Ways of Making Flossing More Fun for Kids

Posted on 10/20/2018 by Fariba Mutschler

How many times have you, as an adult, fibbed to your dentist at that dreaded question of your flossing habits? As much as adults have aversions to flossing, children, of course, will have an even harder time. 2015 studies showed that only 4 in 10 Americans floss every day. 36 percent surveyed said they would rather do something unpleasant, like clean a toilet, than floss.

Yet, we know what the extreme advantages are in flossing regularly. How do we pass that on to our children? How can we encourage this necessary skill and help it to become a lifelong habit for them?

Families That Floss Together

Floss with them and let them see a strong example of exactly how it's done. Flossing twice a day like this will quickly become a habit for all of you, especially when it comes to spending more time with them and making more precious memories!

Flossing Can Be Fun

Every kid plays like it's their job, and it really is! Virtually anything can be turned into a game, and flossing is no exception. Anything, from making it into a competition with points and rewards, to singing silly flossing songs, to even making creative and educational flossing projects you can find online, will motivate your little one to keep it up.

Let Them Choose Their Weapon Against Tooth Decay

Holding string between tiny fingers and maneuvering around tiny teeth with it sounds tough. This difficulty may be a part of why children don't like flossing. With all the colorful products out there that make flossing less difficult for kids, it's easier than ever to do this.

It may also help to hear about the benefits of flossing from their dentist or hygienist, as they'll have some compelling reasons to make it a lifelong habit. Please give our office a call to discuss this option, or many other ideas of ways to help your child we have at our disposal!

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
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