Okay, so let me just start by saying… I wasn’t a flosser. At all. Like, maybe once in a blue moon if I felt really guilty after the dentist visit. But every day? No way. I used to think flossing was just a boring chore that didn’t actually matter. (Spoiler: I was so wrong).
Here’s the story of how I went from someone who thought flossing was optional to someone who can’t go to bed without doing it. It all started with—of all things—a popcorn kernel.
The Popcorn Incident
It was movie night, right? I’m all cozy, eating my popcorn, when I feel this little piece get stuck between my teeth. No big deal, I thought. I’ll just ignore it, and it’ll work its way out. WRONG.
That tiny kernel decided to lodge itself in a way that made my gums super swollen and tender. I tried using my fingernail to get it out (bad idea, don’t do this), and when that didn’t work, I left it alone. A couple of days later, the area started to ache.
I Googled it (bad habit, I know) and convinced myself I was seconds away from some terrifying gum infection. That’s when I grabbed the floss.
Flossing: My New Best Frenemy
At first, it hurt like crazy to get the popcorn out. I didn’t realize how irritated my gums were until I started flossing. But once that kernel finally came out? Instant relief. Seriously, it was like I could hear angels singing.
That’s when it hit me—if something that small could cause so much drama, what else had I been letting build up between my teeth? I’m no dentist, but even I could tell my gums weren’t super happy with me.
A Gross (But Eye-Opening) Experiment
The next day, I decided to actually look at what came off the floss after I used it. And let me tell you, it was gross. Like, where had all that stuff been hiding? My toothbrush definitely wasn’t reaching those spots.
I was honestly kind of horrified, but also… weirdly satisfied? Like, I couldn’t believe how much cleaner my mouth felt afterward.
The Turning Point
The real game-changer was my next dentist appointment. For the first time ever, they didn’t have to scrape at my gums for what felt like hours. I remember the hygienist saying, “Wow, your gums look really healthy!” and I was like, “Wait, are you sure you’ve got the right patient?”
That one compliment made all the effort feel worth it. Plus, now I get to skip the whole lecture about flossing every time I go in for a cleaning.
My Lazy-Person Flossing Tips
If you’re like I was and the thought of flossing feels overwhelming, here’s what helped me stick to it:
- Use those little floss picks. They’re so much easier to handle than regular floss, especially if you’re clumsy like me.
- Floss while you watch TV. This one sounds weird, but it’s perfect for multitasking.
- Keep floss in every bathroom. Sometimes, out of sight really is out of mind. Keeping it nearby makes it harder to forget.
- Reward yourself. I told myself I could scroll TikTok guilt-free if I flossed first. It totally worked.
Final Thoughts
Look, I’m not saying flossing will change your life or anything, but if you’re tired of feeling like you’re in a one-sided battle with your gums, it’s worth giving it a shot. Even if it’s just a little bit at first.
Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be like me—someone who never thought they’d floss, but now can’t imagine skipping it.
The post The Weird Thing That Finally Got Me to Floss Every Day first appeared on Tri-Cities Dental Specialists.