When we become parents, we often think we know all we need to know about taking care of our children’s dental health, but then we really start thinking about it. Questions like: “When should my child see their dentist for the first time?”, “When do their teeth normally come in?”, “How can I help with teething pain?”, and the all-important “When should my child start flossing?” begin occurring to us, and we realize we don’t know as much as we think we do. This article will be addressing the last question, and shedding some light on that most misunderstood of practices, flossing.
So When Should My Child Start Flossing?
Clearly, a child who has no or few teeth isn’t ready to start flossing, but as soon as your child has two teeth that are next to each other, it’s time to start getting them in the habit. Adult teeth may eventually replace baby teeth, but that’s no reason not to start teaching them proper flossing habits immediately. Flossing can be tricky for adult fingers, so giving them as much time as possible to learn how to use floss effectively is just one of those things you can do as a health-conscious dental parent.
My Children’s Gums Are Bleeding, Am I Doing This Wrong?
While we know it can be unnerving to see your child bleeding following a flossing session, there’s really no reason to be concerned. Their fresh new gums simply aren’t used to the flossing process, and the more frequently you do it, the less you should see bloody gums happening until eventually, it doesn’t happen at all. This isn’t to say that you don’t need to be gentle when flossing, but don’t be afraid if you see a little blood afterward, it’s all part of the process of growing up with excellent dental health!
How Can I Help My Child Learn To Floss?
This can be a more difficult process, as many of us have had a hard enough time just getting our own flossing routine down. If you want to make sure your child is having an excellent flossing experience and learns to take meticulous care of their teeth then just keep to the following steps.
1. Wrap 18 inches of floss around each middle finger until there is only an inch of floss between them.
2. Slide it gently into the space between your child’s teeth, keeping the floss taut.
3. Form a C with the floss by applying pressure laterally (to the side) to get the sides clean.
That’s all there is to it! Just repeat it with each tooth, and you’ll be on your way to teaching your child great oral health!
If your child has new teeth coming in and you want professional help with teaching them how to take care of them, why not make an appointment at Pasadena Children’s Dentistry with Pallavi Kavety? Children in the Pasadena, CA area have been getting exceptional pediatric oral health care for years, and helping them get off to a great future with a beautiful smile is part of their professional pride!
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