Flossing together sounds nice, but what if your kid's super stubborn or anxious about it? Mine freaks out at even the slightest gum discomfort, and flossing sessions quickly turn stressful. Have you tried those flavored floss picks? I know they're pricier, but maybe worth it if they reduce the nightly battle? I'm hesitant to spend extra, but sometimes peace of mind feels worth the splurge...
"I'm hesitant to spend extra, but sometimes peace of mind feels worth the splurge..."
Honestly, I felt exactly the same way at first. But after weeks of nightly meltdowns, I caved and tried those flavored floss picks. Game changer. My daughter went from full-on panic mode to actually reminding me it's flossing time (crazy, right?). Sure, they're pricier, but the sanity saved each night is worth every penny. Maybe grab a small pack first to test the waters? Hang in there—it does get easier eventually...
I get the appeal of flavored floss picks, especially if they've turned things around for you like that. But honestly, in my experience, the novelty wore off pretty quickly. At first, my son was excited about the flavors, but after a week or two, it was back to square one—he started resisting again. What eventually worked better for us was turning flossing into a little game or challenge. We'd set a timer and see how many teeth he could floss before it beeped, or we'd make up silly stories about "tooth monsters" he had to defeat.
"Sure, they're pricier, but the sanity saved each night is worth every penny."
I definitely understand this sentiment, but sometimes simpler (and cheaper!) solutions can be just as effective in the long run. Every kid's different though, so it's probably worth trying a few approaches to see what sticks...
Flavored picks and games are great starting points, but honestly, I've found kids respond best to having some control over the process. With my own kids and even in my practice, I've noticed that letting them pick out their own floss or flossing tools (even if it's just a color or character they like) makes them feel involved and less resistant. I once had a little patient who absolutely hated flossing until his parents let him pick out a superhero-themed floss holder. Suddenly he was all about "saving his teeth from villains"—which cracked me up.
Also, don't underestimate the power of modeling. Kids love copying adults, so if they see you flossing regularly (and maybe even enjoying it?), they're more likely to imitate. Sure, flavored floss picks can help, but building a habit through choice and example usually sticks around longer than novelty flavors or games alone. Just my two cents...
Totally agree about letting kids choose their own flossing stuff. My daughter was super resistant at first, but once I let her pick out a sparkly unicorn floss holder (yep, that's a thing apparently), she started flossing without me even reminding her. I think it gave her a sense of ownership or something.
Modeling definitely helps too—though I'll admit, sometimes I'm guilty of skipping flossing myself when I'm tired. But I've noticed that whenever she sees me flossing, she's way more likely to grab hers and join in. It's like a little bonding moment, weirdly enough.
One other thing that's worked for us is turning flossing into part of storytime. Like, we make up silly stories about "tooth monsters" that hide between teeth, and the floss is the hero that chases them away. Sounds goofy, but hey, whatever works, right?
