Dinosaur flossers are a genius move. My kid’s obsessed with anything shaped like an animal, so those actually got him to open his mouth without me having to do my “floss monster” impression (which, honestly, just scares the dog). Sticker charts worked for about a week here, then he decided he’d rather have “real” prizes, like chocolate... which kind of defeats the purpose.
I tried singing the flossing song from that one YouTube video—he just laughed at me and ran off with the floss picks. Half the time it feels like a game of hide and seek, but with dental supplies. I keep telling myself he’ll appreciate it someday, but right now I’m pretty sure he thinks flossing is some weird grown-up ritual. Maybe when he’s older he’ll realize why I was so insistent, but for now, I’ll take a half-decent floss job over a total meltdown.
Dinosaur flossers were a total game-changer in our house, too. My daughter went through a phase where she’d only participate if the floss pick was “the purple triceratops,” and honestly, I just rolled with it. I’ve tried sticker charts and bribery, but those only seemed to work for a few days before she started negotiating for things like ice cream—which, yeah, kind of defeats the purpose of good dental habits.
One thing that surprised me was letting her “floss” my teeth first. She thought it was hilarious, and once she got to play dentist, she was way more cooperative about letting me do hers. It wasn’t exactly a flawless process (I think she poked my gums more than once), but at least it made it less of a battle.
I really relate to the “grown-up ritual” comment. Sometimes it does feel like we’re just going through the motions and hoping something sticks. I keep reminding myself that any positive association with flossing is better than a total aversion—even if it’s goofy animal shapes or silly songs. And honestly, half-decent flossing is still a win compared to a meltdown. Consistency seems to matter more than perfection at this point.
I’ve also heard some parents let their kids pick out their own dental supplies at the store—like a special toothpaste flavor or a toothbrush with their favorite character. That didn’t make much difference for us, but maybe it works for kids who like having choices. At the end of the day, I figure if they’re not screaming and there’s at least some floss involved, we’re all doing okay.
Letting kids “floss” your teeth first is such a clever move—I’ve seen that work wonders for families in my practice, even if it means a few sore gums for the grown-ups. The animal-shaped flossers are a hit for good reason; anything that turns it into a game or gives them some control tends to go further than rewards, at least long-term. I do agree that consistency matters way more than perfect technique at this age. If they’re not dreading it, you’re on the right track. Sometimes, just making it part of the nightly routine—no drama, no big deal—helps it become second nature over time.
Letting kids “floss” your teeth first is genius—I’ve seen it totally flip the script for some families. I’ve also noticed that when parents act like flossing is just another quick step before bed (not a big production), kids don’t resist as much. The animal flossers are a fun touch, but honestly, even just letting them pick the music or timer helps. Technique comes later... right now, just getting them used to the idea is a win.
“The animal flossers are a fun touch, but honestly, even just letting them pick the music or timer helps. Technique comes later... right now, just getting them used to the idea is a win.”
I get where you’re coming from, but my wallet starts sweating every time I see those cutesy animal flossers in the store. They’re like three times the price of regular floss! Maybe I’m just cheap (okay, definitely), but I started handing my kid the plain ol’ mint waxed stuff and calling it “superhero string.” Not quite as Instagram-worthy, but hey, it gets the job done.
Honestly, I’ve found that making a big deal out of “special” floss or timers just sets me up for disappointment when we run out or the batteries die. We stick with what’s on sale and make it a goofy race—who can floss all their teeth before the dog finishes eating his dinner? Not saying it’s perfect, but at least I’m not spending half my grocery budget on dental novelties. Technique... well, we’ll get there eventually.
