Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Shelli and the Flossies Bergere Grand Prize!

Here's the Winner of the Flossies Bergere Video Contest, Shelli Saraga, with her Grand Prize - Flossing Barbie Atop the Eiffel Tower!
Congratulations Shelli!
In case you haven't seen her excellent video - check it out!

Friday, November 25, 2011

It's National Flossing Day!

You may have heard about National Flossing Day in the news. It's always the day after Thanksgiving here in the US.

Since Thanksgiving is a day of feasting, what better day to remember flossing than today?  Here's the 2011 Proclamation that talks about the sense behind our holiday.
Have you ever played the game called "Rumors?"  (Some people call it "Telephone.")  - One person writes down a sentence and whispers it to a friend, then that person whispers it to another, until everyone has heard it.  The last person writes down what they heard and that's compared with the original.  The changes and distortions can be hilarious.  If you read the White Paper that is part of this years National Flossing Day, you'll learn how even doctors and dentists sometimes accidentally play the same game.

The title of the White Paper is "Spinning Floss Facts Into Fictions".  It explains some flossing research that gave proof flossing reduced cavities, but it mostly explains how the flossing in that study that was done by moms with a little simple training has come to be commonly described in scientific articles as "professional" flossing.  Based on this "rumor",  journal articles for dentists are saying "only professional flossing has been shown to reduce cavities." The White Paper hopes to make it clear that flossing has been tested and shown to reduce cavities, but you don't have to wait for a "professional" to floss you.  Your own daily flossing will do just fine!

Happy Flossing Day!  Floss on!



Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Flossies Bergere Video Contest Winner Announced!

Here's the winning entry in the Flossies Bergere Video Contest!
Shelli Sargara, a student at the Univ. of Florida, scripted and edited this funny video.


She'll be receiving flosscards for her cast and the Grand Prize.
Great job, Shelli!  Thanks for showing how to Help Spread "Peace of Mouth!"

Monday, November 14, 2011

Hippos Understand Dental Health

Here's a scene from the excellent BBC series, Life, broadcast in 2009.
In the 4th episode, "Fish," David Attenborough explains how hippos submerge themselves and open their mouths so fish can clean their teeth.
If only fish could floss!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Flossies Bergere Video Challenge - one more entry!

Here's the complete list - The last entry by Jori arrived on Nov. 1, the official deadline.

"Feats of Flossing" by Libby & Scott & Cross Fit Davis
Flossies Bergere! Celebrate NationalFlossing Day! by Shelli
"Flossing This Way" by Pretty Eyes Moo

 Celebrate National Flossing Day! 2011 "Flossies Bergere"
 by Jori

The Grand Prize winner will be announced Nov. 14.


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Saudi Airlines is Floss Friendly!

A tip of the NFC hat to Saudi Airlines!
Our Mideast floss correspondent, Rochelle D of Washington, DC (who last spotted a tube of "Crust Toothpaste."(see older blog entry) when she was in Jordan), has brought back an individual floss packet, which she reports is included with each meal on Saudi Airlines.
 and here's how you can write "dental floss" in arabic.

Monday, October 31, 2011

National Flossing Day Video Entries!

Have you checked out the entries for the Flossies Bergere Video Challenge?

"Feats of Flossing" by Libby & Scott & Cross Fit Davis


"Flossing This Way" by Pretty Eyes Moo

The winner of the video contest Grand Prize will be announced on Monday, Nov. 14!





Monday, October 17, 2011

The Hunting Trophy!


Dr. Chip Tartaroff is not only an expert commentator on all things involving dental floss, he is also an intrepid hunter!

Deep in the forests of Sarawak, Dr. T stumbled on the legendary, Lost Water Closet of the Dinosaurs!

Creeping up on this giant Tyrannosaurus Rex, who was distracted while trying to floss with his little hands, Dr. T raised his trusty M-16 and brought the creature down with a single shot.

With the help of his native guide, Tamrat, Dr. T was able to bring back this magnificent trophy of the event.

It is now mounted for display at the headquarters of the National Flossing Council in Washington, DC.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Flossing & Fertility

As reported by BBC News, experts at a fertility meeting in Sweden heard how women with gum disease took over seven months to conceive, compared to the usual five months. 
They believe the causative factor is the inflammation of gums.
Coming soon, this blog will have more information on the available studies that have looked at the role flossing can play in the reduction of gum disease.
Floss on!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Music to Floss By

You can download a free copy of the song, "Flossophy" by the Van Oodles by going to this link!
Is this the greatest flossing song of the 21st Century? (So far)


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Flossing music for the 21st Century!

20th Century flossing music was Frank Zappa - "Montana."

So far, for the 21st Century, it's the Van Oodles.
On May 7 the Van Oodles, a Portland based group, released flossophy-101.
The link will let you hear the title cut.
For some listeners this song may get too close to the nitty-gritty of flossing.
The mature flosser (and many children) are likely to appreciate it.
Floss on, Van Oodles!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Even Apes Understand Flossing! - Buy one, Spread the Word.

I don't usually "plug" commercial products - not that there's anything wrong with that, if done upfront - but, anyway, Here's where you can buy postcards or framed prints of this picture; this is Art!

Rather than copy the picture and post it here, I suggest clicking the link.  No charge for that. 
I'm buying one sometime soon.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Flossing Your Roots?

Dr. Chip Tartaroff, our answerman for all your flossing questions, asked to have this posted on the blog:

Dr. T,
 
I am 45 and recently started daily flossing.  When i floss my front lower teath, I can feel an edge, and assume and I am coming to the end of my enamal , and hitting the root.  It does not hurt, but seems wierd
 
1)do i floss below that lip (so i would be flossing the root?)
2)do i need to have that gum replaced?

Tom  
 
 
Dear Tom,

Thanks for writing!

First of all, I am not a professional dentist and I do not play one on TV.

However, that won’t stop me from offering some common sense comments
in reply to your question, but nothing I say should stop you from discussing your concerns with a dentist.

From what I understand, recession of gum tissue is a fairly common
event and it roughly correlates with age. Complicating the relatively natural amount of recession, gum disease can hasten the process and cause it to endanger the retention of teeth. In your case it sounds
like you have some gum recession on your front lower teeth. One of the primary issues that draws a person’s attention to their gum’s recession is sensitivity of the roots when they’re exposed. This
doesn’t seem to be a problem for you. 
Should you floss those areas?
I’d say yes, based on the scientific principal: If it hurts, don’t do it – and you mentioned flossing didn’t hurt.

As you may know, the normally exposed parts of teeth are covered with enamel. The surface of roots is referred to as “cementum.” Decay can occur in enamel and cementum, so it’s important to keep these tooth surfaces clean, which means using floss.

The second part of your question – Should you have a gum transplant to cover the exposed roots? – Well, a dentist will have to discuss that.
But here are some considerations that might pay to keep in mind:
What is the likelihood that the new gum tissue will survive where your
original gum tissue has retreated?
Some gum recession is attributed to overbrushing. Overbrushing is
something you can change, but it might be best to wait on a painful
transplant procedure to see if changed brushing permits gum regrowth.

Also keep in mind that gums love vitamin C. One of the first signs of
vitamin C deficiency (aka “scurvy”) is loose teeth. Gum tissue grows
rapidly and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is fundamental for cell growth
and repair. This is a primary reason a shortage of vitamin C shows
itself with bleeding gums and loose teeth. You can’t conclude that all
gum problems and loose teeth are caused by a shortage of vitamin C,
but when these problems occur, a brief period of vitamin C supplements seems reasonable before anything more costly and painful is tried.

By the way, the worst side effect of too much vitamin C is flatulence
(as in “toot-toot”). Sucking on a small amount of vitamin C (30-60 mg)
1 or 2x/day should get your gums all they can use and not cause any
gastric distress. Some cough drops contain vitamin C and make a tasty way of getting a supplement.

Good luck with your gums, Tom!

Floss on!

Dr. T.


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Wild Thai Monkey Flossing!

Our travelling correspondent, Noah J, of Washington, DC, spotted this wild monkey in Thailand.  Obviously this monkey loved to floss!
Good flossing form!
Working on a particular tooth!
Looks like me when I'm alone flossing.
Where the string came from isn't known, but it looks like the monkey would have a preference for mint floss.
Monkeys seem to be natural born flossers.  How primal is that?
There are several videos of monkeys flossing on youtube.  You can read more about monkeys teaching their babies to floss, by clicking this BBC link, and read more on the NFC Web Site.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Floss Video Contest Grand Prize!

Here it is, as promised, the Grand Prize for the Flossies Bergere Video Contest -
The Flossing Can Can Dancer atop the Eiffel Tower!
This is the Grand Prize for the best/most popular video made in the spirit of the Flossies Bergere Video that was first posted in November. The preceding video link will take you to a new edit of the video that includes the grand prize and a little "dancing" by Can Can Barbie.
 Entrants have until Nov. 1, 2011 to post their video, but the earlier you post, the more time you have to collect "views" and "likes", which will be all factored in to select a winner.

For more information and to get a copy of the Can Can music to use in your video, check www.flossing.org