How to Floss Kids' Teeth

Having a child have his or her teeth flossed is very important in having good oral care. Flossing teeth helps to remove plaque. Plaque is a yellow, yucky substance that can stay on teeth and damage them. Flossing helps clean your teeth, which is very important for children's teeth. Here are some ideas on how to floss kid's teeth in an easy, simple way:

Patience

Whether you are attempting to floss a child's teeth for the first time, or you are helping a child floss their own teeth, you need to have patience. It may not be easy to have a child want to floss his or her teeth. So, the first thing you will want to do is to approach the whole flossing situation with a positive attitude. The child will pick up on your own attitude towards flossing and follow suit. So be patient with yourself and with the child.

Fun

Make the idea of how to floss kids' teeth fun. There is tons of fun floss that you can buy to make the experience of flossing kids' teeth more fun. Some floss holders come in different colors. Other floss holders also come in different fun shapes that children will enjoy. Flossing kids' teeth does not have to be a chore. It can be something they enjoy.

Explain

Before you even help a kid floss his or her teeth, you should explain what is going to happen. Tell the child each step that is going to happen in flossing. Explain it calmly. Many children react better if they are prepared, especially for something that could be perceived as uncomfortable, like flossing. By doing this it will probably be an easier experience for both you and the child.

Directions

Here are the actual directions on how to floss a kid's teeth. Be sure to wash your hands first. Either you or the child should take the floss and hold it firmly between the index finger and thumb. Gently put the floss in between the two teeth that need to be cleaned. Then slowly slide the floss back and forth between the two teeth. Make sure to go up and down also with the floss between the teeth to really make sure the teeth get clean. Keep repeating until all of the kid's teeth have been flossed. If the child resists, be patient and keep coming back to the flossing. Eventually, kids learn that it's something that just has to happen.

Reward

A child should usually be rewarded if the flossing process goes well. You can reward him or her with kind words. The child should know how proud you are of how well the flossing went. Some people even give little reward presents if the flossing experience went really well, like stickers. Be sure not to give anything sweet, though! Learning how to floss kid's teeth can be really easy if you just follow these simple steps to good oral care.

Source:
http://www.teachkidshow.com/teach-your-child-how-to-floss-their-teeth/