With today's highly-processed and sugared foods, flossing a child has become as common and obligatory as diapering an infant.
Parents Should be Flossing Their Kids
Tammy Debem, dental hygienist for Dr. Gus Charles Petras in Redding California, told Suite101 that, "Parents should be flossing their kids at least once a day until the age of eight or until the child can write cursive."
With the increase in processed foods over that last decade, children's mouths need more attention in the prevention of cavities, said Debem. "Their little hands lack the motor skills necessary to reach most flossing and brushing angles. Parents have to help."
Tips for Keeping Kids' Teeth and Gums Healthier
Recently retired Dr. Dennis Mihalka, a USC Dental School grad having practiced in Redding California since 1986, told Suite101, "It's hard to avoid sugary foods, but it's easy to brush and floss your teeth." Easy for adults, that is. That's why parents have to help. Moms and dads may not be able to curb all the sugar from their children's diets, but they can assist them with brushing and flossing.
- Dr. Mihalka recommends keeping toothbrushes and floss in the car glove box for easy cleaning on the go: It's called dry brushing (no toothpaste is needed). It works great when the kids forget to brush before leaving the house.
- TV time is also a good time to dry brush – keep a toothbrush next to your chair.
- Brush thoroughly, especially at the gum line on the inside of the teeth where it's easy to miss.
- Brush twice a day for at least two minutes.
- Floss the teeth at least once a day.
- Visit the dentist at least once a year to have the teeth and gums cleaned.
Tips for Flossing
Dr. Mihalka's "Flossing Made Easy" tips are as follows:
- Wind about 18 inches of floss around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving about five inches between.
- Pinch the floss between your thumbs and index fingers and leave about one inch to work with.
- Gently guide the floss down between the teeth, pull it into a C shape around the sides of a tooth, and slide it under the gum line.
- Clean the surface of the tooth by using an up-and-down motion.
- Repeat the process on all teeth winding the floss to a fresh section for each tooth.
- Those who encounter flossing difficulties should let their dentist know to get help and advice.
Benefits of Flossing a Child
Most parents already ensure their children are brushing twice a day. But taking just a few extra minutes to floss a child before bed, and stocking some toothbrushes in the car glove box is really all that's needed to further improve a child's chance at having healthier teeth and gums.
If anything at all, said Debem, parents will be helping to create good routines and healthy habits that will carry on throughout their child's entire life; not to mention the saved cost and havoc of getting a filling. And remember, help children floss their teeth least once a day until the age of eight or until they can write cursive.
Sonney Wolfe - Sonney Wolfe is a freelance writer who lives in Buckeye, Arizona. She has been published in The Record Searchlight, Placer Herald, Press ...
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