New Year, New You: How to Turn Flossing into a Daily Habit

It’s officially a brand-new year! If you’re like most people, you’ve probably already started working on your list of New Year’s resolutions. While these typically involve ways to improve your health and financial situation, you should consider focusing on your dental health. For example, turning flossing into a daily habit should be at the top of your list. Not only does it ward off tooth decay, but it can significantly lower your risk of periodontal disease. That said, here are some tips to help you stick to it every day.

The Importance of Flossing

First of all, it’s important to understand why you should be flossing every day. Even though brushing twice a day can certainly keep your mouth clean, it’s not enough to prevent plaque from building up on and between your teeth. You must use dental floss to get into the nooks and crannies your toothbrush missed, breaking up plaque and removing it before it hardens into a rough substance called tartar. If you don’t floss at least once a day, you increase your chances of developing oral diseases and infections.

How to Floss Correctly

Do you know what the proper flossing technique looks like? If not, don’t worry – here’s a step-by-step on how to do it:

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Then, wind the remaining floss on the same finger on the opposite hand.
• Hold the dental floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers. Guide it between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Be sure to avoid snapping the floss into the gums!
• Once the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
• While holding the floss tightly against a tooth, gently rub the sides, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
• Repeat the entire process on the rest of your teeth!

Tips to Turn Flossing into a Habit

If you want to turn flossing into a daily habit, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Identify your barrier and address it. You need to ask yourself what’s stopping you from flossing as much as you should. By doing so, you can come up with an effective solution or alternative to help you out. For example, if you think you don’t have enough time, you should consider flossing at stoplights or while you’re watching TV. If it’s because you forget easily, you can set reminders on your phone!
• Set a realistic goal for yourself. Commit to flossing every few days and solely work your way up until it becomes a part of your daily routine.
• Think of the risks and use them as motivation. Neglecting to floss can lead to inflammation, bleeding, bone loss, bad breath, and even tooth loss. Why not use these risks as motivation for turning flossing into a habit?

This year, you should strive to improve your oral health. By turning flossing into a daily habit, you can ensure your smile stays in its very best shape all year long!

About the Practice

At Oshkosh Complete Dentistry, we strive to help every patient achieve and maintain their happiest, healthiest smile. Our goal is to make every dental appointment as satisfying, relaxing, and comfortable as possible. We enjoy educating our patients to help them make confident decisions for their oral health. For more flossing tips, visit our website or call (920) 235-0320.