POLL: Flossing Little Kids' Teeth

Just wondering.

 

We were told that it is a good habit to establish while they are young. For many young children they have spaces between their teeth (which is a good thing for future permanent teeth) which allow the toothbrush bristles to get through. However, there are some teeth which are too close for the bristles to get through so flossing is the only way to get those areas clean. They have children's flossers at the stores (in the toothbrush/toothpaste aisle) that are really easy to do and our children actually look forward to flossing their teeth. We also bought them battery operated toothbrushes that they have fun using. We let them do it first and then we do it again for them twice a day.

 

My boys LOVE having their teeth flossed. They prefer flossing to brushing -- LOL. We started before age 2 and do it every night.

Mendy

 

We do sometimes but really need to get it into the daily routine. I want them to learn better habits than I was taught. I'm going to look for the floss brush things mentioned by a PP because I'm sure they'd like that better (thanks!)

 

I read someplace that you should floss toddlers' teeth, and my response was :rotflmbo:

I know, I know -- we should start. But I just can't imagine it. It's all we can do to cover the basics with a toothbrush -- do they really sit still for flossing?

 

FYI - here is a picture of the flossers I was referring to, but there are alot of other kinds, too. Also, yes...they really do sit/lay still while we brush and floss their teeth. We really "play it up" and make a big deal about it and make it sound as fun as possible. Plus I think they like the fact that they actually get to do some "hands on" brushing/flossing themselves. They see us brush & floss so it makes them feel grown up. In fact, sometimes we do it together as a family.

 

those "wild flossers" are perfect - I used those in the dental office to demo all of the time. good job!QUOTE(littletwinstars @ Feb 14 2008, 08:49 AM) [snapback]621686[/snapback]
FYI - here is a picture of the flossers I was referring to, but there are alot of other kinds, too. Also, yes...they really do sit/lay still while we brush and floss their teeth. We really "play it up" and make a big deal about it and make it sound as fun as possible. Plus I think they like the fact that they actually get to do some "hands on" brushing/flossing themselves. They see us brush & floss so it makes them feel grown up. In fact, sometimes we do it together as a family.

 

I think I'm supposed to but no we don't ....Thanks for the reminder.

 

QUOTE(Minette @ Feb 14 2008, 08:47 AM) [snapback]621682[/snapback]
I read someplace that you should floss toddlers' teeth, and my response was :rotflmbo:

I know, I know -- we should start. But I just can't imagine it. It's all we can do to cover the basics with a toothbrush -- do they really sit still for flossing?



Ditto that.

We are struggling with getting them to let US brush their teeth. Joe's pretty tolerant, but Nick has some serious "ME DO" "ME DO" tantrums at tooth brushing. It wouldn't be a problem if he actually moved the toothbrush around instead of just sucking on the spinning head.

We have the toothbrush flossers and they are very handy....I can totally see preschoolers enjoying learning how to use them. Toddlers... :rotflmbo: yeah, right. I know we need to start, but.....

 

Umm.. no. It's enough to get them to let us brush their teeth now. They like to do it themselves, but really, they don't do a good job.

 

We try to floss but the consistency is bad on my part... they'll let do it if I'm fast.

 

We just went to our first dental visit and the pediatric dentist said their is no need to floss my kids teeth until they start losing the baby teeth and the permanent ones come in. But, I think he may have said this because my kids baby teeth aren't tightly impacted together. There are spaces and the toothbrush can get them pretty good. So we have not started yet.

 

I think I've done it maybe 5 times since their last dentists appointment. The dentist sent them both home with floss but it is a huge pain so I wasn't exactly disciplined about it.

 

We don't floss the baby's teeth yet but Aria flosses her own with those flossers... She probably doesn't get between each teeth but after a bad dentist appt we felt it was necessary to start getting into the habit because she apparently inherited her daddy's low enamel teeth.

 

I just had the girls at the dentist on Tuesday and while Jamie's teeth had good spacing...Nicole has my teeth and they are a little crowded and DO require flossing. I guess he saw me flinch when he mentioned flossing her teeth because he responded "it's much easier to run some floss through their teeth once a day than it is to have them sit through the needle and discomfort of getting a cavity filled". Of course he's right.

 

QUOTE(Sharon with J & N @ Feb 15 2008, 10:20 AM) [snapback]623317[/snapback]
I just had the girls at the dentist on Tuesday and while Jamie's teeth had good spacing...Nicole has my teeth and they are a little crowded and DO require flossing. I guess he saw me flinch when he mentioned flossing her teeth because he responded "it's much easier to run some floss through their teeth once a day than it is to have them sit through the needle and discomfort of getting a cavity filled". Of course he's right.


This is very hard to explain to a squirmy preschooler though.

Jade also has crowded teeth, so I really have to get her to comply. Melissa has a huge mouth and good spaces, so not such a problem.

I've NEVER done it.