This message from St. Mary’s Dental in Mechanicsville is for kids who want to make flossing a habit. Here are five flossing steps made so easy you can tick them off one finger at a timw.
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 Healthy gums are as important as healthy teeth, therefore I floss.
Pointer: Pointer Fingers Measure
How much floss for 32 teeth? The American Dental Association recommends that you start with about 18 inches. Roughly 6 lengths of your pointer finger should be enough.
Tall Man: Wrap the Middle Fingers
This is a team effort. With the middle fingers wound up in the floss, the thumb and forefinger can grip and guide the floss into place. After wrapping 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 spots 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 results in dental caries and inflamed gums. Periodontal disease can eventually result in tooth loss. Tooth neglect is a slippery slope.
At St. Mary’s Dental in Mechanicsville we encourage you to brush and floss daily, and see us for regular checkups. People from North Waldorf, East Huntingtown, and South Laplata come to us for restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next checkup today!
Contact St. Mary’s Dental:
301-884-3248
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
28169 Old Village Rd
Mechanicsville, Maryland
20659
