Flossing children’s teeth is vitally important to their oral health. Teach your child how to floss and you teach them a lifelong skill that will help keep their teeth and gums healthy for life.
Using a toothbrush, it’s easy to clean teeth in front and in back, but to clean in between the teeth properly you need to floss.
According to the Canadian Dental Association, both brushing and flossing children’s teeth are important for long-term good dental health.
Flossing from an early age is necessary to remove plaque and bacteria from areas that can’t be reached with a toothbrush alone, including below the gum line.
Make It Fun for Kids Flossing Teeth!
Be creative and have fun with your child when flossing. You can set a good example by brushing and flossing with your child daily. They will be more motivated to do the same when they see you routinely practicing good dental care.
Your child’s best defence against plaque and cavity-causing bacteria is simply daily brushing and flossing plus an annual physical checkup with your pediatric dentist.
Flossing Children’s Teeth with Different Types of Floss
Most kids enjoy flavoured dental floss but today, there are plenty of colourful and tasty options for your child. Try mixing it up a little. Test out the different available flavours and colours of children’s dental floss.
To make it even more interesting, you might even want to try unflavoured, wide, smooth, textured, unwaxed, or waxed dental floss occasionally when flossing children’s teeth.
Pre-threaded dental floss picks (holders) are also good for young kids. They are easy to hold and use. However, products like the Waterpik water flosser are not recommended because they cannot effectively remove the bacteria-causing plaque.
Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions parents ask about flossing children’s teeth.
About Keswick Kids Dental
At Keswick Kids Dental, we specialize in pediatric dentistry and working with children of all ages. Our goal is to ensure that your child has a great experience visiting the dentist. Let us help you take care of your child’s teeth, gums, and oral health.
Yes, dentists agree with the Canadian Dental Association that flossing children’s teeth daily is as important to long-term good dental health as daily brushing.
Why Is Flossing Important?
Kids flossing teeth daily is important because brushing alone cannot remove the plaque buildup in hard-to-reach places like between the teeth, below the gum line, or the very back teeth.
How Often Should My Child Floss?
Once your child has their baby teeth, their teeth should be flossed for a few minutes at least once a day.
Will Flossing Damage Children’s Teeth?
Do not floss your children’s teeth any more than once a day. Flossing too frequently could possibly damage the gums and eventually lead to more serious dental issues.
Should I Floss My Children’s Teeth?
Yes, parents should help with flossing children’s teeth until they are old enough to floss themselves and like brushing, flossing should be done daily throughout their lifetime.
When to Start Flossing Children’s Teeth?
By the time your child is 2 or 3 years old, they should have some baby teeth that touch. Be sure to consult with your dentist on how to floss a toddler or young child’s teeth properly.
When Can Children Floss on Their Own?
Most children floss on their own by the time they are 8 or 10 years old. Until then, you will need to help them when flossing.
Why Do Gums Bleed When Flossing?
Gums are tender and may bleed when flossing for the first time or if you don’t floss regularly. Gums will be less likely to bleed if you teach your children to floss every day.
What Does Flossing Do?
Besides removing plaque buildup in hard-to-reach places like between the teeth, flossing also helps to polish those hard-to-reach places and minimize bad breath.
Should You Floss or Brush First?
Dentists recommend flossing first before brushing to remove and loosen plaque, bacteria, and trapped food particles.
What Not to Do When Flossing Children’s Teeth?
When flossing, do not floss too quickly, too aggressively, or apply too much pressure, especially around the gums. Also, do not floss any more than once a day and don’t rely on just flossing to clean the teeth. Always brush after flossing.
Is Flossing More Important Than Brushing?
Most dentists agree that flossing regularly is just as important as brushing for good oral health.
When Is the Best Time to Floss?
Flossing properly for at least 2 to 3 minutes a day is more important than what time of day you floss.
Does Flossing Help Prevent Cavities?
Yes, flossing helps to remove bacteria-causing plaque and prevents tartar buildup, helping to minimize the risk of cavities.
