Someone like you, who values their health, probably brushes and flosses your teeth regularly. With your body awareness, sensitivity to the importance of good health and your daily reminders to patients about the consequences of neglecting one's health, you're probably pretty conscientious about teeth brushing.

But what about your patients? Their motives for brushing their teeth could give you some valuable insights into their health consciousness and the value they place on their health. In fact, some would say that you haven't completed a thorough examination until you've looked in their mouth! Patients treat their spine even worse than their teeth and gums.

"Do you brush and floss your teeth to avoid bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, or do you brush and floss to make sure you have healthy teeth and gums?"

It's a simple distinction that can help you know how to best frame your recommendations.

Because this is something that most patients have probably never thought about, they'll need a moment or two to consider. Just don't ask the question in any way that might suggest that one answer is better than the other.

Should you talk about "avoiding" spinal decay and needless relapses, or should you discuss striving toward wellness, optimum function and vitality in one's later years? Depends whether the patient is motivated by pain (away) or pleasure (toward).

Without giving it much thought, you probably frame your report in a way that would be persuasive to you. But the extraordinary patient communicator discovers the patient's motives and puts chiropractic into terms relevant to them.

# 1 Dimmer Switch

# 2 Spinal Flossing

# 3 Record Your Reports

# 4 Have Patients Hold Your Model

# 5 Compare With Textbook Normal

# 6 Modify Based on Generation

# 7 Use Metaphors

# 8 Use More Power Words

# 9 Link to Key Value

#10 Rehearse Their Explanation