When Should My Child Start Flossing?

Starting a daily flossing habit young will set your child up for a lifetime of healthy oral hygiene habits. Your child should be flossing even when he or she just has baby teeth. Between the ages of two and six, your child’s teeth will start filling in closely together. As teeth get closer, it is easier for food to get trapped between teeth. A kid’s dentist will tell you that flossing even at a young age can help prevent cavities and other related problems.

Children may not yet have the agility or dexterity to floss on their own as soon as they should. Parents can help children with flossing as they learn. Most children will be able to floss on their own by about age 10, but it will vary. Your Brooklyn pediatric dentist can also help show your child proper flossing techniques.

Teaching My Child to Floss

Use soft, flexible floss that will not harm your child’s sensitive gums. It may help to loop the floss around your child’s fingers or tie a small knot in the floss so that his or her fingers can easily fit into a small circle of floss. Adults sometimes do this as well, but it will help your child keep their grip on the floss as their dexterity develops. Your pediatric dentist can help you develop methods that work for your child.

Flossing for children is similar to the same actions you would take for your own teeth and gums.

• Use about 18 inches of floss total, but only use about one inch of floss at a time on the teeth. For smaller mouths, the amount of loss may be even less.
• Slide the floss between the teeth using the thumb and index fingers. Be sure to hold the floss tightly, but not so tightly that it snaps on the gums.
• Curve the floss around either side of each tooth, making a “C” shape. Use a new section of floss for each tooth.

Your child’s gums may bleed, and that is completely normal. The bleeding should stop for flossing sessions within a few days. If it does not, be sure to consult your Brooklyn pediatric dentist.