How to Floss Everyday

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By 1guyonabike
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (4 Ratings)

Floss Everyday

Everyone knows that flossing helps prevent gingivitis, reduces bad breath, etc. Most of us probably have dental floss in the cabinets in our bathroom. Every night before bed, the floss is there waiting for us. And we never, or hardly ever use it. This is how I turned my "I really should do this" into an "I do this!"

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Set a reasonable goal for yourself. Saying "I want to floss everyday" is the ultimate, but it's a big one. Everyday, that's 365 days IN A ROW. If you miss a day it's easy to fall into the "I'll never do this everyday" trap, and before you know it, you're back to doing it just once in awhile. You're better off starting with something like "I'm going to floss everyday for the next 30 days"
Step 2

Tell someone you're going to floss everyday for the next 30 days. Although you don't need to do this, you may find the accountability motivates you. Let them know how they can check up on you. Encourage them to ask you about it.
Step 3

Set up a reminder system. A sticky note or a piece of paper taped to the bathroom mirror, or even on the tube of toothpaste that says "Floss!" can remind you, even if it's a little technologically underwhelming.
Step 4

Track your progress. Get a calendar, or print out a calendar from your word processor. Every time you floss, cross off the day. Seeing an unbroken string of X's is oddly inspiring.
Step 5

Celebrate! When you get to 30 days, most likely flossing will be a habit. You can probably stop telling your friend, and you can take down the sticky notes.