How to Floss Your Child’s Teeth

It’s important to encourage healthy habits from a young age. Proper oral hygiene as a child will lead to a life of optimal dental health, and this starts with brushing and flossing. As a parent, you’ll need to assist your child with brushing their teeth until they have enough manual dexterity to tie their own shoes. Even after this, you’ll need to help your little one floss their teeth until they can properly do it on their own. Here are a few tips from the team at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry to help you floss your child’s teeth:‍

Proper Flossing Technique

It can be a difficult task to floss your own teeth, so it’s important to ensure that you are flossing your child’s teeth properly. This will help keep hard-to-reach areas of your child’s mouth free from bacterial buildup and plaque. 

• Cut off a piece of floss that is approximately 18 to 20 inches in length. 
• Lightly wrap each side of the piece of floss several times around each middle finger.
• Next, carefully maneuver the floss in between your child’s teeth with your index fingers and thumbs in an up and down motion. 
• Make sure to go below the gum line, and bend the floss to form a "C" on the side of each tooth.
  

Why Flossing is So Important

Brushing alone is not enough to remove harmful bacteria from your child’s mouth. Proper oral hygiene is especially important for children because their diets are usually high in sugar. Flossing properly ensures that your child is free from gingivitis and plaque that cause cavities and decay. 

Have a Question? Call Us Today!

If you have any questions about how to floss your child’s teeth and encourage healthy hygiene habits at home, we are happy to help! Call Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry today to learn more and our knowledgeable team would be happy to answer any questions you may have! You can reach us at (781) 205-1124.