Use Five Fingers For Quick And Healthy Flossing

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This message from the Center for Dental Anesthesia and your dentist in Alexandria VA is for kids who want to make flossing a habit. It’s a good habit to get in to!

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 me that this isn’t for my friends. Brushing so I don’t gross them out, and rinsing with a fluoride rinse for fresh breath as I speak – that is for friends. Flossing is for me, myself and I. For ideal oral health, you need both healthy teeth and 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 commence with about 18 inches. Roughly 6 lengths of your pointer finger should be enough.

Tall Man: Wrap the Middle Fingers
This is a team exercise. With the middle fingers wound up in the floss, the thumb and forefinger can grip and guide the floss into place. After sliding 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 sufficiently. Hurray for floss! This smell test says the brushing needs to be adjusted. 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 cause tooth loss. Tooth neglect is a slippery slope.

At the Center for Dental Anesthesia in Alexandria VA, the dentist urges each patient to bush and floss twice a day. It’s the best way to ensure good dental health. We provide family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment today.

Contact Center for Dental Anesthesia:

703-379-6400

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

5284 Dawes Ave
Alexandria, Virginia
22311