your child a piece of floss, instruct him/her to try and scrape off all of the peanut butter.

This activity, or something like it, can be an excellent way for you to entice your child into trying to floss their teeth more often.