Teaching kids how to floss is one of the most challenging tasks parents face when dealing with their children's oral health. However, flossing is a vital part of dental health. Kami Hoss, DDS, notes that dental floss can clean 40% of tooth surfaces that brushing cannot reach. It also helps in preventing the onset of gum disease. Children should be introduced to flossing between the ages of two and four.

Below are some tips on encouraging children to floss early in their lives.

• Use visual guides. Visual aids are great tools in teaching kids to floss and its importance for their health. There are plenty of videos online that parents can use. Alternatively, parents can illustrate how to floss their teeth through a show-and-tell demonstration. Additionally, visual guides can also be used to help kids track their progress. For instance, they can mark their calendar with a sticker for each day they successfully floss their teeth.

• Provide them fun flossing gear. Parents can use colorful flossing sticks to encourage children to floss. Allowing the kids to pick their own floss sticks or water flosser can also give them a sense of ownership, note Kami Hoss, DDS.

• Create activities or games. Parents can show how essential flossing is through toys or games. For example, they can play with large Duplo or Lego blocks, playdough, and yarn, representing the teeth, food, gunk, and floss. This activity can teach kids how to floss and provide parents and their children a way to have a fun time together.

• Show and tell. Instead of just instructing children to floss, parents can set an example by flossing themselves. This also means that parents have to include flossing in their own daily routine to show its importance. An added benefit is that it can also improve the parents' oral health.

Dr. Kami Hoss co-founded The Super Dentists with his business partner and wife, Dr. Nazli Keri. He is also the head of Acceledontics and Howard Healthcare Academy, a dental assistant school. Learn more about Dr. Hoss here.