Blog Summary Help your child build healthy flossing habits with practical tips for every age. Learn when to start flossing, which tools to use, how to help younger children floss, and when kids can begin flossing independently.
Let’s face it: Flossing daily is a habit that kids would rather skip. In fact, a national poll of parents showed that only a quarter of kids in the U.S. floss daily, which is bad for children’s health. Flossing and brushing are important in preventing gum disease that impacts overall health.
Here are some tips for helping your child turn flossing into a daily habit.
How to Teach Your Child to Floss
Throughout childhood, there are several ways you can help your child develop a daily flossing habit:
- Pair flossing with another daily routine—before brushing and before a bedtime story. Once at night is fine.
- Use the right tool for the age: floss picks are easier for small mouths and hands than string floss.
- Model it every day. Your child is far more likely to floss if they see you do it.
When Should Kids Start Flossing?
Start early. When two of your child's teeth touch each other, food and plaque can lodge between them. It’s important to floss even before all their teeth come in. Start flossing the front teeth when your child is one year old and the molars at three years. Having your toddler lie down will make it easier for you to access their teeth and gums.
Flossing Tips for Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 2–5)
You'll need to do the floss yourself at this stage. Continue to have them lie down so you can reach their teeth and gums easily.
Floss during a calm moment, such as after bath time. Make it playful: Let them pick a flavored floss, count their teeth or sing a tooth or floss song.
How to Help Kids Floss (Ages 6–9)
Floss picks are easier for children to use. Floss together. Let your child hold the floss picks and "have a turn" first at their teeth before you finish the job.
You can also say they’ll floss the front teeth and you’ll take care of the teeth in the back of the mouth. Keep helping because despite kids’ best efforts, their hand coordination usually isn't ready to floss adequately.
Floss picks for adults are easier to use between teeth than kids’ versions, so if your child can tolerate the adult versions, use those.
When Can Kids Start Flossing on Their Own?
Tweens (ages 10–12) are often able to start flossing solo. String floss gets the job done better, so have your tweens switch to that.
Demonstrate proper technique with string floss. Check in, ask them to show you their technique, and offer gentle reminders.
How to Floss With Braces
This is also the stage when teens start wearing braces. Your tween’s orthodontist will recommend orthodontic floss, a special category of floss that enables tweens to get under the wire of braces and reach the teeth. The orthodontist’s team will show how to use that.
How to Make Flossing a Daily Habit for Teens
For teens, independence is the goal. Continue to reinforce healthy habits by keeping floss visible and always stocked in the bathroom. Tie flossing reminders to things they care about, such as fresh breath and a whiter smile.
Find your trusted, local dentist today!
Smile Generation blog articles are reviewed by a licensed dental professional before publishing. However, we present this information for educational purposes only with the intent to promote readers’ understanding of oral health and oral healthcare treatment options and technology. We do not intend for our blog content to substitute for professional dental care and clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment planning provided by a licensed dental professional. Smile Generation always recommends seeking the advice of a dentist, physician, or other licensed healthcare professional for a dental or medical condition or treatment.
