When Should Kids Start Flossing?

You should start flossing your child’s teeth as early as they develop their primary teeth. Between the ages of two and six, when the teeth begin to fit tightly together, you should start getting your kid into the habit of flossing. Helping your child to floss regularly emphasizes the importance of the practice.

You can do this up to the age of ten when they’ll have mastered the skills to floss on their own.

The Importance Of Flossing

Normal brushing techniques cannot rid the mouth of the food particles and plaque lodged in spaces between the teeth and under the gums. Flossing is effective in cleaning those hard-to-reach areas. Flossing also helps to:

• Neutralize bad breath
• Polish tooth surfaces

To enjoy these benefits, make sure your child flosses at least once a day. Each flossing session should last two to three minutes.

How to Floss Your Child’s Teeth Properly

Start by tying the dental floss into small circles on both ends of the strand. It makes it easy for your child’s fingers to fit into the loops and apply a firm grip on the floss. You should do this until they have learned to hold the floss on their own.

Here are the steps to follow to ensure proper flossing:

1. Take a piece of dental floss about 18 inches long and loosely wrap the bulk of it around your middle fingers. Be sure to leave one to two inches of floss in between.
2. Stretch the floss taut and gently slide it down between your kid’s teeth, using your thumb and index fingers.
3. Curve the floss around every tooth in a C shape, gently move it up and down, and up to the gum line. Unroll a fresh section of floss as you move from one tooth to the next.

These simple steps can help your child maintain good oral hygiene. It’s worth noting that your child’s gums may bleed at first. It should stop after a few flossing sessions as the gums become healthier.

If the bleeding doesn’t stop, however, make sure you talk to your family dentist.