Tooth Talk
Flossing is Yucky, Messy, and ...
Do you like brushing your teeth?
How about flossing? Messy? Boring?
You find them both fun and wish you
could brush and floss more often?
One night not too long ago, I ran out
of the bathroom ready to slip into bed
for the mindless bliss of sleep and dream
ing. Then I realized I hadn’t flossed!
What to do? Who would know?
For a short moment, I nearly left
the floss on the shelf and proceeded
toward my goal. Then my greatest
motivator flashed into my mind and I
walked back into the bathroom.
Knowing the reasons for doing
something, how beneficial it is for us, is
not always enough. Understanding that
floss is the toothbrush for between our
teeth can help. Knowing that floss will
remove the bacteria that cause cavities
and gum disease might move us along.
Knowledge alone would work bet
ter if it produced an immediate result.
If brushing and flossing produced a vis
ible change, say like washing our hands
after digging in the garden, changing the
oil in our car, or baking bread.
If we floss after not flossing
for a long time, there usually
is a visible change - the
gums bleed and are sore.
Seeing the bleeding
unfortunately
stops
people from flossing.
They stop flossing to stop
the bleeding.
Here comes more knowl
edge: The gums bleed specifically be
cause they have not been flossed -
because they are infected. They will
stop bleeding in 3-4 days if gentle floss
ing is continued. The gums will heal.
Now don’t get me wrong - I have
been known to not floss, which is why
I floss twice a day. Twice-a-day floss
ing gives me a sense that it’s OK to
slack off once in a while. We do tell
you to floss just once a day.
Sometimes I floss mid-day if I know
I will be too tired that night. Maybe I’ve
a party to attend or a dinner to cook
for friends. But what else would a hy
gienist do, you say?
Can you believe I dislike flossing
as much as you? Flossing is definitely
boring. Gosh, fingers get yucky wet
and if I've had garlic - oops, sorry, I
won't go there.
Gagging is no fun either. If there is
anything I work hard at, it’s to prevent
gagging. A tip for reducing the possi
bility of gagging - swallow before
sticking your fingers in your mouth.
Be sure to breathe. Holding your
breath is less fun than flossing. But
breathe through your nose. Moving my
lower jaw to the side, I am working on
relaxing face muscles to make room for
my stubby fingers. Guys, you aren't
the only ones. Female or male, we all
can find reasons to not floss.
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Siletz News
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When you come in next time, ask
me about putting your floss in a loop.
With a loop there is no need to wrap
the floss around your fingers. Fingers
are so easy to trip over.
Also, there are many types of floss
holders. We can give you a sample
when you come in. Or check out the
oral health section at BiMart, Fred
Meyer, or Wal-Mart.
My favorite floss has flavor - mint,
berry, and cinnamon. The newest fla
vored floss has toothpaste on it. The
taste from putting it between all your
teeth is refreshing. And the flavor helps
us feel as if flossing actually does
something. Look for “cleanpaste, a
Reach product by Johnson & Johnson.
Floss comes in colors: white, red,
blue, green, and black. It can be made
of nylon, cotton, and one is made of
Gor-tex. Some flosses are waxed, some
are lightly waxed, others are unwaxed.
Maybe you like thin or thick,
maybe woven floss is your style? An
other floss that is woven green and
white has fluoride on it. It seems even
industry is interested in us floss
ing our teeth ... or helping us
and making a buck.
OK. what is my big
gest motivator? You are.
As a professional who
likes what she does and
who wants you to like tak
ing care of your teeth. I feel
bound to do as I say to do.
Each time I am tempted to not
floss, which is more often that I want
to admit, I am reminded of the many
many times I have told you to floss.
So thank you for keeping me honest
as a dental professional. You have con
tributed to my overall good health.
Kids, do you want some fun Web
page activities? Do you like colorful
tasks, word games, and puzzles?
Check out the Web sites below:
Tom’s (Natural Care) of Maine
A) This link has an oral health quiz to
complete.
www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/com-
munity/dhfa2006/oral_health/
quiz.asp
B) This link has a coloring book to
download or just print.
www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/com-
munity/dhfa2006/kids/default.asp
The University of Manchester
A) This link has interactive activities
for children.
www.childrensuniversity.manchester.
ac.uk
This link has activities that can be done
at home or in the classroom,
downloadable activities too:
www.teachingheart.net/teeth.html
January 2007
Clinic
Health
New Optometrist Joins Clinic
by Mary Ellen Volansky, RDH, MS
16
L-
CHA-MAY WEEYA - MEDICINETALK
Siletz
Community
We have a new optometrist on staff
You can schedule an appointment
at the Siletz Clinic, Dr. Sky Schroeder.
with either Dr. Rick Letherer on Mon
Now is the perfect time to sched
days or Dr. Schroeder on Thursdays.
ule your eye exams. It’s especially im
Feel free to call the clinic today at
portant to have our diabetic and eld
erly patients get in for their regular
541-444-1030 or 1-800-648-0449 to
annual checkups.
schedule your exam.
Diabetes and the New Year
When setting your New Year’s resolutions, remember that
goals should be measurable and easy to meet. If they cannot
be met. rewrite the goals to make them attainable rather than
give up.
Six Healthy Diabetes Goals for 2007
1.
Regularly check and record your blood sugar.
2.
Inspect feet daily.
3. Exercise daily - walk, garden, chair exercises,
aerobics (check with your doctor).
4. Schedule dilated eye exam and dental exam.
5.
Visit a diabetes educator and dietitian.
6.
Learn results of your microalbumin. A IC. and
LDL cholesterol tests.
New Year’s is a Great Time to Quit
Smoking for Good
Often people have a hard time quit
ting the first time. Former smokers have
to practice quitting as much as they
practice smoking. On average, it takes
six to eight attempts to successfully quit.
With the help of nicotine replacement
therapies (NRTs) such as a patch or gum,
however, the quit attempts can be fewer
and can make withdrawal symptoms
less severe over a long period of time.
Reminder: You cannot smoke/
chew at any time while using an NRT
or else you run the risk of reaching
toxic levels of nicotine in your system.
Second, there is a strong belief that
quitting cold turkey is the best way to
quit because of the short time nicotine
stays in your system and the short time
of physical withdrawal. Nicotine is out
of your system in approximately three
to four days after quitting, then what
remains are the habits around smok
ing or chewing. The choice is up to you.
DeAnna Pearl. Tobacco Prevention
and Education coordinator, can help
you prepare for your quit, help you set
a quit date, and provide you with tools
to help you have a successful quit.
Contact your provider today or call
De Anna at 1-800-648-0449, ext. 1659,
or 541-444-9659. You also can contact
the free Oregon QUIT LINE at 1-877-
270-7867.
See your provider about
NRTs.
Step Two:
Set a quit date.
Step Three: Prepare for your quit.
Step Four:
Get support from family
or friends.
Step One: