You can make the brushing and flossing routine easier and more effective for your children by choose the right kind of toothpaste and floss.
Toothpaste
Find the Fluoride
Fluoride occasionally gets negative press, but it’s really a perfectly safe part of a dentist-monitored oral health care plan. It's a great weapon in the fight against dental decay because it helps strengthen and protect dental enamel.
Discuss fluoride toothpaste with your dentist before purchasing, though, because fluoride may be present in your water supply, and too much fluoride can cause dental problems.
Flavour
Children may find the strong taste of regular mint toothpaste a little too harsh at first. And if you’re not accustomed to it, the tingly sensation it causes can even be uncomfortable.
Toothpaste for kids comes in a several different flavours, and you may find it helps to start your child off with something a little milder and sweeter tasting, such as cherry or bubblegum.
If your child is very young, though, just be sure he or she doesn’t try to swallow it!
Floss
You can get floss in multiple flavours as well, and so choosing something your child likes may sweeten the deal a little when it comes to nightly flossing.
When choosing floss for children, it’s best to select a soft, fairly flexible variety, since this will be easiest on their gums. Ribbon floss is often a good choice, as it has a wide surface, making it helpful while children’s teeth are growing in and not very close together yet, but it's still soft and flexible enough to help prevent bleeding as your child learns how to floss gently.