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Going to the dentist has never thrilled me.
Photographed by CARLOS and ALYSE. Stylist: Fiona Green. Hair: Jenni Iva Wimmerstedt. Makeup: Andrew Colvin. Manicure: Elina Ogawa. Model: Brandi Quinones. Shirt by Issey Miyake. Earrings by Paula Mendoza.
The whole ordeal is pure torture.
Visions of my mothers childhood dentist office trauma flashed before my eyes.
Walking intoHarbor Point Dentalin Darien, Connecticut I was greeted by a swanky setting.
Dont get me wrong, I floss.
Not daily, but enough (or so I thought).
Ah, thats why, she quipped once I reached the upper right side of my mouth.
I was only seconds into the ordeal and already doing it wrong?
Taking over, she handed me a mirror and placed the waxy string in between my teeth.
Okay, so Ive literally been doing this wrong my whole life, I thought.
According to Gromko, this was a) totally wrong but b) common.
Marc Lowenberg, DDS, a cosmetic dentist and partner at LLK Dental in New York City, agrees.
Then flip to the other side and repeat the same action.
At least not like this.
I was always told to floss more to reduce the bleeding.
Why had I not been given clear directions as to how to floss to stop the floodgates?
Back home, I found myself oddly excited for my homework.
Now that I had this whole V-shaped thing down, I was committed to my new plan.
And whaddya know, not a drop of blood was shed.
Thank god I realized the error of my ways before entering the gingivitis zone.
But I had one more question: regular floss, or picks?
For her part, Gromko usesWaterpik Cordless Express Water Flosserin the shower prior to brushing.
Or, tryoil pulling.
I was expecting, Who doesnt know how to floss at 40?
Instead, I was met with, Oh, are you kidding?
Ive been flossing wrong my whole life, too.
In fact, I just had gum surgery to prevent periodontal disease and have to use super floss now.
Turns out, were all on our own dental hygiene journeybut at least were on it.
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