At What Age Did You Start Flossing Your Toddlers Teeth?
My daughter just turned 17 months, and she has 7 teeth. 4 uppers and 3 lowers. I say she needs her teeth flossed twice a day. I just do it when I’m done brushing her teeth, my hubby thinks I’m crazy. When did you start flossing your children’s teeth?
Comment by Mic
I was told by a dentist that it wasn’t a necessity to floss at an early age which i didn’t and after reading your question i was curious and i found this link which you should show your husband.
My dentist was not correct so i’ll make sure to do my girls teeth.
Hope the link helps.
Comment by sharonlb
We did it for fun at first because they love to copy. But we took our kids to the dentist starting at about 2 years old. I did ask about flossing, and they said that at their age (and your child’s) it depends on how their teeth start to grow in. If there are visible spaces between their teeth (like picket fenced) it is not so important. However, if their teeth grow together (like my son’s front teeth) that we should at least floss those teeth. Our dentist was giddy that we were starting the flossing anyway even if it were just for fun. So keep it up!
Comment by cakeblas
I would be worried that making your child’s gums sore and bleeding would cause him to hate flossing. We haven’t tried flossing our 3-year old son’s teeth yet, but we have brushed them twice a day since he was a little less than a year old (he got his first teeth at 3-months). He likes brushing his own teeth (and especially to spit toothpaste in the toilet), but we still help him to ensure he does a good enough job.
We will start flossing sometime in the next year, although the Oral-B article was an eye-opener. Good question; it really has me thinking.
Comment by Christian's Mommy & an Angel
Well maybe she is a little to young yet her gums may be a little to sensitive.
I actually just started having my 6 years old start probably could have started a little earlier but he just went to the dentist yesterday and he said his teeth were prefect and he hasn’t had a kid with such clean teeth in a while. Made me feel good because that reflects on me so it shows that I can keep good care of my kids.
Comment by Momto2in
Oh gosh, I can’t imagine getting my kid to sit still for a good flossing. I can barely get him to brush his teeth, it’s a challenge twice a day.
If your daughter will let you, go for it. Just be careful with those little gums…
However I MUST share: Last night, he totally brushed his teeth on his own. For a good 4 minutes. I was sooooooo happy. Let’s just hope he can do it again….
Comment by C is for Charli.
I have a dental health fetish. No joke, I cannot handle dirty teeth.
My 3 elder boys all *floss* by themselves. I don’t do it, because my Husband won’t allow me. I do however brush their teeth, and of a night, they use a mouth wash, to rinse.
I say lead by example, and let her do it herself. If I am not allowed to do it, neither are you lol.
Comment by Erika (Nina and Brady's Mom)
The dentist told me they don’t need flossing unless the teeth are very crowded like my daughters, He said for her to start when she was 4.
Comment by crzy
My kids dentist said we didnt need to start until 3-4 yrs old because the teeth are still spaced out so yeah it is kinda crazy to floss a 17 month olds
Comment by Jen
You should start now to get her use to it!! My daughter is two and we bought some bright colored flossers for her to make it more fun!
Comment by Haven_Su
I didnt start til age 3 I was told not to by the dentist. Now my oldest does her own and we use those handeled flossers for my 4 yr old. I did how ever use a little rubber tooth pick on their teeth every early once they started eating solids. Which was ok’d by the dentist too.
Comment by megmehel
Bring her to your dentist. He’ll tell you if its time.