The importance of flossing in order to keep your baby’s teeth clean and healthy can not be overlooked. Flossing is a great way to protect your child’s smile. Baby teeth hold spaces open for permanent teeth. We recommend that you back up your child’s daily brushing routine with flossing. Many people view flossing as an optional addition to brushing.; however, they complement each other. For your child and their tightly spaced teeth, manually flossing is key to removing tartar and plaque from between the teeth. We recommend that you floss your child’s teeth daily in addition to brushing twice daily.
Why isn’t brushing enough?
Just brushing your child’s teeth isn’t enough to remove plaque and prevent cavities. Your child’s toothbrush can only reach three out of the five sides of a tooth. The other two sides are very close to other teeth, making it easy for food to get trapped in between. If you leave food stuck in these gaps, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria to build up, creating plaque. It is vital to use an interdental tool to remove debris from between the teeth. Keep brushing and remember to schedule a dental checkup.
Flossing is an interdental super hero!
As an interdental cleaning tool, floss can get into these tight spaces and remove 80% of plaque.
Protect their gums
When you ignore flossing, plaque and bacteria will quickly build up. The plague and bacteria will eventually begin to irritate the gum tissue. As the bacteria increases, the irritation will get worse and can subsequently cause Gingivitis.
Protect their teeth
The bacteria between your teeth will also destroy your tooth’s enamel, causing a cavity. Using flossing as an interdental tool will help remove plaque and prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria. Regularly flossing your child’s teeth allows you to check your child’s mouth for potential cavities, as well as swelling or redness.
Protects from other diseases
Untreated bacteria living in an unhealthy mouth can harm your child’s overall health. For instance, Gingivitis can enter the bloodstream and journey to other parts of the body, leading to heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses.
Key Facts:
Dental plaque begins the process that causes cavity and gum disease. This process can start as early as 24 hours.
Mechanical removal with toothbrushes and floss is the only way to get rid of plaque.
Flossing and other cleaning aids remove the plaque for the hard-to-reach areas between the teeth.
Is There a Different Way to Remove Plaque Between the Teeth?
You could use Waterpik Water Flosser, Sonicare AirFloss, or an interdental brush to remove plaque from between the teeth. Keep in mind that the evidence for these cleaning aids is also weak.
What is the Best for My Child’s Teeth?
We still recommend flossing for children with tight teeth. Flossing is a low-cost and safe way to keep your teeth clean. Remember that brushing, flossing, a healthy diet, and regular dental check-ups are essential in keeping your mouth healthy.
Things You Can Do to Prevent Tooth Decay
Bacteria cause tooth decay in the plaque that forms on teeth. Let’s learn how to remove the bacteria!
- Be sure to clean your baby’s teeth with gauze or a soft cloth after each feeding.
- When your child is older, use a toothbrush
- Use a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste
- Brush or clean the child’s teeth once a day until the child is around 7 or 8 years of age
- Avoid large amounts of sugary foods or liquids such as juice, Kool-Aid®, and soda pop
- Read this post to learn more about what to expect on your child’s first dental visit