Dr. Michaels Dental Clinic | 7 easy flossing steps for children

 
 

Brushing and flossing should be a part of everyone’s oral hygiene - young and old. It’s a challenge familiar to many parents, but oral care routine should be a habit and not something we force our kids to do. This is why it’s best to start while they’re still young.

Start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as two of his or her milk teeth touch. Ideally, parents should do the brushing and flossing until their kids are at least 6 years old. Start teaching your child how to floss as soon as he or she develops dexterity and coordination. Generally, kids aged 6 or 7 should be able to brush and floss their teeth with supervision until around the age of 10.

Here are seven easy flossing steps for kids from 2min2x.org:
 

1. Break off about 18 inches of floss (the length from a fingertip to your elbow) and use it to floss younger kids’ teeth, or teach older kids how to do it themselves.

2. Wind most of the floss around a middle finger. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will wrap up the used floss as it becomes dirty.

3. Make sure your child holds the floss tightly between their thumbs and forefingers.

4. They should guide the floss between their teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.

6. Then they should curve the floss into a C shape as it gets closer to their gum and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.

6. They should hold the floss tightly against the tooth, and gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss or flosser away from the gum with up and down motions.

7. Repeat this process for each and every tooth.

 

Flossing should not hurt your kids’ gums. Visit your local pharmacy and look for dental flosses or flossers that are specially designed for children’s small mouths and sensitive gums. You may also see our child experts at Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic and we’ll help give your young one a smile that lasts a lifetime. 

 

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Villa 1020 Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 1. Dubai, UAE
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Villa 418 Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 2, PO Box 12372, Dubai, UAE.
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Umm Suqeim Branch
Villa 1016 Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim 1, PO Box 213720, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: +971 4 394 9433, Fax: +971 4 395 5390
Email: [email protected]
 

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