Third Grade
Worksheets
It's Not Just for Your Teeth
National Flossing Day
Reading Comprehension for November 29
The day after Thanksgiving is National Flossing Day. The National Flossing Council picked this day because of the attention we give to food on Thanksgiving. They believe it's only fair to think about keeping our teeth clean after eating so much food. Flossing is a necessary part of oral hygiene. Removing the food between your teeth will keep your gums healthy. Flossing also helps to get rid of bacteria that build up on your teeth. Flossing has other benefits, too. Research shows it can help to keep your heart healthy. It has been discovered that periodontal disease can increase the chances of heart disease. By keeping your gums healthy, you lower your risk of certain heart ailments. Now there's another good reason to floss.
Floss sure is useful stuff. Uncoated, unflavored floss is good for more than just cleaning your teeth. Recently, a man who was missing at sea used dental floss to sew up his ripped sail. This tough string can come in handy many other ways. Moms can use it to fix a rip in the netting of a playpen. Do you like to fish? Use some floss for fishing line. You can use it to cut your cake for dessert. It does a neat job! Bakers use it to remove cookies from a pan or cut the dough for cinnamon rolls. Chefs use it to tie a chicken or turkey and even slice soft cheese. Hikers should keep some handy to fix a tent or backpack. Divers have used it to fix their wet suits. Even bagpipers like the stuff; it's great for cleaning their pipes. Ever had a picture hang crooked? Fix the hanger on the back of the frame with this strong string. In 1994, one person even braided floss together to escape from prison!
It seems dental floss is an ancient invention. Pick and floss grooves have been discovered in the teeth of prehistoric humans. Levi Parmly received the credit for the dental floss we use today. In 1815, he encouraged his patients to use silk string to clean between their teeth. The Johnson and Johnson Company holds the first patent for silk floss. Nylon came into use during World War II. Dr. Charles C. Bass felt this material was a better alternative to silk. Dr. Bass also promoted flossing as an important accompaniment to daily brushing. We can thank him for our daily oral hygiene routine.
