Even
if you know that flossing will help you keep your teeth longer by
reducing cavities and avoiding gum disease, it's hard to remember to
floss every day and keep yourself motivated. Motivating yourself to
floss can be especially tricky if the process is painful. Here are
some tips for motivating yourself to floss more often.
Remind
Yourself Why
If
you don't floss regularly because you unconsciously assume it is less
urgent than the other tasks on your hectic schedule, maybe taking the
time to think about the consequences of not caring for your teeth can
help.
If
you don't floss, the bacteria can hide out between your teeth,
forming plaque and tartar there, as well as along your gumline, where
brushes often can't clean it well. The bacterial and plaque buildup
can then cause cavities, gum recession, and gum disease.
Cavities
can lead to fillings, crowns, or extractions. Gum disease may result
in not only painful bleeding gums but also sores, bone loss in the
jaw, and even loosening and lost teeth.
Make
a Tiny Habit
If
you know why you need to floss but taking the time to floss every day
seems unachievable with your busy schedule, maybe you need to start
out slow. The most important thing is to make it regular so that you
don't go for weeks without flossing when you're going through a
high-stress time. So start out by taking just a few seconds to floss
every time you brush
For
example, you could floss one-quarter of your mouth in the morning,
then another quarter in the evening, then the remaining two quarters
the next day. Or if even that seems like a chore, start out by
flossing one tooth every time you brush.
Flossing
one tooth seems very easy, so it's easier to motivate yourself to do
it. And once you have the floss in your hand, you're much more likely
to keep going. Starting by flossing just one tooth lets you build up
to a flossing habit with baby steps that seem less insurmountable.
Reward
Yourself
If
you're an organized person, maybe hanging a calendar in your bathroom
and crossing off each day after you floss can help you feel motivated
to continue your streak. Or maybe listening to your favorite music
while you floss can help pep you up.
Another
idea is to keep track of which weeks you floss every day, and giving
yourself a little extra spending money those weeks. This may sound
expensive, but keep in mind that you really only need to keep it up
until you've managed to cement the habit in place and then you can
reevaluate.
Explore
Alternatives
If
the reason you don't floss is less because of psychological hurdles
and more because of physical hurdles — if you have braces, for
example, and it's almost physically impossible to floss — you need
a different solution. Some alternatives you can use that can make
flossing physically easier include:
- Floss pick or floss
holder
- Interdental brushes
if you have braces
- Water flosser
instead of string floss
Talk
to your dentist about which of these solutions might work for you and
which brands are the best.
Use
an App
Consider
downloading a smartphone app designed to help with oral health. Some
of these apps may help by sending push notifications or text
reminders at specific times so you don't forget to brush and floss.
Others may help you track your flossing habit, teach you more about
oral health, or play your favorite music while you brush and floss.
These
tips can help you set up a healthy flossing habit that works for you.
For more information about the dental services we provide or to set
up an appointment, get in touch with Donald
E. Snyder Orthodontics today.
