This blog post from David A. Rice DDS in Elgin IL is for kids who want to make flossing a habit – and we recommend that you do! Here are 5 flossing steps made so easy you can tick them off one finger at a time.
Thumbkin: Thumb to Chest Reminder
Thumb to chest can remind you that this isn’t for your friends. Brushing the gunk off so you don’t gross them out, rinsing with a fluoride rinse for fresh breath as you speak – that is for friends. Flossing is for you. Healthy gums are as important as healthy teeth, therefore you floss.
Pointer: Pointer Fingers Measure
How much floss will you need to floss 32 teeth? The American Dental Association advises that you start 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 doesn’t always clean away every bit of bacteria. Hurray for floss! Be gentle with your gums. Keep those areas at the base of your teeth bacteria free.
Pinky: Time to Promise
Make the vow 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 causes tooth decay and inflamed gums. Periodontal disease can eventually bring about tooth loss. Tooth neglect is a slippery slope.
At David A. Rice DDS in Elgin IL, we encourage all of our patients, young and old alike, to floss when they brush. See us twice a year; our services include general and family dentistry. And because we believe in pain-free dentistry, we also provide sedation dentistry if needed. Schedule your next checkup with us today.
Contact David A. Rice, DDS:
847-741-2353
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1972 Larkin Ave Ste 1
Elgin, Illinois
60123