Kids Need to Floss—Even Their Baby Teeth! How Do You Make It Happen?

A survey A report from the Australian Dental Association released this week indicates that roughly three-quarters of children do not floss their teeth, or have someone else do it for them. Several people who took part in the survey believed that flossing was unnecessary for primary teeth.

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Anyone familiar with parenting understands how challenging it can be to convince children to brush their teeth at least twice a day, never mind flossing.

How can you encourage children to floss? What’s the importance of doing so?

Is it necessary for children to floss?

Flossing It can access between the teeth where toothbrushes cannot. It eliminates soft food particles and biofilm, a sticky coating on teeth that contains bacteria, thereby lowering the chances of tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Flossing becomes important once children's teeth start appearing and touching each other, which usually happens around this age: six to eight months When the bottom front teeth begin to come through the gum tissue.

But they're only primary teeth, aren't they?

Perhaps you're wondering if flossing is really necessary, particularly for young kids who will soon lose their primary teeth.

Nevertheless, primary teeth are essential in shaping the development of a child's jawbone and facial structure. Losing these teeth prematurely—as a result of tooth decay caused by neglecting to floss—can lead to... several effects .

As a young person, it could change their manner of speaking and looks. These factors can influence a child's sense of self-worth and impact the health of individuals, based on their age.

Early loss of primary teeth may also impact an individual during their teenage years or adulthood. Primary teeth serve as placeholders for the proper eruption of permanent teeth; therefore, losing them too soon can result in crowded teeth, potentially requiring orthodontic intervention such as braces. Indeed, the early loss of baby teeth can raise the likelihood of malocclusion—issues with how the permanent teeth align—by over 2.5 times .

Flossing between the teeth is equally important for teenagers to lower the chances of developing gingivitis (gum inflammation). This condition is quite prevalent among this age group because of hormonal shifts... hormone levels .

Certainly, it may present difficulties.

Establishing a consistent flossing habit can be difficult for numerous households. It adds another task to fit into the hectic mornings when getting ready for school or work. Encouraging exhausted kids to floss at night can also prove to be a challenge.

The method also requires a certain degree of hand coordination from either the children themselves or the parents assisting young ones with flossing their teeth.

You or your children might have some type of dental anxiety Because of past unpleasant experiences at the dentist, this could impact your oral care routine or how often you choose to floss.

Each of these elements may result in absence of drive or hesitation to floss, thereby increasing the likelihood of tooth decay and periodontal issues in kids.

However, there are methods to assist you and your children in establishing and maintaining a regular flossing habit.

Alright, you're persuaded. Now what?

First, gather your equipment.

Interdental brushes Appear similar to small bottle brushes. They work better for wider gaps between nearby teeth, or if your child wears braces.

Flossing tools or floss picks work best in regions where there are minimal gaps between neighboring teeth. Child-oriented styles, including those shaped like animals and available in vibrant colors, may serve as a great way to enhance enjoyment during this habit. Floss that has a flavor, such as fruity or chocolate-like scents, might attract attention. Encouraging children to select their preferred type of floss or floss pick can increase their willingness to engage in flossing.

Instead, a water flosser can make interdental cleaning more enjoyable. It's as effective as regular dental floss.

For young children and those in preschool, employing incentives and encouraging methods like sticker charts or golden star certificates can help maintain their enthusiasm for flossing. Therefore, make sure to have plenty available.

Next, select your time. It's most effective to floss once daily, whether in the morning or just before going to sleep. This is because flossing can effectively remove A biofilm forms between the teeth within 24 hours. Flossing can be done either before or after brushing.

Parents should clean and floss the teeth of babies and young kids aged five and under, as long as they haven’t yet gained the ability to do it themselves.

With babies, it’s simpler if one person keeps them upright or places them on their knee while another performs the flossing. For young children and pre-school aged kids, flossing might be more manageable when they sit on the toilet or stand near the sink with their head tilted backward.

Finally, set an example. Children who... parents who regularly floss usually learn the procedure fast. typically grasp the pattern swiftly. often adapt to the schedule easily. generally understand the process quickly. quickly get accustomed to the habit. easily catch on to the regularity. normally become familiar with the system rapidly. readily absorb the established method. swiftly adjust to the repetition. commonly master the workflow promptly.

Any more tips?

Flossing is just one aspect of avoiding tooth decay and oral health issues like periodontal disease. It's equally crucial for kids to:

stay away from eating foods that are rich in sugar refrain from consuming items with a significant amount of sugar limit intake of snacks that contain large amounts of sugar try not to eat foods that have a high level of sweetness keep track of your consumption of sugary treats opt for healthier alternatives instead of sweetened snacks reduce the frequency of eating products loaded with added sugars be mindful of snack choices that include excessive sugar content
opt for plain water instead of fruit juices or carbonated beverages
do not fall asleep while holding a bottle filled with milk, fruit juice, or sweet drinks
stay away from a doll soaked in sweet liquids or syrup
clean their tongue while brushing their teeth
Take your child to see a dentist or an oral health specialist even before their first baby tooth comes through, so they become familiar with the concept of visiting the dentist.

This piece is reposted from The Conversation Under a Creative Commons license. Read about it original article .

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This narrative first appeared on Medical Xpress .