The Importance of Flossing for Children

Some parents believe that their child’s oral health is not that important, due to the fact that their children’s primary teeth are not permanent. That fact that they will fall out eventually means that cavities and other forms of decay are fine. This is 100% false.

Cavities, like any infection in the body, can spread if they are not taken seriously. They can lead to other forms of decay within the mouth and even serious cases of periodontal disease. That’s why your child’s oral health matters. Neglect at an early age can lead to a lifetime of poor oral health decisions. That’s why a strict routine is necessary. And yes, that includes flossing.

As an infant your child will need your help. They lack the motor skills to effectively floss their teeth. It’s recommended that as soon as two teeth emerge, you should begin to floss them. It’s also recommended that you use a floss stick or pick. It makes it easier for the both of you, and you also don’t want to have to place your hands inside your child’s mouth, which may also cause infection.

When they reach the age of 6 or 7, they can they can begin to floss on their own. Make sure you get them the soft nylon type. Their gums are fresh and sensitive from new teeth emerging. The softer floss will prevent some pain and bleeding.

It’s still important that they floss even if all of their teeth have not come in yet. It may seem silly to floss between only 2 teeth, but it’s important that your child builds good oral habits early in life. It would be nice if we only had to brush for 30 seconds a day and presto! Our teeth are magically bright white. However, that’s just not the case. Brushing is not enough. In fact, some dentists may even argue that flossing is more important than brushing. Of course, your child can’t do one without the other, but flossing does help remove plaque from those hard to reach places. Those tiny little cracks and crevices may seem insignificant, but without flossing, your child is missing about 35% of the tooth’s surface.

This can lead to cavities between the teeth. If this occurs, your child will experience a lot of pain. It will also require a filling, and as a result, the potential to miss school time. It’s stated in many different case studies that if a child does not keep up with their oral health it can have a lot of negative side effects on their studies. It makes sense, because it’s very tough to pay attention when you’re distracted by a great deal of pain. And the child also misses lessons and struggles to keep up as they miss school time from getting teeth drilled and filled.

Don’t take the risk! The best way for your child to have clean, healthy teeth is to make sure they’re flossing every day. As stated previously, flossing helps remove 35% of the plaque left behind from a regular toothbrush. There are plenty of spots within your mouth that a regular toothbrush just can’t clean. It cleans the tiny crevices that, when left untreated, can turn into big oral health problems. Start your child off on the right foot. Help them floss before they develop those proper motor skills, and once they have, make sure they’re keeping up with it on their own!