Most of the parents (78 percent) in the survey confess that their child’s oral health isn’t as good as it could be, with 64 percent disclosing that their child currently has oral health issues, including cavities (31 percent).
So you think getting children to do their homework is difficult? Try getting them to brush their teeth or floss. 
In fact, getting kids to floss regularly is more difficult than getting them to brush their teeth, according to the Children’s Oral Health Survey conducted by Delta Dental and released in late July.
The survey was conducted between December 13 and December 28, 2017, among a nationally representative sample of 1,322 parents of children ages 12 and under.
Delta Dental is the largest provider of dental insurance in the United States covering more than 78 million Americans and providing more than $50 million to support and improve oral health.
Its survey indicates that many American children are not following recommended guidelines of brushing their teeth for two minutes twice a day and flossing once daily.
Most of the parents (78 percent) in the survey confess that their child’s oral health isn’t as good as it could be, with 64 percent disclosing that their child currently has oral health issues, including cavities (31 percent).
Nearly half of the parents (45 percent) said it was hard to get their child to floss, followed by difficulty in getting them to brush their teeth as reported by 37 percent of parents. Less challenging is getting their child to make the bed (as reported by 30 percent of parents) or to complete homework on time (25 percent of parents said).
The survey reveals interesting facets of parenting. Four of 10 (39 percent) of parents, for example, worry more about their child’s oral health on a daily basis than they do about school performance (as reported by 25 percent of parents) or physical activity (24 percent).
Seven of 10 (73 percent) of parents are more likely to say their child’s oral health is extremely important than they are about their youngster’s diet or nutrition (66 percent) and even their own oral health (61 percent of parents said).
“Parents share that their child’s oral health is a priority over their own,” said Dr. Joe Dill, Vice President of Dental Science, Delta Dental. “Let’s turn that concern inward. By showing our children we value our own healthy smile, we can help them to develop positive attitudes toward preventive oral care practices that can impact a lifetime.”
The American Dental Association reports that up to 80 percent of plaque can be eliminated with by flossing.
Trivia: Dental floss is a thin filament used to remove food and dental plaque from between teeth in areas a toothbrush is unable to reach. Flossing is essential because as plaque builds up between the teeth, it is the primary cause of gum disease and tooth decay.
It was first available in the market in1882 when the Codman and Shurtleft company started producing unwaxed silk floss. In 1898, the Johnson & Johnson Corporation patented dental floss made from the same silk material used by doctors for silk stitches. In the 1940s it was replaced by the nylon floss which resists abrasion better and could be produced in greater lengths./WDJ