Flossing 3-Year-old's Teeth?

We start flossing teeth as soon as there are two next to each other and they are eating solid foods. Flossing is essential to good dental health. We use the flossers for the little ones, but now that they are 3 and 5 they keep their mouths open for us to use regular floss (which I find to be easier and more effective, but it does take a little time to get the coordination for flossing someone else's teeth.)

You can get a pack of the little floss-er and the Dollar Tree. All my kids like use them and like to with no problem. We don't make a huge deal of it, and at this point (he's 3) we are just introducing him to the concept and getting him used to the idea.

My son loves to "floss" his teeth. He saw me doing it and when he was about 2, he started asking for floss so he could do it. His top teeth are well spaced, but the bottoms are tight. We don't do it every day, but yes, it is important because cavities can form between the teeth when they are tight. And, just like you started good habits early with brushing, you should do the same with flossing.
I was the only one who flossed my sister's teeth when she was little. She's now a dentist. ;) LOL!

Good luck!
T.

I am currently flossing my 3 year old and my 23 month old daughters' teeth. I made flossing their teeth a routine at bedtime when they had enough teeth for it to be impossible to clean around each tooth with a toothbrush. When my younger daughter was little I laid her on the floor to brush and to floss so her head would be steady and not keep tilting backwards. And it was easier to keep her lips pulled back because she is a fighter (doesn't even like us looking for new teeth). Now I do both of them standing up in front of the sink. First I let them brush while I am brushing my teeth. Then I stand behind them (one at a time of course) and brush their teeth, front, backs, sides and tops. Then I floss their teeth by leaning over their shoulder, asking them to open the mouth and say ahhhh and I floss with a 6 inch piece of floss, just wrapping the ends around the fingers and leaving a couple inches free. I think the younger we start flossing the easier it is for it to become routine. I never learned to floss properly til I was an adult and I have awful teeth, most of my recent cavities have been between teeth from not flossing. So I wanted my girls to learn that this is just something we do all the time, not just when we get older.
I have to say it is difficult with my younger one, the fighter. I have come close to having my fingers bitten before, mainly because she just closes down (and with the older one she tends to try to talk occasionally) so it is not done perfectly yet and if she is having a really tough time I don't do such a thorough job.

You can buy toddler floss. The floss is contained on the little y-shaped holder with a longer handle. They come in different bright colors and are really easy to use. I was reluctant to start flossing my 33 month old's teeth too. We had such a struggle just getting the tooth brush in his mouth. Now, he will let us use an electric toothbrush and floss his teeth. He will actually take one of the floss picks and use it himself. Not as bad as I thought it would be! Good luck!

asp

Our denist told us to floss our 3 year old's teeth as well. I made my husband do it! He used those little floss pick things with the handle. He said it was pretty easy and that there was a ton of room between each tooth. We don't do it every day. I think it may be more of a way to get the kids used to doing it, rather than a neccessary oral hygiene tool at this age. I didn't start flossing until I was older, and my teeth are perfectly fine!

Yes, it really is necessary to start this early. My little man will be 4 in Sept. and we've been flossing for just a little over a year. I started him out just watching me floss and soon afterward, he asked me to floss his! However, it is much, much, easier to use those little Floss Pics; those are less tricky when trying to maneuver around in their little mouths. But be careful when flossing teeth that do not have spaces in between them; be sure to gently wiggle the floss back and forth so it doesn't get caught in between the teeth and/or tear off. Hope this helps and good luck!!

Our Pediatric dentist showed us how by flossing the kids teeth himself. It was much easier after having seen it done. Maybe at the next appointment you can have him show you how.

We have been flossing our daughter's teeth and she got the hang of it when she was 2 yrs old. She loves it more than brushing because the flossers (we use the Dentek brand) are colored and flavored. She gets to choose what color she wants just like she gets to choose her pajamas for the night. The flossers even have fluoride on them. Of course, we finish up with both brushing and flossing for her to make sure the job is done right. We do it every night. It's a ritual and sometimes she makes excuses but she knows it's not negotiable and it has to be done.

We do the exact same brushing routine as you do with our 3 1/2 year old. We got those floss picks and do the same thing. She gets a go with it, then we finish the job. We try to get all the spaces between her teeth, but do it pretty quickly so it doesn't turn into a big thing. Good luck!

I know it seems weird to floss a toddler's teeth but yes, you should do it. Two reasons.....one, it prevents tartar and plaque build-up which halts cavities from forming and is the key to good hygeine. Two, this habit will carry over into your child's everyday life and will become a consistent part of her routine. Nothing is worse than having to hold down a young child in a dental chair while they have to get a Novocaine shot or multiple shots for cavities being filled or worse. And it happens more than you know. One rendition of that and you will floss this kids teeth every hour!! Use the cute little dental floss hand-held picks that they make just for kids. You do it the fist few times and then start having her help you along the way. Make up a song and sing it while you are flossing or floss your teeth together! My mom used this tactic on me and all my brothers when we were younger and it worked. I am proud to report that I am 41 and I have never had a single cavity....ever! Both of my teenage daughters also have zero cavities and no dental work. My husband, well, he didn;t get so lucky and I don't think he knew what floss was until he was in college. Four crowns, two root canals, and two 4-quadrant deep scalings later....this guy is a hot mess of expensive and painful dental work because he didn't get the point of it at a younger age. My daughters see this and all they can say is...."Thank God for you, Mom, because I would lose it if I ever had to go through what Dad has had to endure!" Hubby is a great flosser now.....and has been cavity free for over five years because of it. Floss away, my friend. A great smile is a gift that your child will have for the rest of her life!

We do it once- twice a week and we also use the floss picks. They have them in bright colors with sea creatures and such for kids. They are also flavored...fruit punch or bubble gum I think. Since I let my son pick them out, it isn't too much of a battle, he tolerates it. We started this when he was 2 1/2 and now he is 4 1/2. My BIL is a dentist. Apparently flossing is often considered even more important than brushing. (I also mentioned that we only do this chore twice and week and he said that was fine for now.)

have her watch you floss yours. children usually imitate what their parents do. I floss and brush every night and sometimes my son asks for floss. I have also given him the flosser picks but I watch him with it because the other side is sharp. I think it is a good habit to start early. May be she will not have cavities because she will start with good oral habits early.

I recently took my son to the dentist and they found a borderline cavity. the dentist gave him a pack of the small handheld floss stick that has a small floss line stretched across a piece of plastic. they are neon colored and made just for their little hands. i already had the adult one, ( ther sdult ones have a pointed end for toothpick use, the toddlers ones are round at the end so they can't poke themselves) he saw me using mine all the time so he would always ask to floss his teeth. so may try getting some for you and your daughter and do it together. good luck.

We bought "fun flossers" that are shaped like dinosaurs. I've seen princess ones too from Oral-b. Just start off doing a few teeth each night and moving to a new section each night and then you move to doing the whole mouth. Let her pick the color flosser for the night. Good luck.

Find some flossers - that would make it easier. They are disposable and come in packs of 90 or more or less. Let her do some teeth first, then you take over; the same goes for brushing. That might take a bit of the struggle out of it.