In the eyes of many children, summer vacation is a good day for various fruit desserts such as watermelon, sweet oranges, ice cream, yogurt, lollipops, etc. However, parents are preparing to "fight" against sweets and launch a "tooth defense battle". How can children protect their teeth after eating sweets? Why do teeth still turn black when brushing every day? Don't you need to clean the gaps between your teeth without filling them? Brush your teeth first or floss first For these questions, "powerful young and middle-aged doctors", and associate Chief physician Cheng, a pediatric stomatologist in the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, answered them one by one. The enlarged gap between teeth is not related to dental flossing. Lin Jiacheng pointed out that children can use dental floss from the age of two to two and a half. Parents should help their children brush and floss their teeth until at least eight years old. Some parents feel that 'children don't need to floss, brushing their teeth is enough'. "Although brushing will help us to remove most of the Dental plaque on the tooth surface, it is difficult to clean the adjacent surfaces between the teeth," Lin Jiacheng pointed out that the teeth on both sides of the child's teeth become black, the adjacent surface caries appear, or the gums become swollen or gingivitis occurs, which requires dental floss to help clean. Children may also have dental congestion after eating, especially at the age of 4-5, when the gap between teeth gradually increases with the development of the jawbone, and dental floss is also needed to help clean it up. He specially reminded that children should also use dental floss when they are not stuck. The purpose of tooth cleaning is to remove food residues and Dental plaque invisible to the eyes on the surface of teeth. Some parents are concerned that "flossing can cause the gaps between teeth to become larger." "This is not the case. It is a normal physiological phenomenon for children to gradually widen the gaps during the development process of their jawbones. Tooth replacement already requires larger gaps, which can prevent tooth crowding." He pointed out that it is recommended for children to floss once a day in the morning and evening, usually after meals. There is not much difference in using it before or after brushing, but the most recommended order of use is to floss first and then brush your teeth. Young children are advised to use Floss pick first "Do you want thick or thin dental floss, round or flat?" For this problem, it should vary from person to person. If the gaps between the teeth are loose, all kinds of dental floss can be used; If the gaps between the teeth are tight, choose a thin, round floss that can better enter the gaps between the teeth. One is axial dental floss, and the other is Floss pick. It is recommended that young children use Floss pick, which is easy to operate. When children are older, they can also use axial dental floss. What should children do if they don't cooperate with flossing? Firstly, parents should not be anxious. When using dental floss, they should create a calm and happy atmosphere. Start with one or a few teeth and let the child slowly accept it. "Lin Jiacheng suggested that parents can personally demonstrate the use of dental floss to arouse their curiosity and be willing to try it out. Children's Floss pick is used like this - when using a Floss pick, it is necessary to hold the handle of the Floss pick to enter the gap of the teeth in a saw style, cling to the gums, wrap the tooth surface in a C-shape (let the floss "C" shape, and scrape the side of the tooth in a "hug" attitude), and scrape up and down. Lin Jiacheng reminds that when dental floss enters a tight gap, do not pull it down at once to avoid damaging the gums. The correct approach is to gently drag back and forth, gradually moving it into the gaps between the teeth. After entering, it should be up and down, rather than rubbing back and forth. Dental floss should enter the gum line to clean the bacteria that surround the gum edge of the tooth root