When To Start Flossing

When to Start Flossing Children's Teeth?

You should start flossing your children’s teeth even when they have only their baby (primary) teeth. Once a child’s teeth start to fit closely together, usually between the ages of two and six, parents should start to get their children in the habit of flossing daily. As they develop dexterity, you can help them learn to floss. Children usually develop the ability to floss on their own around the age of 10.

To stress the importance of flossing, do it for them regularly until they're able to do it themselves. This will help them develop a good habit of flossing while they still have their baby teeth so that  when their permanent teeth come in, they already have flossing worked into their daily oral routine. Use floss that is soft and flexible so that it doesn't hurt their teeth and is comfortable on their gums.

Although it may not be the most exciting addition to their daily oral hygiene routine, there are ways to make flossing fun for kids. Kid-friendly flossers can help do just that and encourage good oral care habits early on.

How to Start Flossing Your Child's Teeth

Try tying the floss into small circles on either end of the strand so that your child’s fingers can easily fit in. This will help them get a grip on the floss in the early stages before they learn how to hold it on their own. Next, have your child follow these basic flossing steps:

1. Take about 18 inches of floss and loosely wrap most of it around each middle finger leaving an inch of floss between.
2. Gently slide it down between your child's teeth with your thumb and index fingers holding the floss taut. Be careful not to snap it down on your gums.
3. Curve the floss around each tooth in a “C” shape and gently move it up and down the sides of each tooth, including under the gum line. Unroll a new section of floss as your move from tooth to tooth.

Don’t worry if your child’s gums bleed at first—this is quite common. After a few days of flossing, the bleeding should stop as their gums become healthier. But if the bleeding persists, consult your dental professional.

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