When to floss toddlers teeth?

[NotBehindTheRadiatorPlease]

Hi all. I am so confused as to when I should start flossing my DD'S teeth! I know you should start brushing them when the first tooth emerges, but I can't seem to find a consensus on when you should start flossing.

My DD is 21 months and we brush her teeth twice a day, but haven't flossed yet. Looking online, some sources say when two teeth touch, some say 2/3 years, and then some say not until they have adult teeth!?

When did you start flossing your kid's teeth? Thanks

Sorry no idea but I suspect this is a question best for your dentist?

DD1 is 14 (years not months!) and has only just been given flossing instructions from the dentist. DD2 who is 11 has been told to wait. So I'd hold off!

I’m 44 and never flossed my teeth! Our teens have never flossed theirs either. Brushing twice a day is suffice!

My dd is 15 and was told to start about 6 months ago.

Floss a toddlers teeth ?

Are you quite mad ?

@Greenbks correct, but being in Tier 4 we can only see a dentist if it's an emergency.

My dc are 14, 12 and 10 and I have never flossed their teeth. Dd14 recently had braces and the dentist advised some of those interdental brushes to clean the brace with, but never been told to do anything more than that (and they generally go to the dentist every 6months in non covid Times, so plenty of opportunities for the dentist to Advise us to start flossing.

@AnyFucker well, you have to brush their teeth and they eat the same foods we do (within reason) and they can dental decay just like we can. Why is the idea so preposterous?

I wouldn't trust a toddler to stay still enough to be able to floss teeth safely. Think my kids were over 10 when dentist mentioned flossing. (Can't remember exactly when)

*can get dental decay

I wouldn’t imagine flossing until adult teeth are all in is a very good idea.

Flossing is really harsh on gums to begin with and I imagine even worse on little gums. I also wouldn’t like to floss in between baby teeth.

Ring the dentist and ask or google it?

Also @AnyFucker, if you search 'flossing toddlers teeth' some seem to recommend doing so from 2/3. Are they quite mad too?

I don’t even know how you would go about it. When they’re asleep? Drug them?

When mine were toddlers you would have had to sedate them to floss their teeth

Put it another way, I would have had more luck flossing my spaniel

Do you have a very, very compliant child ?

It can’t wait a few weeks?

flossing only once dc have all adult teeth, so from around 14 years old.
and flossing is a bit controversial according to my dentist, it's easy to do more damage. interdental brushes are better to avoid injury.

I would have paid good money to watch anyone attempt to floss ds teeth when he was 2 haha

@NotBehindTheRadiatorPlease

Also *@AnyFucker*, if you search 'flossing toddlers teeth' some seem to recommend doing so from 2/3. Are they quite mad too?

Well *@AnyFucker* did just express an opinion, which presumably is what you were looking for when you came on here? If it does not suit your process then maybe just stick to google answers?

@NotBehindTheRadiatorPlease

Also *@AnyFucker*, if you search 'flossing toddlers teeth' some seem to recommend doing so from 2/3. Are they quite mad too?

Well then you have your answer. An article written by a dentist is probably more reliable than asking MN

I wondered this too! Relieved to know it's much older. Think my child would bite my arm off if I attempted this.

Some people are a bit full of rage on here today

I think you're quite mad too! 😂

I started when I was about 14 and still do it, and I’ve never had a filling at 35 - so I do think it’s definitely a good thing. But I hadn’t even considered flossing my young DC’s teeth yet!

@Tyranttoddler I know right? I thought I was asking a fairly innocuous question but people seem utterly outraged by it. Bizarre.

Could you try a water flosser instead of regular floss?