Believe it or not, I enjoy going to the dentist. For me, it’s a little reprieve from my hectic schedule. I get to lay back, put on some headphones and catch up on some Netflix. If I don’t fall asleep first, of course.

And when its over, nothing feels better than walking away with a fresh, minty, clean smile and a happy dentist that isn’t scolding me.

You would never know that, as a child, I was petrified of the dentist. I mean, kicking, punching, crying, stomping, screaming until I was blue in the face petrified!

When I was about five or six, I had my first experience with a filling. I can vividly remember my heart pounding as the dentist got closer to me with that needle. I jumped out of the seat and raced toward the door, where I was stopped by his assistant. Back in the chair, they did their best to hold me down, but it was no use and I ended up kicking the dentist so hard that he gave up.

A couple weeks later I was admitted to the hospital to have the procedure completed, after being bribed by my mother with a stunning floral number (pictured above) to wear during my recovery. Sorry little bro!

That experience certainly instilled in me the importance of dental hygiene. And I’ve been able to avoid those scary and costly appointments by maintaining my oral health through regular checkups, consistent brushing and ALWAYS flossing.

While these are healthy habits, they can also become unhealthy habits. When I finish flossing my teeth, I instinctively toss the floss in the trash. But for millions of other people, it gets flushed down the toilet.

I know what you’re thinking… “It’s just floss, it can’t be that bad!” Wrong.

Dental floss is made of nylon and Teflon, both of which are not biodegradable. Since it doesn’t break down, it can cause significant damage when flushed down the toilet. Because it is long and string-like, it can wrap around toilet paper, human waste and any other items that get flushed. It can also ball up into big clumps that clog your pipes and sewer system, leaving you with something scarier and costlier than a trip to the dentist.

If this isn’t DISGUSTING, I don’t know what it.

Remember folks, only the 4 P’s should be flushed: Pee, Poo, Paper (toilet) and Puke.