Pediatric Dentists in Auburn, MA Explain First Time Flossing for Kids

When raising a little one, parents are faced with many “firsts.” Whether it’s the first time your child talks or the first time you take them to get their haircut, watching your loved one grow is exciting. You probably know that taking care of your kid’s teeth is important, but do you know when they should first start flossing? Keep reading to learn the answer as well as some easy flossing tips that you can pass along to your children from pediatric dentists in Auburn, MA.

When Kids Should Start Flossing Teeth

Even when your child only has their baby teeth grown in, you should start flossing their teeth. Usually between the ages of 2 and 6, your kid’s teeth will start to fit more closely together. That’s when you should start to get your children in the habit of flossing. As they continue to grow, they’ll be able to floss their teeth by themselves, or with a lot less supervision. Children usually develop the dexterity necessary to floss on their own around age 10.

To familiarize your loved ones with flossing as well as to show them the importance of cleaning in between their teeth, you should floss their teeth regularly until they can do it themselves. It’s vital to establish good flossing habits while they still have baby teeth, so they are ready for oral health success when their permanent adult teeth come in. Be sure to always choose floss that is soft and comfortable on your child’s gums.

How to Help Your Child Floss Their Teeth

A great tip to help your kids start flossing on their own is to tie small loops at each end of the strand of floss to fit over their fingers. This way, they can slide the floss on easily without worrying about dropping it or mishandling it. After that, you can have them follow these easy steps for a great flossing routine:

1. Use around 18 inches of floss and loosely wrap it around each middle finger to leave about an inch of floss to work with.
2. Gently slide the floss down between each tooth while holding the strand taught.
3. Smoothly pull the floss up and down in between each tooth to not damage or hurt gum tissue.
4. Be sure to use a different part of the floss for each tooth to avoid reinsertion of plaque and food debris.

If your child’s gums bleed at first, don’t worry! This should stop after a few days of flossing because their gums will get used to it and get healthier with time.

Now that you know when your child should start flossing, are you ready to take care of their teeth? Use our easy tips above to set your loved ones up for oral health success!

About the Practice

At New England Kids, we have a team of expertly trained pediatric dentists who specialize in quality care for children. They believe in patient education, which is why they provide information on how to keep your kids’ teeth healthy outside of the dentist’s office. Drs. Reema, Anubha, and Golnaz can be contacted through their website or by phone at (508) 832-6278 for any questions.