How To Teach Your Kid How To Floss
Flossing is one of the most important dental habits when it comes to protecting your teeth and your gums from decay and disease. It is not uncommon for a dentist to bring it up during a routine check-up. As far as habits go, it is highly important to not only floss regularly but to also do it properly. Both building a habit and doing it correctly can be very difficult for kids. In this article, we will cover a few ways you can help your kids floss often and floss correctly.
Help Your Kids Floss By Leading By Example
Let’s get something out of the way, your kids, especially young kids learn by watching. If you aren’t flossing frequently or not flossing in front of them, it can be difficult for them to learn the importance of the habit. Even older kids might struggle with dental habits if they feel like their parents or their siblings aren’t doing it regularly. Making sure to brush and floss frequently and to do it with your kids can help build healthy habits.
Encourage Them With Checklists & Sticker Sheets
Depending on your kid’s age, helping encourage them to brush and floss with sticker charts can be very effective. Being able to immediately visualize how often you have been brushing and flossing is a great motivator to build a habit. For younger kids, they will love putting stickers into a calendar and seeing their progress. There are many different ways to identify if you are keeping up a good and healthy streak. In fact, many apps use similar psychological triggers for adults. Seeing check marks, stickers, or x’s all lined up can be a great way to track your progress towards improving your oral habits. Even if you miss a day or two it can be great to know you got 25 out of 30 days.
Teaching Your Kids To Floss Correctly
While the most important thing is building a habit and doing it often, you want to make sure that you are teaching your kids how to floss correctly. The best way to learn how to floss is to ask your dentist to show you, most pediatric or family dentists will not only help clean teeth but also try to educate and encourage your kids on how to take better care of their teeth. In terms of the correct way to floss it is important to take your time and scrape both teeth with the floss when it is sitting between your teeth.
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