Catch-up

I’m flossing with a vengeance these days, trying to make up for the past 5 months of slacking off. This is what happens every time before my 6-month visit to the dentist.

I always leave with clean teeth and a new resolve to be a regular flosser. For years hygienists have volunteered to show me the proper way to floss, as a kind way of noticing that I must not be doing it, or doing it right if I am.

I flossed every day when I had braces for two years. Otherwise, my mouth felt like a garbage can of trapped food. However, since the braces came off, I’ve been a backslider.

But when the reminder card comes about a month prior to my visit, I determine to try to hide my bad habits. You can see the floss I’m using has been around long enough for the Giant label to have partially worn away. That’s embarrassing.

Every night for the next month, I’ll pull off a long piece of floss, expertly wind it around my fingers, and then attack all that pent-up tartar hiding between my teeth and under the edges of my gums.

It will not be the same as doing it daily for the 6-month period, but it may toughen up my gums to the point where they don’t rat me out.

The truth is I really don’t have a good excuse other than pure laziness. But I couldn’t admit that to my hygienist.

Photo looking into my medicine cabinet, which contains lots of mirrors.