As any parent knows, getting kids to brush their teeth can be a daily battle. But what about flossing? Few kids look forward to this essential oral care routine, but the fact is that flossing is just as important as brushing. Here are six creative ways to encourage kids to make flossing a part of their daily routine.
1. Lead by Example
As a parent, you are always hoping your kids will follow in your footsteps – and when it comes to dental hygiene, that’s something you want. One of the best ways to encourage your kids to floss daily is to lead by example. Show them how important and easy it is to make flossing part of their daily routine. And who knows, maybe you’ll even pick up a few new flossing tips from them.
2. Make It Fun
There are endless ways to make flossing more fun for kids. You can try using flavored floss, letting them choose their toothbrush or floss holder, or even making a game. If regular mint dental floss isn’t doing the trick, let your kids choose from various fun flavors like bubble gum or watermelon. They’ll be much more likely to use it if they enjoy the taste. The key is to find what works for your child and make it something they look forward to doing.
3. Set a Good Example
It’s not enough to lead by example – you also need to set a good example. That means no skipping days, cutting corners, or sugary eating snacks before bed. If you are serious about having your kid floss daily, you need to be serious about setting a good example yourself. They’re watching you every step of the way, so make sure you’re doing everything you can to encourage them.
4. Be Patient
Learning how to floss properly takes time and practice, so it’s important to be patient with your child as they learn. Encourage them when they do an excellent job, and help them when they struggle. Over time, they’ll get the hang of it and be able to do it independently. Just remember – Rome wasn’t built in a day.
5. Get Creative
There are many creative ways to encourage kids to floss their teeth daily. You can have them brush their teeth with one hand while they floss with the other, sing a song while they floss, or even turn it into a race against the clock (with parental supervision, of course). Kids love anything that is phosphorescent, so why not get fluorescent dental floss? They’ll be so excited to use it that they’ll probably want to floss more often to show off their cool threads.
6. Reward Them
Dental experts may not recommend bribing your children to brush their teeth, but a little reward can help a lot when it comes to flossing. Try using sticker charts or setting up a points system where they can earn a small prize for every day they remember to floss. After a week or two of successful flossing, up the ante with bigger rewards like an extra hour of screen time or a trip to the ice cream store. Just be sure not to go overboard – after all, the goal is for them to develop healthy habits, not just get their hands on some candy.
Flossing is critical to oral care, but it’s something that few kids look forward to. It is important to encourage kids to floss their teeth daily to prevent cavities and gum disease. Several creative ways to encourage kids to floss include making it into a game, offering rewards, or letting them choose their floss flavor. The essential thing is to be consistent and ensure that kids are flossing daily.
