Even though dentists frequently remind patients how important it is to floss, over 50% of Canadians still don’t do so on a regular basis. Flossing is an essential part of practising good dental habits and maintaining healthy gums and teeth. So if you’ve been neglecting the floss lately, here are a few helpful ways to solidify your dental routine to take better care of your mouth.
Team Up
If you live with a roommate, a spouse, or have children, an excellent way to stick to your dental routine is to team up. Having a tooth brushing buddy who can make you accountable is the best way to ensure that you will take the proper care of your teeth each and every day.
Reward Yourself
Another way to solidify your dental routine is to create a weekly reward to give you something to look forward to if you reach your dental goals. Just try not to focus on rewards that involve sugary foods. Treat yourself to a night out at the movies or take the whole family out for the day if everyone sticks to their routine.
Find a Routine That Works For You
The key to sticking with a routine is to find one that works for you. If you tend to rush to get to work in the morning, try to brush and floss once you’ve arrived at the office. Or if you’re always exhausted right before bedtime, maybe cleaning right after dinner might be best for you. Before you set a goal, experiment with different times of the day to see which one might stick.
Start Small
If you always start strong after your dental checkup but find you fall off the cliff soon after, maybe you should try starting small and working your way up. It might work best if you set the goal to floss three times per week, for example, and then once this becomes a solid habit, slowly increase it until you’ve built up the initial success to hit all 7 days.
Set An Alarm
One way to remind yourself to brush, floss, and rinse each and every day is by setting an alarm. Use your smartphone and create a notification that will give you that helpful reminder to brush and floss when you’re at home.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Keeping up with regular dental check-ups is one of the most important parts of oral care that should never be neglected. Dentists will monitor your oral health, perform deep cleaning, and pinpoint any problems before they progress further into more serious ones. So always ensure you stick to those visits every six months or when recommended by your dentist.
At Carlingwood Dental, we provide the care and information you need to help solidify your dental routine for the long-term. Call us today to book your appointment.
