How to Convince Your Kids (or Spouse) to Floss

Flossing…it may just be the unsung hero of our oral hygiene routines, yet so many of us skip this important step! So much of our health depends on proper oral hygiene, and flossing helps in more ways than just removing food that gets stuck in between the teeth. Although life can get hectic at times and we’re constantly running from work to home to dinner to kids’ activities, it’s crucial that your family keeps up with their oral hygiene…flossing included! So, let’s skip the excuses and get your family on board with flossing.

Why Flossing is Important

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), flossing is an integral part of our oral hygiene routines, as it helps to remove the plaque that can build up between the teeth. Plaque build-up is responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, which can in turn result in more serious health problems, like heart disease and dementia. This is why it’s recommended that flossing be a part of our daily routines, yet only about four in ten Americans actually stick to this.

So, how can you help your family protect their teeth and gums? We’ve got some ways to incorporate flossing into your oral hygiene routines with ease.

Make Flossing Easier

We live in a world with a lot of options, and as you can imagine, flossing is no exception! Tools are now readily available to help make flossing a breeze. These include:

• Waterpik water flossers
• Flossing picks
• Flavored floss
• Threader floss
• Air flossers

With alternatives to traditional floss available, there are now more ways to ensure you’re keeping your mouth as clean as ever.

Make Flossing Fun!

There’s no reason why flossing can’t be a family affair! Compete to see who flosses the most and offer a prize to the winner at the end of the week or month. You can even create a sticker chart and award members of the family a sticker every time they floss. Make it fun and have your kids help you pick out the flavor of floss they want or even take some time and try out different products to find what each family member likes the best.

Make Flossing Convenient

Maybe flossing right before bed doesn’t work for everyone, or maybe members of your family are unsure of exactly when to floss. Encourage them to floss when it works for them. It doesn’t have to be a “just in the morning” or “just at bedtime” thing. Encourage your kids and spouse to add it into their routine whenever they’re comfortable. You may want to advise flossing before brushing, so they don’t try to make excuses about how they’re too tired to floss or they don’t have enough time after they brush.

In the grand scheme of things, flossing doesn’t take too much additional time and the benefits of it are abundant. So, if you’re looking for ways to help your family take better care of their teeth, try some of these tips to incorporate flossing into their lives. After all, our teeth and gums are important to our overall health!

The team at Charleston Orthodontic Specialists is excited to help you get a spectacular smile! Call (843) 4-BRACES to learn more.