Health Tip: Floss Your Child's Teeth

To keep teeth and gums clean and healthy, flossing is a must. Parents should make sure children's teeth are more than properly brushed, but also flossed.

The American Dental Association offers these suggestions:

• Make sure you have enough time to floss your child's teeth properly.
• Start flossing as soon as two emerging teeth touch.
• Floss your child's teeth until about age 10 or 11, when the child has the manual dexterity required to floss properly.
• Ask your dentist for guidance if flossing becomes difficult or painful.