How To

How to Floss a Toddler's Teeth

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By eHow Contributing Writer
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Flossing your toddler's teeth keeps the gums and teeth healthy, free of plaque and food particles logged between the teeth. Flossing the teeth is a vital part of your children's dental hygiene every day. Doing it correctly makes all the difference between a smiley face and tears.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Set a time where you floss your child's teeth every day. At night before going to bed is the best time. Stay patient. If the child fights flossing, you need to start earlier in the evening when she is not so tired. Encouragement is the key word, not force.

  2. Step 2

    Floss before the child brushes his teeth.

  3. Step 3

    Roll out about 18 inches of dental floss. Wrap the floss around the ends of your middle fingers.

  4. Step 4

    Guide the floss with your thumb and index fingers. Softly without force glide the floss between two teeth, using a back and forth motion.

  5. Step 5

    Settle the floss to the gum line. Draw both ends of the floss to make a "C" shape as the floss glides on one tooth. Move the floss up and down at that one tooth.

  6. Step 6

    Reverse to the other tooth next to the flossed tooth. Repeat the "C" shape glide as well as the up and down motion.

  7. Step 7

    Continue flossing this way throughout the mouth. Make sure you get the farthest back teeth in the mouth.

Tips & Warnings
  • It is best to use your fingers rather than a flossing tool. Toddlers' gums are tender when you first start flossing, and using your fingers lets you adjust the pressure better.

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