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Once your child has grown two teeth next to each other, they should begin flossing. For most young ones, this happens at around age two or three. Teaching them the right technique at a young age provides valuable lifelong benefits in family dentistry. Get started with the guide below.

What Are the Benefits of Flossing?

Brushing teeth helps remove most of your child’s dental plaque, but the brush bristles cannot get in between the teeth. This makes the surface area where two teeth touch a common place for cavities to develop. Without flossing, bacteria can thrive there unchecked. Removing that plaque and bacteria will prevent cavities and avoid bad breath caused by decay.

Even though your young one will lose their baby teeth, you want to establish healthy habits at a young age that they can keep for life. If they’ve been doing it for as long as they can remember, your child will be more likely to keep up with flossing throughout their teen years and adulthood. Poor oral health affects more than just their mouths; children with bad oral health are more likely to miss school and get lower grades.

How Can You Get Your Child to Start Flossing?

family dentistryYou will need to floss for your child at first. Once they get a little older, they can begin doing it themselves with your supervision. Pull out a piece of floss around 18 inches long. Wrap one index finger with most of the floss, wrapping it a few times around the other index finger. Leave a couple of inches of thread between your hands, then move the floss in between their teeth. Use an up and down motion, bending it to follow the curve on each side of every tooth.

You can get them excited about flossing by letting them play their favorite song while they floss. When they’re flossing on their own, keep a chart and give them a sticker for each day that they floss on their own. If you want, this can include brushing, and they can earn a small reward for brushing and flossing every day for a week or month.

 

Philmont Family Dentistry will help the entire family improve their oral health. This family dentistry practice has served the Columbia County, NY, community since 1975. They use state-of-the-art-equipment for effective monitoring and treatment and will take the time to explain best practices to the young ones. Learn more about their services online and call (518) 672-4077 to schedule an appointment.

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