As parents, we try to encourage our children to embrace a lot of good habits. We teach our children the importance of saying please and thank you, respecting others, and picking up after themselves. We teach our kids about the importance of bathing and keeping themselves clean. And of course, we teach our children that they should brush and floss their teeth. But have you ever wondered if brushing and flossing make that much of a difference? Aside from providing your child with fresh breath, why is brushing and flossing that important?

5 Reasons why Brushing and Flossing is Important for Your Child

The chances are that you have been told for most of your adult life that you need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once per day. And, as a parent, you are expected to reinforce those teachings to your children. Teaching our kids the importance of oral health and sharing tips for good oral hygiene may be reinforced by Omaha teachers, but these habits need to be built at home, with parents as role models. So, if you need a helpful reminder of why you need to teach your children about the importance of brushing and flossing, then this list below might be of some use to you.

1. Brushing and flossing helps protect your child’s smile.

Let’s face it. Smiles are important. Smiles help to build self-confidence and make us all more approachable. So, why wouldn’t we want that same thing for our kids? When we brush and floss our teeth regularly, it helps to protect our teeth, which helps to protect our mouths. This means that we have a greater chance of maintaining a great smile. And, developing a positive body image can go a long way for your child’s overall health.

2. Brushing your teeth helps to prevent tooth decay.

Dentists suggest that we brush our teeth at least twice per day, but brushing is most effective when it is done after we consume a meal. When we eat, some food particles will inevitably remain in our mouths afterward. And, certain foods, especially those that are high in sugar or carbohydrates, can stimulate the growth of oral bacteria in your mouth. When your child brushes their teeth twice a day or after meals, it reduces the bacteria, which in turn helps to protect dental enamel from damage.

3. Flossing helps get at food particles that your toothbrush misses.

So if we brush our teeth twice a day, why do we need to floss our teeth too? As you guessed, flossing is essential as it helps remove the food particles that our toothbrush can’t get to. Dental floss provides a highly effective way to help your child prevent periodontal disease development, which is caused by a buildup of plaque and bacteria. Small gaps and spaces between your child’s teeth provide perfect places for food debris, sugars, and food acids to accumulate. When we floss, it helps clean out those tight areas.

4. Flossing for two minutes before bed can save money.

We believe that the tooth fairy should bring money for a successful and healthy tooth loss. When your child flosses for two minutes after brushing their teeth and before bed every night, it can help your child keep their baby teeth until it is the right time for those teeth to come out naturally. This means more fun visits from the tooth fairy. But, perhaps more important for parents, when kids floss each night, it can mean savings of hundreds or thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket dental expenses. Regular flossing prevents the build-up of tartar and plaque, which can spread below the gumline, leading to severe gum disease.

5. Brushing and flossing can help prevent other diseases.

Your child’s mouth serves as the gateway to the rest of their body. For this reason alone, it is important that their mouth and those precious teeth are kept clean and healthy. But, it is also important to understand that when your child develops good oral hygiene habits, they are also more likely to develop other good habits related to their personal care and hygiene. So, not only does brushing and flossing help to prevent oral bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body, but these good overall self-care habits can mean less likelihood for the development of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory illness. After all, good decisions and habits are infectious, but in a positive way!

Let the Pediatric Dental Specialists Team help

If your child needs a bit of reinforcement about the importance of brushing and flossing, or if they are overdue for their latest dental check-up, we’re here to help. It’s easy to request an appointment using our online form. During your child’s appointment, we’ll conduct a complete oral assessment so that we can determine a treatment plan if issues exist. We’ll also partner with you to provide resources that can educate your children about their teeth. We look forward to seeing you and your child.