All Country Music
fans (like me!) who watched the CMA’s last night saw Brad Paisley
unleash a few jokes about flossing, and, in a dad-joke way, deadpan
pretended he didn't know the difference between the floss dance and
dental hygiene. "Garth, do you floss?" Paisley asked Garth
Brooks, who promptly responded, “Yeah, dum**ss.” Carrie Underwood
asked Luke Bryan, in the audience, to try and show off his best
flossing dance moves, to the delight of everyone sitting near him.
“How’s that supposed to prevent gingivitis?” Paisley said in
mock-confusion.
Your kids may or may
not be Country Music fans, but they almost certainly know the
Floss Dance, made popular by a video from the Backpack Kid (Katy
Perry even asked him to perform the dance with her on SNL).
The popularity of
this dance is a great opportunity for parents to teach their kids
about the importance of flossing their teeth (and a reminder for
parents, too). So if you see your kids Floss Dancing, or a video
comes on, or if you ask to see their best Floss Dancing moves, tell
them some of these important flossing facts.It’s a Couples Dance!
Brushing AND
flossing in tandem, as a must-do in your daily/nightly routine is
definitely more effective than just brushing on its own. Brushing
only your teeth and not flossing is quite like cleaning the outside
part of a bowl but not cleaning the inside! The bristles of the
toothbrush can only reach so far, which means that a high 35% of your
teeth's surface remains untouched - AKA a breeding and party ground
for bacteria! And a pro tip: Floss first, then Brush for maximum
cleaning impact.
Tartar – It’s just gross.
So basically, tartar
forms when plaque has been left for too long and begins to harden.
Daily and nightly flossing will help you remove debris and plaque
from the teeth which ensures no tartar forms at the gum-line of the
teeth. Don't give plaque a reason to think it can turn into tartar
and sit on your teeth any longer!
An Unclean Mouth is a Turnoff to Other People!
Debris from food and
plaque can become lodged between teeth and gums which can contain
icky bacteria which in turn creates a not-so-kissable-odor! Flossing
prevents these particles to get stuck which stops bad breath and also
the unfortunate, unsightly and common occurrence of broccoli or poppy
seeds making an appearance when you smile.
Floss is the Super-Hero your Gums Need!
Plaque can not only
stain your teeth but it can also be the culprit for Gingivitis which
is the first sign and step towards gum disease; inflammation and
infection of the gums! The plaque builds up and begins to erode and
eat away at your poor vulnerable gums! Your gummy-gum-gums are the
most vulnerable point of the gums and can be saved by you! You and
your magical floss can save the day!
And if you need
extra help reinforcing good habits, Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, with offices in West Hartford Center and New Britain, CT, can help teach
your kid to floss the right way—and will do the Floss Dance, too!
Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and New Britain, Connecticut. She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121
