The Truth About Flossing Kids Teeth
Should Your Kids Still Be Flossing Their Teeth?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is issued every five years, has recommended flossing as a positive habit for promoting public health since 1979. In combination with regular brushing that keeps the teeth clean and healthy, using dental floss has been said to help prevent cavities and gum disease.
Because being based on scientific evidence is a requirement for the dietary guidelines, in 2015, the Associated Press (AP) requested for evidence showing that flossing is effective from the United States’ departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. You may have read about this in the news recently.
Earlier this year, the federal government released the latest dietary guidelines and one particular detail is apparent: The recommendation for regular flossing has been removed. Addressing the AP, the government stated that the benefits and effectiveness of using dental floss have never actually gone through scientific research. This had every dentist in town’s attention. Which poses the question, should our kids still be flossing their teeth?
To floss or not to floss?
As parents, you want to be able to teach your children the proper dental care habits early on so that they can get a good head start on a healthy mouth as well as carry the correct practices on throughout their lives.
The fact that flossing has been removed from the guidelines as a recommended oral care habit has become a cause for concern. Should you keep flossing your teeth? Do I continue to tell the little ones that flossing is still part of their daily routine or should I tell them to just brush regularly?
What Pediatric Dentists Say
Talk to your child’s dentist, however, and they’ll be sure to stand by the old recommendation to include flossing in your dental care regimen. Here are a couple of reasons why you should continue to guide your children in flossing properly every day:
It’s still true that flossing can remove food particles and bacteria that brushing can miss.
You can brush as best and as often as you can, using the best brush and toothpaste and the most ideal brushing strokes, but it’s a fact that there will be food particles left in your mouth that brushing simply cannot reach.
Removing these bits of food is crucial to preventing bad bacteria from proliferating in your mouth, so any activity that helps you get rid of these troublesome particles — flossing is the best technique for it — will always be recommended by a dentist who truly cares for your family’s dental health.
What’s more, if flossing can remove the food particles and prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, then as a result, it also helps reduce inflammation. The body reacts to harmful substances through inflammation, and if it can be significantly reduced, then a person’s overall health will be considerably improved.
It’s a simple, inexpensive and effective oral health care tool
Finally, even your children will agree that flossing is quite simple to do — it’s a task that they can quickly learn to do on their own. And any parent will be glad to note that it is a low-cost method for helping preserve the good health of their children’s teeth. With these conveniences, plus the fact that it delivers significant benefits, it’s clear to see why flossing should remain a part of your family’s dental care routine.
Catch Ya Later Dudes!
