It goes without saying that it’s important to make sure that kids have good dental hygiene. Although many of the older generations weren’t raised to floss, we can make a difference and ensure that flossing becomes a regular part of younger kids’ daily routines. That way, their dental health can be stronger in the future, and perhaps they won’t grow up to be a part of the 20% of adults that grow up to have untreated dental cavities.
When Should Your Kids Start Flossing?
The first dental visit should, ideally, be schedule six months after your child’s first tooth appears. Along those same lines, you should start flossing your child’s teeth … and teaching them how to floss … as soon as they have two teeth that touch. Once flossing becomes as integral a part of your child’s routine as brushing their teeth or taking a shower, you will be able to trust them with their own dental care.
What Flossing Prevents
Did you know that gum disease affects 75% of the American population? Maintaining gum health is vital to your dental hygiene regimen, as gum disease can lead to bleeding gums, infection, and tooth decay. Preventing cavities in turn prevents more advanced tooth decay and the infections that inevitably come with them. Furthermore, flossing makes your child more aware of their dental health, and less afraid to talk with their dentists about any problems they might have.
How Can I Get My Kids To Floss?
Flossing can seem tedious or annoying, but luckily there are a number of new dental hygiene products that make it far easier than it once was. Although there’s always traditional dental floss to fall back on, dental picks are an alternative that may be simpler for children to use, doing the same thing with less effort. Other possibilities include interdental brushes, which get deep between your teeth, cleaning plaque that affects both your teeth and gums.
What Else Can I Do To Care For My Kid’s Teeth?
The fact is that as important and overlooked as flossing is, there are plenty of ways to take care of your child’s oral hygiene. You should encourage tongue cleaning, and make sure that your child isn’t grinding their teeth. If they do have issues with the latter, night guards are a definite solution that can simply be integrated into your child’s life.
Dental hygiene should not scare you! As much as you may get anxious or worried about your child’s oral care, if you follow a few simple steps, dental care is easy. With a great start, your child’s teeth will have a great future.
