flossing is important

your dental
hygienist
kelly
is too happy
for her own
good. considering
the tasks
of her trade
scraping sharp
metal
tools with hooks
against teeth
and gums, removing
the stains
of lifes
culinary debris.
not flossing a
lot, are we, she
says, while
jamming
a water pipe, then
an air tube
into your mouth,
close and suck,
she says
behind her cotton
mask and
plastic goggles.
flossing is important,
she sings
in a high pitched
voice, not unlike
julie andrews
in the sound of
music, but
you ignore her
as you stare at a
poster of decaying
teeth and purple
gums beside
the chair.