I’ve developed many new, healthy habits over the last few years, but flossing has always been a challenge. I’ve had an on and off relationship with flossing since I’ve had teeth. I know it’s good for my teeth and gums, but knowing what’s best and doing what’s best are often two different things.
This year, I got serious and made flossing a daily habit, instead of a floss for three days before my dentist appointment habit.
Brushing your teeth has probably been a habit for you since your first few teeth came in, but flossing wasn’t introduced until you had more teeth and had the motor skills to handle the floss. As adults, most of us wouldn’t dream about not brushing our teeth twice a day, but we don’t floss regularly. Similarly, learning a second language is much easier while you are learning your first. Fortunately, unlike learning a language as an adult, flossing isn’t hard to do and it doesn’t take very long.
Flossing every day will simplify your life. Yes, it’s one more thing to do each day, but you will save time and money at the dentist’s office. Not to mention pain and anxiety. Once I thought about how flossing could simplify my life, I developed the desire and inspiration to floss daily. Next, I made a plan and kept it simple.
Today’s mini-mission is to floss every day and this is how you can make the habit stick: Floss in the shower. At end of 2011, I placed a box of floss next to my shampoo in the shower and have been flossing daily ever since. It might sound weird, but the shower is the perfect place to floss.
- Trigger. When you get in the shower you always remember to wash your body and shampoo your hair. The shower can be a simple reminder to wash your teeth too.
- Ease. When you floss, little bits of food fly. It’s not pretty, but it happens. Why not keep it in a contained area and wash it down the drain?
- Rinse. When you are finished flossing, it’s nice to rinse out your mouth. That’s easy to do in the shower.
In terms of wasting water, a round of flossing takes about 60 seconds. If that is a deal breaker for you, turn the water off while you floss and back on when you are finished. I suggest using a woven floss instead of wax floss. It does the trick and is gentle on the gums.
My friend and expert habit hacker, Leo Babauta has some great suggestions to develop a flossing habit. Find what works for you and floss every day for easier dentist’s visits, a clean mouth and sexy smile.
For more experiments to simplify your life, read Mini-missions for Simplicity. It’s available on the Amazon Kindle store, but you don’t need a Kindle to read it. Kindle books can also be read using the Free Kindle Reader App for your Web Browser, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android.
Frank says
June 7, 2012 at 11:01 amI value my “shower time.” It is not a chore for me as it is for some people. It is something that I truly look forward to. Flossing, on the other hand, is something I do, but it is not high up on my “fun list.”
I don’t know why I never thought to floss in the shower. First off, it is a great way to remind yourself to floss and for me, it may make that dreaded gum picking activity a little more tolerable. Thanks for the tip!
Courtney Carver says
June 7, 2012 at 2:11 pmLet me know what you think and if it helps Frank!
Celynne says
June 7, 2012 at 11:11 amI have unfortunately crooked teeth. Very, very crooked, and jumbled. This means I need a mirror to floss, otherwise I have a hard time finding the spots between teeth and knowing how far up to go. That pretty much rules out shower flossing since mirrors and hot showers don’t mix! I’m pretty good about flossing daily anyway, and have been for the past few years. I think the only time I lag is on weekends.
Courtney Carver says
June 7, 2012 at 2:12 pmI think there are fog free mirrors for showers but it sounds like you have a good habit established.
michelle s. says
June 7, 2012 at 11:37 amNot only does it make life simpler, it also adds 6 years to your life. I struggle with making it a habit, too. So I’m doing it in the shower starting today. Question, how do you dispose of the floss? Do you just set it aside until you’re finished with showering and hope it doesn’t go down the drain and then take it to the trash? I’m curious about the details of how this would work. 🙂 Thanks for the great idea.
Courtney Carver says
June 7, 2012 at 2:13 pmHi Michelle, I just toss the floss in the trash on my way out of the shower. It’s never gone down the drain. 😉
Brandon says
June 7, 2012 at 11:43 amThis is a great idea, contextual triggers are one of the best ways to help build habits. I recently built a simple web app, Standards, to help myself track tasks I want to turn into habits. One of my personal ones is brushing twice and flossing every day! It’d be great if you tried it out.
Laurie says
June 7, 2012 at 12:12 pmI had a chuckle when I read your post. I started flossing in the shower several years ago for many of the reasons you mentioned. My friends all think I am crazy when I tell them this. I also brush my teeth in the shower after I finish flossing – I keep a second toothpaste and toothbrush in there. It’s a habit I love and feel very flustered when I can’t do it. Thanks for the story!
Sandra / Always Well Within says
June 7, 2012 at 12:42 pmAh, the flossing dilemma! I’ve gone around with that one. This is a creative idea! The extra water is a deal breaker for me. Although I have an abundance of water, using more water means changing and cleaning the water filter more often. I’m not keen on standing in the shower with the water turned off dripping and cold. So I will continue with the standard route connecting it to times I brush my teeth.
I’m so glad you wrote this post because so many of us need assistance with this small topic. Wow, it adds six years to your life! That’s amazing.
Courtney Carver says
June 7, 2012 at 2:16 pmSandra, I don’t know about the 6 year fact. There used to be some correlation between lack of flossing and heart disease but now the information isn’t that solid.
michelle s. says
June 7, 2012 at 2:26 pmThe 6 year stat was cited on History Channel’s United Stats of America show this week. 🙂
ltw says
June 7, 2012 at 1:30 pmyou are really awesome and i need to read this today. i am starting this mini mission today! glad i am not the only adult who has found this to be a difficult habit to stick. let me say it again…you are totally awesome!
Courtney Carver says
June 7, 2012 at 2:16 pmI hope it works for you!
Jennifer K says
June 7, 2012 at 4:18 pmAhhh, flossing! Over the years I’ve developed some areas that trap food very well, so the thought of leaving it there grosses me out. My habit is to always floss before I brush at night. I didn’t use to be so good about flossing though, so I understand the challenge!
Laurie Buchanan says
June 7, 2012 at 6:31 pmI am a dyed in the wool shower flosser!
Frank says
June 8, 2012 at 7:50 amUpdate on my first day shower flossing. The good and the bad.
The good:
– I flossed first thing when I got into the shower. Simple to remember and I will be making this a regular routine.
Th bad:
– The floss kept slipping off my wet fingers. 🙂 In addition, I just arrived in my office and realized I left the discarded floss right on top of the soap.
I will be using woven floss from now on to remedy the slippage and I must remember to toss the used floss!! That is going to be the hardest part for me. Focus!
Chrissie says
June 8, 2012 at 9:38 amCourtney – I really appreciate the idea of dental hygeniec while you take your daily shower. I’m doing this (at least in the morning) for years now.
It keeps your basin clean ;-)))
Anyway I’ve never been in the need to use floss (lucky me). In contrary my hubby is… But recently we invested into ultrasonic teethbrush and guess what – no more need of floss or interdental mini brushs. You may give it a try. Honestly I was against such investment, but the result convinced me. Producer is a global one, if you need advise, just let me know. So far I did not want to spoil you blog with advertisement.
Regards from sunny Hannover
Chrissie
Sophie says
June 10, 2012 at 12:48 amHi everyone. I asked my dentist and would like to share his knowledge with you:
1. Everyone who still has his/her own teeth should floss on a daily basis
2. Ultrasonic toothbrushes are crap (sorry for this harsh expression but that’s what my dentist said ;-)) Electric toothbrushes like Oral B Triumph (with rotating brushes) are much better.
3. Nothing (even the best electric toothbrushes or these new AirFlow devices) eliminates the need to floss
4. The best time for flossing is in the evening before you go to bed (if you shower in the morning before breakfast you can as well leave it)
Kindest regards,
Sophie
Chrissie says
June 10, 2012 at 1:30 amDear Sophie, dear Courtney,
I never wanted to give reommendation which is against dentist knowledge. So if my comment appears to be risky for other users – please feel free to delete it.
I have no long term experience with the sonic device. Only the short term that teeth really feel cleaner and hubby needs no more floss and interdental brushes.
Depending on the life time of the brush it could help to avoid additional waste in your bathroom.
Floss – as I said – was never option for me. Managed 32 years without – all teeth available, no issue with caries.
When I asked our dentist, he advised last time to take such sonic brush, but he confirmed as well that any electric brush is better than manual one. (and at that time I did not buy any of them, cause I’m travelling a lot and for this manual one is easier to handle)
But of course I don’t know if my dentist is at state of the art. I’m living in a really small village in Germany. So you never know…
Beth says
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 amFlossing in the shower is a wonderful idea. I brush my teeth in the shower. I like being able to lather up my teeth in a way that feels joyful and childlike. Adding flossing to the shower routine will be easy and fun!
Karen (Scotland) says
June 19, 2012 at 12:48 pmI wouldn’t worry, Chrissie. Dental advice varies, even within one practice. My dentist got into a heated debate with a colleague on whether to brush teeth before or after breakfast, while I stood with my family waiting for the conclusion. 🙂
I think you can feel yourself which type of toothbrush suits your gums, teeth etc. An electric toothbrush lets you get into more nooks and crannies but my teeth just never feel quite as clean as they do with an old-fashioned firm toothbrush…
Karen
(Scotland)
Fran Sorin says
June 22, 2012 at 11:49 pmCourtney….I’m one of the lucky ones who started flossing regularly when I married a dentist…at age 22.
Since then I’ve been a flossaholic. For me, it’s like brushing my teeth. If I don’t do it 2x a day, I feel the difference.
Believe it or not, the dental IQ of America is way ahead of the Brits (have you ever noticed their teeth)? But it is still one of those habits that a lot of us avoid doing.
NOW….if I could just transfer that discipline into other areas of my life. 🙂 Fran
Sylvana says
July 3, 2013 at 12:04 pmI have gingivitis and i have heard the flossing lecture many times, but i just hate flossing and i know if i continue this way i will loose bones in my mouth, my gums right now look so ugly and reach almost halfway down my teeth, its because i dont floss. i know i need to start flossing if i want to fix my mouth before it gets too serious, and i love taking a shower so i will floss everytime, thank you so much for that tip.