Primary or baby teeth have a significant purpose in a child’s development. Ensuring these teeth remain healthy is a process that begins long before a child is old enough to manage their own toothbrush. Early childhood oral hygiene sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles and impacts everything from speech development to proper chewing. Baby teeth are susceptible to decay, and their health affects the permanent teeth developing beneath the gums.
When Flossing Becomes Necessary
Flossing becomes a required part of the daily oral care routine when two adjacent teeth establish contact. This contact point prevents a toothbrush bristle from reaching the plaque and food debris trapped in the narrow space between the teeth. If left uncleaned, this area is highly vulnerable to developing cavities.
The appearance of these tight contact points varies significantly among children, but generally occurs between two and six years of age. For many children, the back teeth, or molars, are the first to develop a close fit. Once teeth are confirmed to be touching, flossing must be performed once a day to remove accumulated plaque. Daily flossing is the only way to clean approximately 40% of the tooth surface that a toothbrush cannot access.
Establishing Oral Care Before Flossing
Oral hygiene begins even before the first tooth erupts. Parents should wipe a newborn’s gums daily with a clean, damp cloth or gauze. This practice removes bacteria and helps the child become accustomed to the routine of having their mouth cleaned.
When the first tooth appears, typically around six months of age, parents should transition to using a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. The American Dental Association recommends using a fluoride toothpaste amount no larger than a smear, or the size of a grain of rice, for children under three years old. After age three, when the child is capable of spitting out the toothpaste, the amount can increase to a pea-sized dab.
Technique and Recommended Tools
Flossing a child’s teeth requires parental assistance, as children typically lack the fine motor skills to floss effectively until they are around ten years old. To begin, tear off about 18 inches of floss and wrap the ends loosely around your middle fingers. Use your index fingers and thumbs to guide a small working section of the floss between two teeth.
Gently slide the floss into the space using a side-to-side or back-and-forth motion, being careful not to snap it down onto the gums. Once the floss is at the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth and slide it up and down to clean the surface. Repeat this C-shape motion on the adjacent tooth before moving the floss out of the space and repeating the process on the next set of teeth. For added convenience, floss picks (pre-threaded plastic tools) can be easier to manage when navigating a child’s small mouth.
Why Primary Teeth Must Be Protected
Protecting primary teeth is essential because they serve as “space holders” for the permanent teeth. Each baby tooth reserves a specific spot and guides the underlying permanent tooth into its correct position when it is ready to erupt. If a baby tooth is lost too early due to extensive decay or injury, the neighboring teeth can shift or drift into the vacant space.
This shifting reduces the necessary room for the permanent tooth, potentially causing it to come in crooked, crowded, or blocked. Such alignment issues, known as malocclusion, often require extensive orthodontic treatment later in life. Deep decay in a primary tooth can also lead to infection that may damage the forming permanent tooth structure beneath the gums. Maintaining the health of the primary teeth ensures a clear path for the adult teeth to follow.