How do I floss my child’s teeth?

Steps to floss your child’s teeth

1. Take a piece of floss about as long as your child’s arm. Wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches between the hands. Use your index fingers to guide the floss between the teeth.
2. Slide the floss between the teeth and wrap it into a “C” shape. It should wrap around the base of the tooth, where the tooth meets the gum.
3. Wipe the tooth from bottom to top 2 or 3 times or more, until it is squeaky clean. Floss both sides of each tooth, and the backs of the last molars.
4. Move to a new part of the floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

Reminder: Never flush floss down the toilet.

For more tips on how to brush your child’s teeth, see:

• Should my child always brush right before bed?
• What toothbrush and toothpaste should my child use?