Oral Hygiene Basics: Don’t Forget to Floss

Brushing and flossing teeth are critical oral hygiene basics every child should establish as part of their care routines. Many children already know the proper procedures and benefits of brushing their teeth regularly, but flossing sometimes gets left out. Good oral hygiene helps prevent decay, diseases, and other systems issues within the body. Proper flossing in an oral care routine is essential to help maintain a child’s overall well-being.

Flossing basics

Flossing is carefully moving a piece of dental floss up and down between each tooth to remove any food particles or plaque that can cause damage. Many dental associations and dental product companies recommend flossing at least once a day to minimize buildup while stimulating healthy gums.

Why floss

Flossing removes any foreign particles stuck between teeth. Having food stuck between teeth is more than embarrassing; it can also damage one’s oral health. When food particles or other residue is left to sit along the gum line or between teeth in hard-to-brush areas, it can form plaque. Plaque is a sticky deposit from the food and saliva mixture in the mouth. After a time, if not properly removed, plaque will develop into tartar or calculus, which can eventually cause gum disease or other complications. Tartar can form quickly; when it does, the dentist must use special tools to remove it.

When to floss

Most pediatric dentists recommend flossing at least once a day. Many children prefer to floss before bed so they do not sleep with food particles or bacteria that proliferate in their mouths overnight. Parents with young children may also prefer nighttime flossing because they do not have to rush, unlike in the morning. Other kids, often teens, prefer to keep floss handy and privately floss after every meal or snack to ensure they maintain good oral hygiene basics. No matter the time, flossing at least once a day, every day, helps ensure a healthy routine.

How to floss

Flossing is often misunderstood and incorrectly executed. To floss correctly, begin by unraveling a piece of traditional dental floss at least the length of one’s forearm and follow these directions:

• Step 1: Wrap a length of one end of the floss around the index finger of the child’s dominant hand
• Step 2: Secure the tail end with the middle finger of the other hand
• Step 3: Leave about three to four inches between two fingers
• Step 4: Gripping the floss, slide a strand between two teeth
• Step 5: Once at the gum line, move it gently up the side of the next tooth
• Step 6: Slide the floss out and remove any residue
• Step 7: Ravel the used floss to the tail end and unravel the new clean floss
• Step 8: Repeat the steps between all teeth