Getting kids to floss - what tricks actually work?

My niece was exactly like that. Stickers and cute flossers did nothing for her, but one time she overheard me talking about cavities being "holes" in your teeth caused by bacteria eating away at them. She got super curious, asked a million questions, and suddenly flossing became her personal mission against the "tooth monsters." Guess some kids just need a little drama or a gross visual to get motivated, haha...

My dentist actually did something similar when I was younger. She showed me a close-up picture of tooth decay under a microscope - grossed me out enough to start flossing seriously. Honestly, I think kids respond better when they understand why they're doing something, rather than just being bribed with rewards. Making it into a battle against "tooth monsters" or bacteria gives them a sense of control and purpose, which is way more effective than stickers or treats in the long run.

That's actually a pretty smart approach. I remember when my orthodontist explained step-by-step how plaque buildup leads to cavities and gum issues - it clicked for me too. Kids definitely appreciate knowing the 'why' behind things instead of just being told to do it.

We tried the whole "science lesson" approach too, and it worked...for about a week. Then my daughter decided she was immune to cavities because she "brushes extra good." 🙄 What finally did the trick was letting her pick out her own flossers - she chose these neon-colored animal-shaped ones. Now flossing is apparently a fashion statement. Whatever works, right? Honestly, kids are hilarious.

That's great it worked for your daughter, but honestly, the novelty wore off pretty fast with my son. Eventually, what helped us was making flossing part of our bedtime routine - like storytime or brushing teeth. Kids thrive on routines...maybe worth trying if the flossers lose their charm?

"Kids thrive on routines...maybe worth trying if the flossers lose their charm?"

Totally agree with this. Honestly, as someone who's always been anxious about dental visits (ugh, childhood memories...), establishing a solid routine early on can really help ease that anxiety later. Novelty tricks are fun, but they rarely stick long-term. Making flossing feel as normal as brushing teeth or bedtime stories is probably the best bet for lasting habits. You're definitely on the right track there.

Routines definitely help, but honestly, sometimes mixing things up a bit can keep kids interested too. My daughter got bored with the flossers pretty quickly, so we switched to letting her pick out her own floss at the store - she chose some fruity-flavored stuff and actually got excited about it again. I think giving them a little control or choice in the process can make flossing feel less like a chore and more like something they're involved in. But yeah, totally agree that long-term habits come from consistency rather than novelty alone. Maybe a balance of routine plus occasional fun tweaks could be the sweet spot? Worked for us anyway...at least for now, haha.

That's a great point about giving them some choice - kids definitely respond well when they feel involved. My son went through a similar phase, so we tried a sticker chart to track flossing days. It worked for a while, but eventually he lost interest. I'm thinking of trying flavored floss next...did you find the fruity flavors actually helped long-term, or was it more of a short-lived excitement thing? Curious if anyone else noticed certain flavors or types working better than others.

We tried fruity floss with our daughter too, and honestly it was fun at first but wore off pretty quickly. Have you tried those floss picks shaped like animals or dinosaurs? My youngest loved them because they felt more like toys. Also, maybe let him pick out his own floss flavor at the store - sometimes the choosing itself makes it stick longer. Kids are funny creatures though...what works this week might flop next week, haha. Good luck!

We went through something similar with my nephew. He was excited about the flavored floss at first, but it quickly lost its charm. Weirdly enough, what finally worked was making flossing part of our nightly storytime routine - like, we'd floss while I read him a short story or talked about his day. It became less about the floss itself and more about the bonding moment. Kids really are unpredictable though...you never know what's gonna stick!

"It became less about the floss itself and more about the bonding moment."

This is such a great insight. I've seen this work with a lot of families at our practice - kids respond really well when flossing becomes part of a comforting routine rather than just another chore. Another thing that's helped some parents is letting their child pick out their own flossers or toothbrushes with favorite characters or colors. Small choices can give kids a sense of control and make them feel more invested in the habit...but yeah, every kid's different, so it's always trial and error.

I get the bonding thing, but honestly, some kids just aren't into it no matter what. My grandkids picked out their own flossers - had the superhero ones and everything...still didn't make much difference. Maybe it's just personality or something? I kinda think you can't always make flossing fun, sometimes it's just gotta be one of those things you grit your teeth and do anyway. But hey, if it works for others, that's great.

I hear you on the superhero flossers - my daughter had the princess ones, glittery handles and all, but after a week she was totally over it. Have you tried flossing together at night? I found that when I started flossing alongside her, without making a big deal about it, she kinda accepted it as part of the bedtime routine. Not saying it turned into her favorite thing ever (far from it), but at least the whining toned down a bit. Maybe some kids just respond better when they see adults doing it regularly too? Or maybe it's just luck...who knows. Either way, you're right - sometimes it's just one of those things they've gotta get used to, fun or not.

We've tried flossing together too, and honestly, it does help a bit. My son was initially excited about the dinosaur flossers, but after a few days, they lost their charm. I started flossing casually next to him without making it a big deal, and he seemed less resistant - though still not thrilled. I guess kids just pick up on our habits more than we realize...or maybe it's just luck like you said. Either way, glad to know I'm not alone in this struggle!

We've been through the dinosaur flossers phase too - funny how quickly the novelty wears off, right? My daughter was all about the glittery princess ones for about a week, then they were suddenly "boring." What actually worked for us (at least somewhat) was letting her pick out her own floss at the store. I gave her a small budget and let her choose whichever floss she wanted - bubblegum flavor, neon colors, whatever. She seemed way more invested when it was her own choice. Of course, some days are still a struggle, but hey, progress is progress.

Honestly though, I think you're onto something with just casually flossing next to him. Kids really do copy us more than we realize - even when we wish they wouldn't...like when they repeat our not-so-great habits in front of company, haha. Hang in there, sounds like you're doing great!

"Kids really do copy us more than we realize - even when we wish they wouldn't..."

Haha, isn't that the truth? My son started flossing regularly only after he saw me doing it every night. Still not perfect, but hey, baby steps...and fewer dentist lectures for both of us.

That's great your son picked it up from watching you. Modeling definitely helps, but sometimes kids need a bit more motivation. When I had braces, flossing was a huge pain, so my mom got me those flavored floss picks - sounds silly, but it actually made flossing less of a chore. Maybe try letting him pick out his own floss or picks next time you're shopping? Little things like that can make a surprising difference...

"Maybe try letting him pick out his own floss or picks next time you're shopping?"

This is spot-on advice. Giving kids a sense of control really helps. Ever tried making it into a game or challenge with rewards? Sometimes a little competition or incentive goes a long way...

When my grandkids visited last summer, I tried something similar - letting them choose their own floss flavors. Worked surprisingly well, actually. But now you've got me wondering...does the novelty wear off eventually, or does it stick long-term?

We've done flavored floss at our house too, and honestly...it does kinda lose its charm after a while. My kids were all excited at first - bubblegum, watermelon, you name it - but after a few months, it became just another routine thing. What really helped long-term was pairing flossing with something else they already enjoyed, like storytime or music before bed. Flavors are great starters, but building it into their routine is what makes it stick.