Tips for flossing toddler teeth?

smiley2

DS's teeth are pretty close together.  His dentist (he just had his first cleaning) highly recommended trying to floss his teeth nightly.  While it sounds like a total nightmare, I'd like to try and give it a shot.

Her suggestions-

- use the floss with the handles

- lie him on his back, with his head in my lap

The handles were nice- but seemed too big for his mouth- I really struggled- he just couldn't open wide enough.  Do they make smaller ones for kids?  I was using the Oral B ones.

I think the position would be fine if I weren't pregnant.  I just couldn't bend over enough- so I had him lie on the couch and I kneeled on the floor.  That worked okay, but it was still hard to manouver.

I also turned the TV on- that's the ONLY way he'd sit there through this mess.  I can't even imagine attempting to do this nightly!

Any other suggestions?

Snowbride02

We use the little floss toothpick things.  They work great because you don't have to put your fingers in their mouth.  I don't know if that's what you're talking about or not.  The ones I bought aren't very big at all.  But, we only have to floss the front teeth.  The rest of them are spread apart so I don't have much trouble.  My DD tolerates it pretty well.  If it takes 5 minutes of TV to get him to sit still I'd do it.  I'm not that against TV though.  I guess you could offer some other kind of reward or let him take a turn at flossing.  My DD loves to brush her teeth after we do it.

Hooray2005

We also use the little single-use plastic flossers with a piece of dental floss stretched across the top of it - can't remember the brand, but they're the only ones Target carries.  I almost bought the adult version b/c you got more in a pack, but then I realized the adult ones have a toothpick end, while the children's version is rounded and therefore safer - LOL!

DS (who rarely sits still) doesn't really mind using them, and each night likes to pick out which color flosser he wants to use.  The floss is coated with fluoride, so that's a nice added bonus.

DandR

Like with brushing we do the "let mommy do it first, and then YOU can do it".  So, they lay their head on my lap and I floss.  Then they get the pick and floss themselves.  its just a part of the routine, so not a big deal.

Bellisimo

He just knows that it's part of the routine.  He lays his head in my lap and I use the kiddie flosser things.  Sometimes he looks at a book or I'll sing him a song or DH will read while we're passing the time.  His teeth are really close together though so it has to be done daily.