Your children’s oral health is overseen by your pediatric dentist at every visit, but you can help them maintain healthy teeth by monitoring their habits at home. Flossing is a daily necessity for young kids, and many of them attempt to do it on their own. However, there are a few mistakes they can make that you should watch for.

4 Flossing Mistakes Children Make

1. Missing Back Teeth

The best dentists for children should go over the proper flossing techniques with you and/or your little ones during a dental visit. Newly-emerged back molars are easy for children to forget as they aren’t used to flossing them. However, these teeth are primarily responsible for chewing, so they need attentive flossing care. Molars are more difficult for your children to reach because they’re in the back of the mouth, so go over proper technique with them or have your children’s dentist brush up on it at their next visit.

2. Being Too Rough

While flossing dislodges food particles, it shouldn’t be done roughly. Make sure your child isn’t cutting their gums when they floss. The string should be firmly against the tooth and maneuvered without strong pulling or yanking. Kids also shouldn’t vigorously rub the floss against their teeth or gums as this can result in damage and a toothache.

3. Using the Same Piece of Floss

As floss is used, it collects the food particles and bacteria that it’s removing from your children’s teeth. About halfway through their mouth, it begins to deposit those particles back onto the teeth they’re trying to floss, which is counterproductive. Your child should use two to four pieces of floss during each session to ensure they aren’t rubbing accumulated food back into their gums.

4. Stopping If It Bleeds

Seeing blood when flossing can be alarming, but it doesn’t mean your child should stop the habit. Unless they’re too rough when flossing, bleeding gums indicate that they have a buildup of plaque on their teeth that’s caused irritation and swelling in their gum tissue. Flossing removes the particles causing the swelling, which may lead to bleeding if the gums are inflamed. Make sure they keep flossing if they experience bleeding, but schedule an appointment with a top pediatric dentist immediately to have their gums examined for disease or infection.

If your little one needs help flossing, contact the friendly team at Dentistry for Kids in Pearl City, HI. For over 20 years, their team of children dentists has provided young patients with comprehensive dental care, including routine exams and cleanings. Visit their website to learn more about your child’s first visit, or call (808) 486-8881 to schedule an appointment.