Each time you take your child to the dentist you have likely been told just how important it is for you to both brush and floss their teeth. While most parents do an excellent job of brushing their child's teeth, flossing is something that generally doesn't get done as often as it should. Part of this problem is that most children do not like having their teeth flossed. Thankfully, there are certain things that you can do to make your child see flossing their teeth as something that is actually fun.
Purchase Flavored Floss Picks
Most stores that carry toothbrushes and toothpaste for kids will also have flossers that are created specifically for children. These flossers usually have a creatively-shaped handle and are made in bright colored plastic. However, their best feature is arguably the fact that the floss is scented. Your child will love pulling out their flosser and smelling the cherry or grape flavor before they begin flossing. They will also taste this flavor in their mouth as they floss, making the experience even more pleasurable. While a flosser isn't quite as good as using real floss because you can't maneuver it as well, it is still an excellent tool for flossing your child's teeth and is much better than not flossing them at all.
Get A Water Flosser
If your child doesn't like flossing their teeth with regular string, then you may want to consider purchasing a water flosser. This type of flosser uses pressurized water to clean in-between teeth, as well as the tops of teeth where they meet your gums. This flosser is not only very effective, but it is also a lot of fun because it will essentially "tickle" your child's teeth. You can even let your child have a try using the flosser themselves, which will help them get even more excited about the entire experience. If you aren't sure what kind of water flosser to purchase, your dentist can help steer you in the right direction.
Let Them Floss Your Teeth
A simple way to make flossing fun is to first let your child floss your teeth, once you have flossed theirs. You can tell your child that the two of you will take turns playing dentist as you floss each other's teeth. This will help you to teach your child proper flossing techniques, while at the same time making flossing a fun roleplaying activity.
The goal is truly to make flossing fun, whether it be by turning it into a role-playing activity or using a floss that your child finds fun.
Share15 November 2017
The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.
