Teaching Your Kids to Floss Using Dentist Office Plush with Teeth

Everyone agrees that flossing should make an integral part of the everyday dental care routine. The American Dental Association recommends that we floss once a day. But getting your kid to floss can prove to be a real struggle, especially if they’re just introducing it to their dental hygiene regimen. However, the task becomes less demanding with a help of selected dental education tools, such as dentist office plush with teeth. We tackle it in more detail below.

Flossing 101

When it comes to flossing, it’s all about using the proper technique to make the most out of it. This includes holding the floss properly between your fingers, knowing the floss length that is necessary to clean between all teeth, how to wind it around your fingers, etc. But the most important is to teach children to floss gently along the side of each tooth to remove all plaque buildups and dislodge the food particles to avoid cavities and gum disease. This means you should pay special attention to whether they are just pulling the floss back and forth and instruct them to move it up and down the side of each tooth instead. This is essential for successful flossing and will prevent possible gum irritations and other similar issues. 

Arrange the Proper Demonstration

Take some 18 inches of floss and have your child wrap most of it around one of their middle fingers. The remaining floss should be wrapped around their other finger. This other hand will take up all the used floss. They should hold the floss tight between their thumbs and forefingers but their flossing motions should still be gentle. Once the floss reaches the gum line, make sure they curve it into a c-shape and go up and down the side of each tooth.

If you’re too busy to get creative with your local thrift shop supplies and make a demonstration puppet on your own, we suggest that you obtain a real dental puppet that usually comes with a set of flossible teeth.

Have your kid floss between the puppet’s teeth while you hold it to be able to feel the amount of pressure they apply and correct them if you notice they’re doing it wrong. This is a great way to improve their flossing motions under your direct supervision. 

Don’t forget that your kid’s manual dexterity isn’t as developed as yours though, so their flossing will probably gradually improve. Don’t lose your temper easily and rest assured they will become more skilled in due time. Remember, practice makes perfect and this goes for flossing, too!

Where to Get Dental Plushes With Teeth

You can go ahead and ask your pediatric dentist for a recommendation, or you can purchase one online. The most important things to consider before making the purchase are your child’s personal preferences (so that you can get them the type of animal they will easily bond with) and price vs. quality comparison. 

Other Shortcuts

If you aren’t noticing any flossing progress in your child, perhaps you could temporarily switch to a floss holder. The best thing about floss holders or floss picks is that they are practically pieces of floss previously placed on a “u” shaped stick and are typically products you can buy over the counter. You can use your dental plush to teach your child how to use their floss holder, too. Also, when you go shopping for a floss, make sure you bring your child with you. Allow them to pick floss with motives they like. This could also encourage them to floss regularly. 

Is Bleeding Normal?

If your child is just starting with flossing, some blood is perfectly normal, especially in the first 7-10 days. After that, the bleeding should completely stop. If you notice that your kid still experiences bleeding after that time, chances are they are doing something wrong. This is why your supervisory role during these times is so critical. Practicing on a dentist’s office plush with teeth is one thing, but you will have to keep your eyes open once they start flossing for real.

Key Takeaways

Flossing is an unavoidable part of a daily dental care routine. If you’re having a hard time teaching your child to floss properly, perhaps it’s high time you obtained a dental plush with teeth to help you with your efforts. Besides being made in a way to help you demonstrate to your kid all things vital about flossing, dental plushes also come in a compelling design that is bound to establish a connection with your kid and encourage them to brush efficiently and consistently.

There you go, our top tips that will make your kid floss like a pro. Do you think we forgot something? What’s your best piece of advice on flossing? Share it below!