Why is it so tough to remember to floss?
I rarely run into patients who can’t remember to brush their teeth twice a day, but even the most conscientious among us come to their hygiene appointment anxious and awaiting the hygienist’s lecture about flossing.
Flossing can be icky and awkward — no one likes feeling like they’re shoving their entire fist into their mouth. But the reason why we don’t make flossing a habit is a bit more complicated and has its roots in psychology.
During the early 1900s, right around World War I, dental hygiene was so bad, it was said to be a national security risk. Why? People weren’t brushing their teeth, of course, and the 1900s marks the period when Americans first began to consume sugary, ready-to-eat processed foods, such as crackers, breads, and potato chips.
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Floss every day. Then you can’t NOT floss because the teeth no longer feel clean.
I use what he calls a “flossing stick’, too – a Reach flosser – and though it was slightly painful at first, I’ve found it to be much easier than trying to use floss with both hands.