Here at GLOJAS Dental, we hope that each and every one of you are having a happy holiday and enjoyed this special time of year with your friends and family. As we are about to start off the New Year soon, it is often a great time for personal reflection and to create one or more New Year’s resolutions for different aspects of our life we want to improve.
Unfortunately, with most New Year’s resolutions, we tend to fail and not follow through. Part of the reason we come up short is because we set too high of expectations for the coming year and try to fit too much into our already busy schedules.
For instance, you may have promised yourself you were going to start a fitness routine and do it every single day. But, by the end of January, you find yourself so worn out, sore, and tired, you simply give up. The best way to approach New Year’s resolutions is to aim for those things we can achieve and take small steps to reach our goals.
For instance, our dentist often brings up the question of flossing during your consultation and visits. For most of us, we tend to have a bad habit of sticking to regular flossing and making a last-minute effort a few days before our scheduled appointment.
However, dentists can easily tell when we have not been flossing regularly since our last visit. They can see right through our efforts to attempt to cover-up our failure. This year, why not make a New Year’s resolution to develop better flossing habits? This is an easy resolution to stick with that does not take much time away from your busy schedule, too!
To get started, set the floss out next to the sink where you brush your teeth. When we can see the floss container, we are more likely to feel a little guilty if we walk away and do not at least pick it up and try. The next step is to start flossing at least once a day.
Pick a time that works best, like in the evening after brushing your teeth before going to bed. Make it a point to floss your teeth every day at this time for the next 3 weeks. If you can make it past the 21-day period, then it is more likely to continue to be a part of your home dental care routine the rest of the year.
If you need further motivation, after flossing, hold the floss up near your nose and inhale. The plaque on the floss smells and this alone can be the encouragement and motivation you need. Once you are flossing regularly once a day, then you can add a second flossing time to your schedule, like after eating breakfast or lunch. Again use the same 21-day promise and before you know it, you will be flossing like a champ, twice a day!
For help with learning how to floss correctly and to start the New Year off with clean teeth, call GLOJAS Dental for FREE consultation.