One Small Change to Get You Flossing

Over the years I’ve asked patients how frequently they floss. There seem to be two types of patients when it comes to flossing. On one hand, you have the people that floss every day. It’s part of their daily routine. On the other hand, you have the people that floss only if they feel like there is something stuck between their teeth. They never use dental floss any other time.

I ask the patients that rarely floss where they keep their floss. If I was to go in the bathroom at your house right now, where would I find the floss? Some say in the drawer, in the medicine cabinet, and some say you might not find it anywhere!

They never say it is sitting on the counter.

I have one simple suggestion. Put the floss on the counter. Don’t put it away.

It’s hard to develop good habits in our lives if we don’t make it easy to carry out those habits. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If you don’t even look at the floss every day, how will you remember to use it?

Regular flossing promotes healthy teeth and gums, prevents bad breath, and gets harmful bacteria out of your mouth. Patients that floss regularly have easier dental cleaning appointments that take less time and are more comfortable. When gums aren’t flossed regularly, they become inflamed and prone to bleeding. Sometimes patients say they don’t like to floss because it makes their gums bleed. They don’t realize that their gums are likely bleeding because they don’t floss!  A few days in a row of flossing and your gums should stop bleeding.  If they don’t, it’s time to see your dentist to see if something else is going on.

If you don’t floss and really want to make a change for the better, do yourself a favor and get the floss from out of the drawer and onto your bathroom counter.

Don’t get crazy, though. Have some respect for others around you and floss in private. Don’t floss and drive!

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