Teaching Kids How to Floss
It's important to teach kids how to floss and encourage them to do it regularly. With rewards and child-centric tools like the WaterpikTM Water Flosser For Kids, you can make flossing an easy, exciting event that turns into a lifelong habit.
Start Early
Before teaching your child how to floss their teeth, you'll want to handle the task for them, starting as soon as they have two touching teeth. That's because it takes children a while to develop the motor skills needed for string flossing. You can expect to floss your child's teeth for them, using water or string, until they're ready to floss on their own.
Team Effort
Flossing can be a team effort with the parent or caregiver gently flossing between the child's teeth with water, string, or both. When using a water flosser the child can lean over a sink or bowl, releasing the water as it flows.
Less technique dependent than string floss, a water flosser can be used by children on their own from six years old. When your child is ready to start flossing on their own they should already be familiar with the routine.
Flossing Independently
To help them floss independently you can talk and walk them through each step of the flossing process and physically guide their hands through those steps. There are many guides online covering the steps of string flossing. If your child is using a water flosser, WATERPIK has published a video guide on how to use a water flosser. Be sure to observe and supervise your child as they learn the steps.
Show Why Flossing Is Important
While you're helping your child learn to floss, showing them why flossing is a good habit may help them stick to it. For instance, a two-step process can visually demonstrate the benefits of flossing:
- Eat something that you know will stick between your teeth, like popcorn
- Floss in front of your child so they can see how it removes food debris
Your child's dentist can be helpful as well, as they probably have a lot of experience explaining to children why flossing is important. And aside from chatting with kids, they can also provide invaluable advice to any parent wondering how to teach kids how to floss.
Make the Habit Fun
For kids, learning how to floss can be an exciting activity! That's because parents have many ways to liven up flossing. Here are some ideas:
- Make flossing a game, complete with rewards. For instance, you might reward your child with a sticker after each day they floss, and perhaps a toy after a month straight of flossing.
- Introduce fun flossing tools. An example is the WATERPIK Water Flosser For Kids. It includes removable decorative cling labels and a simple design, easy for small hands.
- Have fun yourself! Singing about flossing to your child, telling them a story about defeating cavity monsters, and flossing your own teeth alongside them can make the task more playful.
Keep Things Comfortable
For some kids, learning to floss may be intimidating, so take your time when introducing the habit, and give your child plenty of encouragement. Parents can set their kids up for flossing success with fun, effective flossing tools and rewarding flossing rituals.
