We know adults need to floss, but one common question is if children also need to floss. The simple answer to this question is yes! Parents should start helping children establish a daily flossing routine as soon as they have more than two teeth adjacent to one another. For younger children, this can be challenging to implement. It may require a high level of parental concern for the child's oral health, perseverance, and determination. When children have good mobility, parents can teach them to floss on their own.
What Are the Benefits of Flossing?
Flossing is an essential part of any thorough oral hygiene regimen. Here are four key benefits of flossing:
1.Aids in maintaining oral health:Brushing in conjunction with flossing cleans every surface of the teeth.
2.Removesplaque: Cleans the plaque that adheres to the surface of the teeth every day to reduce the occurrence of dental caries.
3.Protectsgum health: Flossing removes food residue and plaque in time to avoid gingivitis.
4.Preventsbad breath: Flossing daily to clean food residues and reduce the reproduction and fermentation of bacteria can effectively prevent bad breath and help children socialize more smoothly.
Will Flossing Make the Gaps Between Teeth Larger?
Some parents worry that flossing will make the gaps between the teeth larger. You can rest assured that flossing will not affect these gaps. Since floss is about 0.15 mm thick, it can easily pass through the gaps between the teeth and remove food debris and plaque without exacerbating any gaps. It is also essential to note that children have typical physiological gaps, which are the gaps that can be seen when they are about five years old or teething. This physiological gap is entirely normal as more teeth come in.
Key Takeaway
Flossing at least once daily is a critical part of every oral hygiene regimen. There are many benefits to flossing, and parents should help children floss as soon as two teeth are next to each other. Flossing does not make gaps between the teeth wider, and once children have more mobility, parents can teach them to floss on their own!
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