Tall tales are being told inside dental offices across the country — and chances are that you’ve even fibbed in the dentist’s chair once or twice.
A national survey conducted for the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) details just exactly what people are lying about to their dentist and hygienist. And guess what? It’s not about how much sugary foods we’re eating, or how often we brush our teeth. It’s about something that potentially has more impact on our health than that.
27% of patients says they lie about how often they floss.
The reason: People don’t like doing it. In fact, some say they’d rather wash dishes or client a toilet than floss. The American Dental association reports that only 50% of Americans floss daily and a whopping 18% don’t floss at all.
Need some motivation?
Here are 8 facts that may make you reconsider the time you’re NOT spending flossing your teeth.
1. Flossing helps prevent gum disease and cavities .
2. Not flossing is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
3. It doesn’t really matter when you floss — could be morning, noon, or night. The most important thing is to just do it at least once a day.
4. Try storing floss in your car, in your bag or in your office drawer—then break it out when you have time (discreetly, of course). There’s no need to floss in front of a mirror, either.
5. Flossing removes plaque from areas between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. If this plaque is not removed, it can eventually harden into calculus or tartar, leading to gum disease.
6. Flossing should not be painful. It’s normal for it to be a bit uncomfortable when you first start, but within a week or two, that discomfort should ease.
7. Children should start to floss as soon as they have two teeth that touch.
8. Flossing your entire mouth takes less than a minute. Really!