How to Creating the Flossing Habit. The Short Guide

For several years, I seldom flossed. As a result, I'd some not-so-enjoyable dental problems. I always knew I should have already been flossing but could never make the habit stick.

Creating the custom of flossing is a recent triumph for me, and because I have had a bunch of folks ask about it, I decided to share what works best.

Let us begin by saying I'm not a specialist on flossing. But I do know a thing or two about creating the custom of flossing, and that's what we're focusing on here.

I do know that flossing can pretty quickly enhance your dental health. If you have not been flossing, it is likely that you have some sort of gum infection, so flossing might cause some unpleasant (but not really distressing) bleeding at first, but it'll go away after a few days of flossing (at least in my experience).

Your teeth may also begin to feel cleaner, which is an amazing encounter. And when you go to the dentist (you should if you aren't regularly, trust me), you'll have considerably less nasty dental work to be done and get a considerably better report.

These are the steps that worked for me: Pick a trigger.

Then I propose that as your trigger, if you already brush your teeth every morning. Really, a better gun trigger will brush your teeth -- say you go into the bathroom to brush your teeth and reach for the toothbrush ... that is your trigger. Floss right at that point, before you brush your teeth, and then brush your teeth after.

At first you might easily forget, although the key will be to do the new habit right after the trigger. So have the dental floss right next to your toothbrush, where you won't forget it. You could also put a note up next to your own toilet mirror so you can not possibly forget.

Floss only one tooth. It is a vintage notion, but it works nicely. Start your habit just by flossing one tooth. It's so unexpectedly easy which you do not have the time or that you just won't unable to say it's overly challenging. It'll feel a bit foolish, but merely get it done. On day two, floss two teeth. Slowly enlarge every one to three days until you are flossing all your teeth. Sure, you will not get the complete benefit of flossing all your teeth at first, but the key is to not get the complete benefit right away but to create a habit that continues.

Concentrate on the enjoyment. Many individuals put off flossing because it appears difficult or dull or disagreeable, but it doesn't need to be. Flossing is a pleasurable activity if you let yourself to be present and think about how your teeth are becoming cleaner and how pleasant that's. I really like the feeling of clean teeth.

Indicate it. Every day you floss, mark your calendar (Jerry Seinfeld's secret) with a large X. Attempt to string together a bunch of Xs, and you are golden. That is really all. Focus on this one custom for several weeks to a month, and you'll have a brand new flossing habit. It's this type of straightforward matter, but it might change yours too.