After earning her DDS in 2018, Dr. Jessica Sliger, MAT, DDS, FAAPD, FALSC (@TheDentistMomma on IG) completed her pediatric specialty training at Children's Mercy Kansas City and became board-certified through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry — a distinction held by fewer than 5% of practicing U.S. dentists. Today, her work spans clinical care, hospital dentistry, special health care needs, education, and advocacy, and she's currently designing a scratch-start pediatric practice in Northwest Arkansas built around one mission: making dentistry more educational, compassionate, and connected to whole-child health. Here's what she had to say about flossing, prevention, and helping kids feel safe in the dental chair.
Flossing and Patient Education
What's the most common flossing mistake you see patients make and how do you correct it?
The most common mistake I see is treating flossing like a quick “pop” between the teeth instead of actually cleaning the tooth surfaces. Many patients snap the floss straight down and pull it right back out, which misses the hidden side walls of the teeth and the area just under the gumline where plaque tends to collect. I correct it by teaching a simple pattern: slide, hug, and sweep. Slide gently between the teeth, hug the floss around one tooth, sweep slightly under the gumline, then repeat on the neighboring tooth.
Tools that make this motion easier and more consistent can be a huge help, especially for kids, busy parents, and patients who struggle with traditional string floss. The goal is not perfect technique every once in a while — it is a daily habit that actually disrupts plaque where brushing cannot reach.
What is one thing you wish every patient knew about their oral health?
I wish every patient knew that oral health is not separate from overall health, and that dental disease is usually not random. Genetics can influence enamel strength, saliva, tooth shape, spacing, oral bacteria, and inflammation, but genetics are not destiny. Daily habits still matter.
Cavities and bleeding gums usually come from patterns: plaque biofilm, frequent simple carbohydrates, dry mouth, inflammation, oral habits, and areas that are not being cleaned well. That is why prevention matters so much. Brushing is essential, but cleaning between the teeth and just under the gumline is one of the simplest ways to protect the mouth, reduce inflammation, and prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.
Why do you believe flossing is a non-negotiable part of oral health and how do you communicate that to patients?
Flossing is non-negotiable because brushing cannot clean the tight spaces where teeth touch or gently reach just under the gumline, where plaque and inflammation often begin. In children, this matters even more when back teeth are close together, when tongue ties or oral motor challenges limit natural food clearing, and when frequent simple carbohydrates are part of the diet.
I explain it simply: brushing cleans the visible surfaces; floss cleans the hidden walls between teeth and just under the gums. If two teeth touch, they need to be cleaned between. I keep it practical and shame-free: consistency matters more than perfection.
How do you help hesitant or anxious patients build better flossing habits?
I help hesitant or anxious patients by making flossing feel achievable instead of overwhelming. I start with education, not shame: if two teeth touch, those hidden surfaces need to be cleaned, but we can build the habit in small steps.
For children and busy families, I often recommend starting with the easiest win — one consistent time of day, one area of the mouth, and a tool they can actually use. For some patients, traditional string floss feels awkward, uncomfortable, or too technique-sensitive. In those cases, a tool like the Slate Flosser can help make the habit feel more guided, less frustrating, and easier to repeat.
My message is simple: don’t aim for perfect; aim for consistent. Once patients feel successful, the habit grows.
How Slate Makes Flossing Easy for Kids
How did you first discover Slate products and what made you want to try them?
I first discovered Slate through my educational platform on social media, @TheDentistMomma, where I share pediatric dental education on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. I started noticing hygienists talking about Slate, and that immediately caught my attention.
I have so much respect for hygienists because they are often deeply focused on the preventive side of dentistry — biofilm management, home care habits, and the small daily routines that actually change oral health outcomes. I love collaborative dentistry, so when hygienists are consistently excited about a tool that may help patients clean more effectively between the teeth and under the gumline, I pay attention.
As a pediatric dentist, I wanted to try Slate because I am always looking for practical tools that make prevention easier for real families, especially kids, busy parents, and patients who struggle with traditional flossing.
Which Slate product do you recommend most often to patients and why?
Of all the Slate products, I most often recommend the Slate Origin Electric Flosser, especially for patients and families who struggle with flossing consistency. Traditional floss can be awkward, technique-sensitive, and hard for parents to use in a child’s mouth — especially because many kids don’t like their parents’ fingers in their mouths.
I also find it helpful for neurodivergent patients or children with sensory sensitivities because using a different tool can make flossing feel less invasive and more predictable. I like the Origin because it makes cleaning between the teeth and along the gumline feel more guided, efficient, and realistic. For families, the best flossing tool is the one they can actually use consistently.
Browse Slate Origin
What sets Slate apart from other oral care products you've used or recommended in the past?
What sets Slate apart is that it addresses the real problem with flossing: consistency. Many oral care products are good in theory, but families don’t use them every day because they feel awkward, uncomfortable, or too technique-sensitive. Slate feels more guided, modern, and realistic for patients.
For children, it can reduce the struggle of having a parent’s fingers in their mouth. For neurodivergent patients or children with sensory sensitivities, having a different tool can make flossing feel more predictable and less invasive. I also appreciate that it helps patients focus on the areas brushing misses most — between the teeth and just under the gumline. To me, Slate stands out because it turns flossing from something patients know they should do into something they are more likely to actually do.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with our community?
My mindset through TheDentistMomma is simple: prevention should feel practical, empowering, and shame-free. I want families to understand that oral health is not about perfection — it’s about small, consistent habits that protect the mouth and support whole-body health over time.
As a pediatric dentist, former teacher, and mom, my message to patients is this: you are not failing if oral care has felt hard. You just may need better education, better tools, and a routine that actually fits real life. Brushing, flossing, disrupting biofilm, limiting constant snacking, and supporting the oral microbiome are small daily choices that can make a lifelong difference. My mantra: Consistency over perfection. Prevention over panic. Education over shame.
