Be honest – when was the last time you flossed your teeth? You have probably heard about this every time you visited your dentist to have your teeth cleaned, cavities filled or teeth pulled, but have you actually listened to this advice?
No more excuses – 25 November is National Flossing Day, a day to serve as a reminder to floss your teeth and to look after your general oral health.
National Flossing Day has been celebrated since the year 2000 – as a reminder of the importance of looking after your teeth. Flossing is an important component of oral care.
Dental floss has been available since the late 1890s. When Johnson and Johnson first patented the product in 1898, toothbrushes were still quite expensive – ironically. Floss was originally made from thin silk threads, but by the end of World War II it was predominantly made from nylon.
Even though it took 102 years for National Flossing Day to be declared, you should not overlook your oral hygiene for that long – if you did, you would lose all your teeth!
The easiest way to celebrate National Flossing Day is to get up in the morning and floss your teeth, either before or after brushing (and both are equally important to dental hygiene). Because this day is all about raising awareness about oral health, a fitting way to celebrate would be to schedule a dentist’s appointment – especially if you haven’t seen one in quite a while. Do not let your irrational fear of dentists deter you from seeing one – some dentists sedate you before they work on your teeth.
If you have been to the dentist recently, check whether you have dental floss at home. If you don’t have any, go to the store and buy some. Restaurants and cafeterias can observe this day by providing dental floss with their customers’ meals. For the artistically inclined, this is the perfect day to have a flossing contest.
Share your unique flossing ideas on social media and use #NationalFlossingDay
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