Teaching children how to floss properly is something that every parent has to take seriously. This skill will become an important part of their daily oral health care routine. They must also understand just how beneficial it is to their oral health, mouth, and gums to floss at least once a day, after they brush.
Here Are Some Tips for Helping Children Learn to Floss
Kindergarten through 3rd Grade, your children should be beginning to brush on their own but will still need help with the process of flossing until the age of 8 or 9. Since most children learn better through observation than through conversation, it is a good idea to have them watch you floss. It is important to watch you to see how you grip and use the floss. When you feel it is time, the best way to start is to schedule a visit with us here at the office with the dentist. This way our hygienist can help guide and instruct your child on the correct methods of flossing.
It is a good idea to go to the store with your child and pick out and purchase some floss together, just for them. This will help them feel they are a part of their own health care process and give them a sense of pride. Teaching your child to floss correctly will be a continual process for a while, so make sure they understand that this is not just a one and done process. While your job is to make sure they are flossing daily, you should take this time to also reinforce the concepts we shared with your child during their office visit.
Children tend to be forgetful about things they do not classify as fun. Since flossing is something that even adults have a hard time remembering to do, we cannot except out children to pick it up right away. Expect to remind your child on a semi-regular basis to floss. The best thing to do is create a standard routine for flossing, either as part of the morning routine or bedtime routine. This way, it is something they remember to do more often than not.
When you are ready to begin teaching your child how to floss on their own, please call River Valley Smile Center at 479.646.0706 so that we can schedule a consultation for you and your child. We will take the time to answer all your questions and get them started on the road to feeling confident about flossing.
