Getting kids to floss - what tricks actually work?

"Honestly though, I think rewards can be tricky - kids might start flossing just to get the prize and then totally lose interest once it's gone."

I see your point about rewards, but sometimes a little incentive can spark a habit that sticks around. When my grandkids were younger, we used a sticker chart for flossing. Sure, they started out chasing stickers, but after a while, they genuinely liked how clean their teeth felt. Maybe it's about finding the right balance between rewards and routine...every kid's different, after all.

I agree, rewards can definitely help kickstart a habit, especially if they're used thoughtfully. The tricky part is transitioning from external incentives to internal motivation. One thing I've found helpful is gradually phasing out the rewards - like starting with stickers or small prizes, then slowly shifting to verbal praise or just acknowledging their effort. Eventually, kids start associating flossing with feeling good about themselves rather than just getting something in return. It's not foolproof, but it worked pretty well for us.

"The tricky part is transitioning from external incentives to internal motivation."

You've really hit the nail on the head here. I've seen similar results with my grandkids - initially, small rewards helped them get into the habit, but eventually it became second nature. I do think your approach of gradually shifting from tangible rewards to verbal praise is spot-on. Habits built on feeling good about personal care tend to stick around longer... at least that's been my experience. Keep up the thoughtful approach; sounds like you're doing great.

Interesting points here. I've been trying something similar with my daughter, but honestly, I'm still skeptical about how long verbal praise alone can sustain the habit. Maybe it's just her personality...or maybe flossing is just universally unpopular with kids?

You're definitely not alone in this struggle. My grandkids were exactly the same way - verbal praise worked for a bit, but eventually lost its charm. Honestly, I think flossing is just one of those universally unpopular things for kids (and adults too, let's be real...). One thing that helped us was making it into a bit of a game or challenge - like seeing who could floss the fastest or most carefully. It didn't always work perfectly, but it did make things less of a chore.

Also, personality does play a big role. My granddaughter took to flossing pretty quickly once she realized it made her feel "grown-up," while my grandson needed more tangible rewards like stickers or small treats. Every kid's different, so don't feel discouraged if verbal praise alone isn't cutting it.

Hang in there - you're doing great just by trying different approaches and caring enough to ask around. It'll click eventually...or at least become less of a battle!

I totally get the struggle - flossing was a nightmare for me as a kid, braces made it even worse. One thing my parents did was let me pick out my own flossers (I chose these dinosaur-shaped ones, lol). Having some control over it made me feel more invested. Curious if anyone's tried letting their kids choose their own dental stuff - did it help at all or just lead to more clutter in the bathroom?

Letting kids pick their own flossers can definitely help, at least in my experience. I've noticed kids tend to feel more motivated when they have some say in the matter. But I do worry about the clutter factor - my own bathroom cabinet is already overflowing with dental samples and products, so adding more novelty flossers makes me a bit anxious. Has anyone found a good balance between giving kids choice and keeping bathroom chaos under control?

I totally get the clutter anxiety - my bathroom cabinet is a disaster zone too, and adding more stuff always makes me cringe a bit. Have you tried setting a limit, like letting them pick one or two types of flossers at a time? That way, they still get to choose something fun, but you're not drowning in dental products. Also, maybe designate a small basket or container just for their flossers. It helps keep things contained and gives kids a sense of ownership over their dental stuff. I know it sounds simple, but sometimes just having a specific spot for things can ease that clutter anxiety...at least it does for me. Hang in there, you're definitely on the right track with giving them choices.

I totally relate to the clutter anxiety thing, but honestly, limiting choices doesn't always work for every kid. With mine, the second I put a cap on their options, it turns into a mini rebellion - like suddenly flossing is the hill they wanna die on, lol. What worked better for us was actually letting them pick out their flossers at the store (within reason, of course). Yeah, it adds a bit more clutter initially, but weirdly enough, once the novelty wore off, they naturally gravitated toward one or two favorites anyway. Now we just restock those and the rest kinda faded out on their own.

Also, having a basket or container is great in theory, but in practice... ours just ended up overflowing with random stuff after a week. Maybe it's just my kids, but containers seem to attract more clutter than they solve. Instead, we just keep a small cup by their toothbrushes - less space for chaos and easier for them to grab and go. Every kid is different though, so whatever keeps them flossing without driving you nuts is a win in my book.

Have you noticed if flavored flossers make a difference with your kids? Mine got weirdly excited about grape-flavored ones for a while, but I'm curious if that's just a temporary novelty thing or actually helpful long-term.

Flavored flossers can definitely help, at least initially. My kids went through a strawberry phase that lasted a good couple of months. But honestly, the novelty does wear off eventually - kids are fickle creatures, after all, haha. What I've found works better long-term is making flossing part of a consistent routine rather than relying solely on flavors or gimmicks.

Here's what worked for us: First, we started flossing together as a family every night. Kids tend to mimic what they see, so if you're flossing too, it normalizes the habit. Second, we made it into a mini-game - like counting teeth or seeing who could floss the longest without giggling (spoiler alert: no one ever won that one). And third, we kept rotating the flossers - sometimes flavored, sometimes character-themed, sometimes just plain ones - to keep things interesting.

So yeah, flavored flossers are a good starting point, but mixing things up and making flossing a fun, regular habit seems to be the key to long-term success.

Have you tried just letting them pick out their own floss at the store? My grandkids got way more into it when they felt like it was their choice. Flavors and games are fine, but sometimes simple autonomy does the trick.

Letting them choose definitely helps. My daughter used to hate flossing until I let her pick out this sparkly unicorn floss - honestly, I thought it was silly, but she loved it and started flossing regularly. Sometimes it's just about giving them a little control...even if it's glittery unicorns.

"Sometimes it's just about giving them a little control...even if it's glittery unicorns."

Haha, totally get this! My son went through a similar phase, except instead of unicorns it was superhero floss picks. Honestly, I thought they were overpriced bits of plastic at first, but hey, whatever works right? He'd spend ages deciding between Spider-Man and Batman each night - like it was some life-altering decision - but the important thing was he started flossing regularly without me nagging him.

Another thing that helped us was making flossing part of our bedtime story routine. I'd read a page or two, pause for flossing (dramatic pause included), and then finish the story afterward. It became like a little ritual he actually looked forward to. Weirdly enough, now he's older and outgrown the superhero picks (sadly), but the habit stuck around.

I think you're spot on about giving them some control though. Kids don't get to decide much in their daily routines, so even something small like picking out their own floss can feel like a big deal to them. Plus, let's face it - sparkly unicorn floss sounds way more fun than plain minty string anyway.

Has anyone else tried turning flossing into a game or challenge? We had a "flossing streak" calendar on the fridge for a while...it worked wonders until he lost interest after about two months. Still, two months of solid flossing isn't bad at all in my book.

Anyway, kudos to you for finding something that works - even if it is glittery unicorns. Whatever gets those tiny teeth clean is a win in my book.

"Another thing that helped us was making flossing part of our bedtime story routine."

That's a clever approach. My grandkids stayed with me last summer, and I found that turning flossing into a mini science lesson worked surprisingly well. We'd floss, then I'd explain how plaque builds up or why cavities form...they were fascinated (or maybe just humoring me, ha). Either way, they kept it up without much fuss. It's amazing how kids respond when you make something routine into something interesting.

That's a smart idea, tying flossing into something kids already enjoy. I noticed with my own kids that giving them a bit of control helps too - like letting them pick out their own floss flavor or those little floss picks shaped like animals. It seems minor, but when they feel involved in the choice, they're way more likely to stick with it. Plus, fewer bedtime battles is always a win...

Totally agree, giving kids choices makes a huge difference. My daughter used to dread flossing until we started a little sticker chart - nothing fancy, just a homemade thing taped to the bathroom mirror. She loved seeing her progress, and it turned flossing into something positive instead of a chore. Less stress for everyone...

Sticker charts worked wonders with my grandkids too. Another thing that helped was letting them pick their own flossers - those colorful animal-shaped ones. They actually looked forward to choosing a different animal each night, and it made flossing feel less like a chore. Sometimes it's just the little things that make the biggest difference...

Sticker charts and cute flossers sound nice in theory, but honestly, they never worked for me when I was a kid. I remember my mom trying all these colorful gadgets, and I'd still dread flossing every night. What finally clicked was when my orthodontist showed me actual pictures of cavities and explained how painful dental issues could get. It scared me a bit, sure, but it made the whole flossing thing feel genuinely important instead of just another chore...

Funny you mention that - I actually had a patient once who couldn't care less about stickers or flavored flossers. But the minute I showed him a video of bacteria under the microscope, he was hooked. Guess some kids just prefer the gross-out factor, huh?