Getting kids to floss - what tricks actually work?

I've found that turning flossing into a fun family routine helps a lot.

We tried something similar - minus the silly faces, haha. Didn't quite stick for us, but what did help was letting my daughter pick out her own flossers (she chose dinosaur-shaped ones). Now she reminds ME it's flossing time... go figure.

Didn't quite stick for us, but what did help was letting my daughter pick out her own flossers (she chose dinosaur-shaped ones).

That's a clever idea with the dinosaur flossers. Wish they'd had those when my kids were little... might've saved us some battles. Did you find it helped long-term, or just a temporary fix?

That's a neat trick with the dinosaur flossers - wish I'd thought of something like that back when my kids were little. We tried stickers and charts, but honestly, it was hit or miss. Funny enough, now they're grown and nagging their own kids about flossing... guess something stuck after all. Curious if the novelty of the dinos wore off eventually or if she's still into it?

"Funny enough, now they're grown and nagging their own kids about flossing... guess something stuck after all."

Haha, isn't it funny how things come full circle? I remember my grandkids going through phases with those animal-shaped toothbrushes - one week obsessed, the next completely indifferent. But even if the novelty wears off, it seems like the habits quietly stick around. You're doing great just by making flossing fun and approachable; that's half the battle right there. Keep at it... they'll thank you someday (even if it's years later)!

Funny how that works, isn't it? My kids were the same way - one minute flossing was a fun game, the next it was like pulling teeth (pun intended). I tried all sorts of tricks: flavored floss, sticker charts, even letting them pick out their own flossers at the store. Honestly, none of it seemed to stick long-term. But then one day at the dentist, the hygienist casually mentioned to my daughter how flossing helps prevent bad breath. Suddenly, she was flossing religiously every night. Go figure.

Makes me wonder if sometimes it's less about the gimmicks and more about finding that one thing that clicks with them personally. Did anyone else find that a random comment or experience made a bigger difference than all the planned strategies?

"Makes me wonder if sometimes it's less about the gimmicks and more about finding that one thing that clicks with them personally."

This is spot-on. For my son, it wasn't the dentist or flavored floss - it was his older cousin casually mentioning how cavities meant extra dentist visits (and more money spent). He's oddly budget-conscious for a kid, so now he flosses to "save money," lol. Sometimes kids just need their own quirky reason to make it stick...

My granddaughter was the same way, but for her it was seeing me struggle with dental issues. She overheard me talking about how anxious I get before dentist visits - especially when there's drilling involved - and I guess that stuck with her. Now she flosses religiously because she's terrified of ending up like grandma, haha. Funny how kids latch onto these little personal reasons... whatever works, right?

That's actually pretty relatable... I remember being terrified of the dentist as a kid too, mostly because my dad would always talk about how painful his fillings were. It definitely made me brush and floss more, but now as an adult, I'm still anxious whenever I have an appointment coming up. Do you think sharing our dental anxieties with kids helps them build better habits, or does it risk passing on unnecessary fears?

I can definitely relate to your experience. My parents were always very open about their dental issues, and while it did encourage me to brush and floss regularly, it also left me with a lingering anxiety about dental visits. Even now, as an adult who carefully budgets for healthcare expenses, I find myself feeling uneasy whenever a dentist appointment approaches - partly because I'm worried about potential pain, but also because unexpected dental procedures can be financially stressful.

In terms of sharing anxieties with kids, I think there's a fine line between honesty and unintentionally passing on fears. It's important to communicate the importance of good dental hygiene without making the dentist seem like something scary or painful. Maybe instead of focusing on negative experiences, we could emphasize the positive outcomes of regular brushing and flossing - like fewer cavities, less discomfort during check-ups, and lower dental bills in the long run.

One thing I've found helpful is framing dental care as part of overall health maintenance rather than something separate or intimidating. For example, comparing flossing to washing hands or eating vegetables - just another routine habit that keeps us healthy. When my niece was younger, her parents used sticker charts and small rewards for consistent flossing habits. It seemed to work pretty well without creating any anxiety around dental visits.

Ultimately though, every child is different. Some might respond positively to hearing about real-life consequences (within reason), while others might become overly anxious. It's probably best to gauge each child's personality and adjust accordingly. Either way, your awareness of this issue shows you're already thoughtful about how you approach it with kids - which is half the battle won already.

I get your point about emphasizing positive outcomes, but honestly, sometimes kids see right through that stuff. My son was totally unimpressed by sticker charts and rewards - he just didn't care enough. What actually worked was being upfront (without scaring him) about what happens if you don't floss regularly. A little honesty about cavities and fillings made it real for him, and now he flosses without reminders. Guess it depends on the kid, but sugarcoating things doesn't always help in my experience...

I totally get what you're saying about honesty working better than rewards sometimes. Kids can definitely sense when we're trying too hard to make something seem fun or exciting. But I wouldn't completely dismiss the positive reinforcement approach either. It might not have clicked with your son, but I've seen it work wonders with other kids - especially younger ones or those who respond well to visual motivation.

My niece, for example, was super resistant to flossing until her mom made it into a nightly routine they did together. They'd chat about their day while flossing, and afterward she'd get to put a sticker on a calendar. It wasn't even about earning a prize; she just liked seeing the stickers build up over time. Eventually, flossing became second nature, and she didn't need the stickers anymore.

I think the key is figuring out what motivates each kid individually. For some, like your son, understanding the real consequences of neglecting oral hygiene is enough to spark action. For others, especially younger kids or those who might be anxious about dental visits, focusing on positive reinforcement or making it a bonding activity can be more effective.

Also, it's worth mentioning that sometimes combining both approaches can help. You can be honest about cavities and fillings without making it scary, and still use small rewards or praise to reinforce good habits. It's not necessarily sugarcoating - just balancing honesty with encouragement.

Every kid's different, so it's great you found something that works for yours. But I'd say don't rule out positive reinforcement entirely - it can still be a useful tool in the parenting toolbox, depending on the child and situation.

That sticker chart thing totally brings back memories. My parents tried something similar with me, but honestly, I was the type who’d get anxious just thinking about the dentist, so no amount of stickers really calmed my nerves. I always wondered if making it a more social thing - like flossing together - would’ve helped me stick with it. For those of you with anxious kids, do you find routines or rewards help more with actually reducing their stress, or is it mostly about getting the habit started?

I’ve seen a mix of both routines and rewards, but honestly, for anxious kids, routines tend to make a bigger difference over time. Familiarity can take the edge off that stress, especially if the routine feels safe and predictable. Making it a group activity - like flossing together - can really help too. I’ve noticed some kids relax when they see their parents doing it without fuss. Rewards like sticker charts are fun, but if a kid’s truly anxious, they might just see it as more pressure. Sometimes it’s the small, consistent stuff - same time each night, same steps, maybe even a favorite song - that helps them settle in.

Sometimes it’s the small, consistent stuff - same time each night, same steps, maybe even a favorite song - that helps them settle in.

Totally agree. As someone who gets anxious about new routines, the predictability really calms me down. Honestly, when my family did things together (even just brushing teeth), it felt way less intimidating. The group thing works.

when my family did things together (even just brushing teeth), it felt way less intimidating. The group thing works.

Funny, I used to roll my eyes at “family floss time,” but it actually stuck with me. Now I’m the one reminding everyone. Did you ever try making flossing into a game or challenge? That was the trick for my stubborn nephew - he loved keeping score.

Did you ever try making flossing into a game or challenge? That was the trick for my stubborn nephew - he loved keeping score.

Yeah, turning it into a challenge usually works way better than just nagging. I’ve seen some families do sticker charts or little prizes for consistency. Group routines help too, but honestly, I get a little nervous about making it too competitive - sometimes kids get discouraged if they “lose.” Still, anything that gets them flossing regularly is a win in my book.

- Agreed, competition can be a double-edged sword. I’ve seen sticker charts backfire - my niece got so bummed when she missed a day that she almost quit entirely.
- What’s worked best for us:
• Letting the kids pick their own floss (those crazy dinosaur-shaped ones are a hit).
• Using a timer or a short song - keeps things light and gives them something to focus on besides “Am I doing this right?”
• Occasional small rewards, but nothing major. Sometimes just letting them stay up an extra 5 minutes if they’ve flossed all week.

- I’m with you on group routines. Makes it feel less like a chore and more like just “what we do.”
- One thing I’d add: modeling the behavior. When my son saw me flossing every night (even when I was tired), he started reminding me if I forgot… tables turned.

Not every trick works for every kid, but mixing it up seems to keep things from getting stale. And yeah, as long as the floss is moving, I’m happy.

Letting kids pick their own flossers is genius - my nephew’s obsessed with the shark ones. I’m in braces right now, and honestly, even as an adult, I find myself wanting the fun colors just to make it less of a drag. Have you ever tried letting them “floss” your teeth as a joke? My niece thought it was hilarious and started taking it way more seriously after that. Does anyone else feel like modeling works better than any kind of reward chart? For us, seeing me struggle with my braces routine actually made them more willing to try.

I totally get what you mean about modeling - my little cousin was way more into flossing after she saw me awkwardly trying to figure out those little floss picks (I’m new to all this dental stuff, too). She thought it was hilarious when I kept dropping them, but now she actually reminds me to do it. I tried a sticker chart for her once and it just turned into a sticker collection, not much flossing. I think seeing adults struggle a bit makes it less intimidating for kids, honestly.

That’s funny about the sticker chart - I tried something similar with my nephew and he just stuck the stickers all over his toy box instead of using them for flossing. I wonder if it’s more about the shared moment than the actual reward? Has anyone had luck with making it into a silly game or challenge?