This message is for smart kids who want to make flossing a habit. Here are 5 flossing steps made so easy you can tick them off one finger at a time thanks to Harris Dental in Phoenix.
Thumbkin: Thumb to Chest Reminder
Thumb to chest can remind me that this isn’t for my friends. Brushing the goobers off so I don’t gross them out. Rinsing with a fluoride rinse for fresh breath as I speak. That is for friends. Flossing is for me, myself and I. I want Your overall oral health depends not only on healthy teeth but also healthy gums, therefore I floss.
Pointer: Pointer Fingers Measure
How much floss will I need to floss my 32 teeth? The American Dental Association advises that you begin with about 18 inches. Roughly 6 lengths of your pointer finger should be adequate.
Tall Man: Wrap the Middle Fingers
This is a team endeavor. With the middle fingers wound up in the floss, the thumb and forefinger can grip and guide the floss into place. After curving the floss around the tooth into a “C” shape, and the up and down motions have wiped away plaque, then “unspool” for a new section for the next tooth in line.
Ring Man: The Smell Test
Many a long term relationship has been cut short due to not-so-fresh breath. Smell floss before going between teeth. Smell it after. Bad smell? Brushing is not cleaning away that bacteria well enough. Hurray for floss! This smell test says the brushing needs to be improved. Be gentle with your gums. Keep those areas at the base of your teeth bacteria free.
Pinky: Time to Promise
Make the pledge now. Every time you look at your pinky, remember that you pinky promised to keep those gums free from disease. Flossing isn’t so much about removing food as it is about removing dental plaque. Plaque creates tooth decay and inflamed gums. Periodontal disease can eventually bring about tooth loss. Tooth neglect is a slippery slope.
At Harris Dental in Phoenix we offer complete general dentistry. People from Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Mesa also come to our practice for restorative dentistry. Call to schedule a checkup with us today!
CONTACT HARRIS DENTAL:
LOCATION (TAP TO OPEN IN GOOGLE MAPS):