Flossing Age?

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Over Christmas, I've noticed my DC (16 & 14) accumulating a bit of tartar between their front teeth. It's nothing awful although DD (16) could probably do with a bit of a scrape now. What age did your DC start flossing? Our dentist hasn't mentioned it; maybe they need to start seeing the hygienist? Neither have braces and nice straight teeth (although a bit yellow!).

Do you mean they have never had their teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist?

No, they haven't. Is it common for teenagers to visit the hygienist in the UK? I feel like if they were flossing regularly this buildup wouldn't have accumulated but as I say they've revived no advice around flossing.

Not unusual, all my friends didn’t go to hygienist until adult.

DS is 10 and just had a quick appt to scrape some tartar off before he gets braces, they’ll do it for you I’m sure. Definitely time to start flossing!!

Well they should've been flossing twice daily since their first teeth came through. Though obviously it's hard with very little kids.

They must have very poor hygiene if there's visible tartare on the front. Imagine what the back must be like?!

Yes to a hygienist. But they need to take responsibility. Brush every tooth and tongue thoroughly with an electric brush then floss, it should take at least 5 minutes. And use mouthwash.

We've had DS using floss (first we did it, and then got him to) since about the age of 4. He has regular 2 x a year dental check ups and at our dentist they offer hygiene apts from about 9/10 years old

I asked DS’s dentist and she said no need to floss at his age (he was 8 at the time). Not sure when they’re supposed to start?

definitely floss and tepe brushes and make sure they’re not rinsing after brushing

It’s really important to get on top of this as the tartar will push the gum away and you want as much gum for as long as possible. Directly they get all their teeth they can floss . For my eldest that’s 13. As I expect that they won’t floss as they are lazy in booking them in for a proper scale and polish every six months and I’ll pay extra for that.

Well that’s just silly as little children have big gaps between their teeth so floss is unnecessary. It’s when adult teeth are all through and the gaps have been closed.

Ah ok. I thought it was more just to get them into the good habit of doing it. Sooner the better?

I don’t see a hygienist either, my dentists have never suggested that I need to! My teeth are not yellow, probably slightly off white but I am nearly 70 and my gums score 0 ( the lowest) every checkup. I do use an electric toothbrush and dental picks every day.

Thanks all. Both DC are booked in for a private scale and polish. I bought a dental mirror to look behind DD's front teeth and let's just say the hygienist will have her work cut out 🤮. Can't believe this buildup hasn't been flagged by our dentist previously! It can't have accumulated in a mere couple of months...

Their bathrooms are now equipped with an arsenal of products for cleaning between teeth. DS even let me poke around his mouth with some interdental brushes which is great given I was fully convinced he wouldn't comply. Fingers crossed the hygienist isn't too heavy handed and puts them on the straight and narrow.

Flossing usually starts around 12–13, but many aren’t consistent. If there’s visible tartar, a hygienist visit would help. Yellowing at this age is common too.

Flossing usually starts around 10–12.
At 14 & 16, daily flossing and a hygienist visit is a good idea for tartar.

The school dentist was promoting flossing in my school at age 6 or 7! But these days, interdental brushes are generally seen by dentists as more useful than floss.