Teaching your child how to brush and floss
I have a six year old that does brush some what but not very good. I aways have to watch over her to make sure she is not just playing around in the bathroom. I think she should be old enough to start flossing her teeth now on her own. As it is I do that for her before she goes to bed each night. Is there any easy way to get your child to brush and floss on their own that makes it easy for them? Help tips would be nice
Teaching your child how to brush and floss,
Monday, Oct. 25th 2010 9:02 AM at 9:02 am
Part of the trick of having children brush and floss their teeth is to make it fun. Kids do not like doing things that are a chore but if you show them it is a fun thing to do they maybe be more willing to do it each time.
Brush and floss with them. Kids like doing what their parents do show them you like brushing and flossing your teeth and they will want to brush and floss theirs like their parents. At least this was what work well for my wife and I with our two children
Monday, Oct. 25th 2010 9:06 AM at 9:06 am
Children may still need help flossing until they are around eight or nine years old. You want them to get the brushing down right. So that they are brushing not only the full two minutes but brushing correctly.
By that time you can move into the flossing though until they are old enough to really manage floss well you may still want to go over the flossing until you feel it is time for them to handle it alone.
Monday, Oct. 25th 2010 9:10 AM at 9:10 am
My son would brush is own teeth when he was four but either my husband or I would be with him brushing out teeth together. I think this helped him brush better because he would brush his teeth until one of use stopped.
Flossing took a little longer for him to get it down but by the time he was seven he was flossing on his own too. We just did not make a big deal out of it by brushing together we never had to tell him to brush and floss it was just something we did in the morning after breakfast and before my son would go to sleep at night.
Monday, Oct. 25th 2010 9:15 AM at 9:15 am
My daughter would put up a stink every time when it came to brushing her teeth. It was bad. I was brushing her teeth until she was seven and flossing was impossible job.
Really what got her to brush and floss on her own was her first cavities. She had two and she did not like having to them filled at the dentist. I told her she will keep getting cavities and will have to keep going to the dentist for filling if she did not start brushing and flossing like she needed to.
She changed after that and so far no new cavities she ten now and a course she is taking care of her own oral health. Not the way I suggest having to go about things but that seem to be the only way she learned the importance of brushing and flossing.
Monday, Oct. 25th 2010 9:20 AM at 9:20 am
Well I guess that is one way a child can learn to take better care of their teeth. However you do not want to make the dentist out to be the bad guy.
Too many people have dental fears as it is and turning a dental visit into something bad if you are not brushing right can cause issues latter on in life.
I say just keep things light and fun like a few replies suggested. Have your daughter pick out her own toothbrush. If she like her toothbrush she may want to brush longer.
I think she may still be a little young to be flossing on her own but you can start showing her how to flossing and letting her do a little each time and just finishing up for her in the end.