Three Ways To Make Flossing Easier For Kids
Teaching kids to brush their teeth is one thing – teaching them to floss is a whole other story. Even many adults struggle to maintain a regular flossing schedule, so it's no surprise that kids aren't amazing flossers. Luckily, there are a few ways you can make the art of flossing easier for your kids, thus encouraging them to make flossing a more regular part of their daily oral hygiene routines.
Pre-cut the floss for them.
One of the reasons so many people struggle to floss is that they do not use long enough strands of floss. A short strand of floss is hard to properly wind around the fingers and press between the teeth. Kids sometimes struggle to know how much floss is enough. You need to make sure they have enough floss to floss easily, but not so much that you're going through a roll of floss every week.
Pre-cut some properly-sized lengths of floss for your kids to use, so they have the right length every time. You can put these pieces of floss in a resealable bag, or pin them to the towel bar with a clothes pin. Eighteen inches of floss is sufficient.
Purchase extra-thin or "comfort" floss.
Some floss tends to fray when pressed between the teeth. This can be uncomfortable for your child and cause him or her to avoid flossing. If your child's teeth are close together, getting floss between them can be a struggle. Luckily, there are flosses on the market that solve these problems. For children whose teeth are closely packed, extra-thin floss is ideal. Buy the waxed kind, since it is easier to use. Comfort floss, which is made from no-fray material, costs more than regular floss but is a good choice for kids who hate fraying floss.
Give them dental "flossers" instead of standard floss.
If your child struggles to floss even when you purchase comfort or extra-thin floss and cut it to the right length, then perhaps you should try dental flossers. They are individual little picks that each have a strand of floss strung across them. Their major downfall is that they create a lot of waste and can be pricy (they are one-time-use only), but this may be a worthwhile if they get your child to floss.
In addition to following the tips above, ask a dentist, like the ones at Quality Dental Care, to show your child how to floss. If your child knows how to floss properly, he or she will have a much easier time doing so.
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