At Pediatric Dental Center, your premier pediatric dentist serving the Greater Cincinnati area, including Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana and Cincinnati, we believe in preventative care. Teaching your kids great flossing habits is the key to enjoying a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles. Here are five flossing tips that can help promote healthy dental habits:
Thumbkin: Thumb to Chest Reminder
Thumb to chest can remind me that this isn’t for my friends. Brushing the goobers off so I don’t gross them out. Rinsing with a fluoride rinse for fresh breath as I speak. That is for friends. Flossing is for me, myself and I. For ideal oral health, you need both healthy teeth and healthy gums, therefore I floss.
Pointer: Pointer Fingers Measure
How much floss will I need to floss my 32 teeth? The American Dental Association says about 18 inches. So, roughly six lengths of your pointer finger should be enough.
Tall Man: Wrap the Middle Fingers
This is a team effort. With the middle fingers wound up in the floss, the thumb and forefinger can grip and guide the floss into place. After wrapping the floss around the tooth into a “C” shape, and the up and down motions have wiped away plaque, then “unspool” for a new section for the next tooth in line.
Ring Man: The Smell Test
Many a long term relationship has been cut short due to not-so-fresh breath. Smell floss before going between teeth. Smell it after. Bad smell? Brushing is not cleaning away that bacteria well enough. Hurray for floss! This smell test says the brushing needs to be tweaked. Be gentle with your gums. Keep those areas at the base of your teeth bacteria free.
Pinky: Time to Promise
Make the pledge now. Every time you look at your pinky, remember that you pinky promised to keep those gums free from disease. Flossing isn’t so much about removing food as it is about removing dental plaque. Plaque results in tooth decay and inflamed gums. Periodontal disease can eventually cause tooth loss. Tooth neglect is a slippery slope.
At Pediatric Dental Center, a leading pediatric dentist serving the Greater Cincinnati area, including Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana and Cincinnati, we promote preventative care. We’ll show your child how to manage his or her oral health needs, in order to lead a happier, healthier life. We are currently accepting new patients, so give us a call today to set up an appointment.
Contact Pediatric Dental Center:
859-534-5640
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
5495 N Bend Rd Ste 102
Burlington, Kentucky
41005