Flossing is not something everyone likes to hear about, think about, or perform daily. We know it can be time consuming and when it comes to your children, it can become quite an ordeal. However, we cannot stress enough how important flossing is to overall dental health.
Make flossing a part of your entire family’s routine, following the recommendation of at least once a day. The number one thing people can do to help remember to floss daily is to find a time of day that is most convenient for you and make it part of your routine. Perhaps you like a clean mouth before bed, do it in the evening. Others may find morning is a better time for whatever reason. Whatever your routine, just take the time to do it. The benefits of flossing greatly outweigh the challenges.
Brushing is important too, but most people do not skip brushing. More people tend to not make flossing part of their daily routine and feel no internal conflict about it because they brush daily and think the toothbrush is getting between the teeth if everything else looks clean. However, brushing alone cannot get below the gum line or in between the teeth. Bacteria will get in between the teeth and can wreak havoc when left undisturbed for long periods of time, ultimately causing periodontal disease, gum recession, and even tooth loss when severe.
Tooth decay is another side effect of inadequate floosing that is caused by acid eating away at the enamel surface. Flossing helps to remove the bacterial build-up called plaque that can form between teeth and at the gum line and form and harbor the dangerous cavity-causing acids. It also helps to maintain clean smelling breath! It doesn’t really matter if you floss before or after you brush your teeth, just as long as you do it. This is one easy thing that you can do to improve your dental health and, most likely, your overall health as most of us are aware of the connection between cardiac health and dental health.
Children under the age of 10 really need help when it comes to flossing. Usually very young children cannot manipulate the floss on their own. You should start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as two teeth become close enough to create a tooth to tooth contact in their mouths. There are all sorts of products out there that you can use to floss. There is the string-like floss, plastic animal flossers, and there are also different kinds of dental picks that work to get between teeth as well. Find a product that works best for you and your family. If you have any questions about how to use them safely, we are always here to help!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John’s Hospital Macomb when needed. Our specialists are also on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
