Remembering to brush your teeth each day is easy enough, but what about flossing? You and the rest of your family should floss on a daily basis in order to reduce the risk of gum disease and other oral health problems. How can you make sure that all of you get into this habit? Keep the following tips in mind.

Benefits of Flossing

Brushing your teeth only removes some food particles from your mouth. Flossing helps get rid of food particles that have fallen between your teeth. When you don’t floss, these food particles remain there and attract bacteria, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing along with brushing helps protect your teeth and gums from these dental problems. 

Make Flossing Fun

Your kids are more likely to develop a healthy habit of flossing each day when you make the process fun. Use flossing products that are designed for kids, and consider setting up a challenge or game to encourage your kids to floss regularly. For example, you might create a family challenge that lasts for a month. This can motivate you and your kids to remember to floss daily. You can also provide your kids with extra incentive to floss by putting stickers on a calendar to mark each time they remember to perform this habit.

Keep Floss Handy and Easy to Use

Always make sure that you have floss handy for you and your family to use. You can keep floss with you when you’re out and about so that everyone can floss after dining out if needed. When you stock your bathroom, choose floss products that work best for you and your kids. For example, you might prefer waxed floss, which is easier to slide between your teeth. You and your kids might also benefit from using flossing aids, such as floss picks, that make it easier to get floss between your teeth.

Make it Easy to Remember

Getting into the habit of flossing makes it easier for the whole family to do it on a daily basis. You might find it easy to remember to do so by flossing every time you brush your teeth. While you should aim to floss at least once a day, having you and your kids do so right after brushing helps turn it into a habit. Take your time flossing, and make sure that your kids are doing it the right way. Keep in mind that you should also have them start flossing when they’re young, which also helps turn this dental care practice into a daily habit for healthier gums and teeth.

Teaching your kids to floss each day for good oral health is important, but make sure that you’re also doing so. If your kids are due for a dental exam and cleaning, please contact us at Wright Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to make an appointment.