Brushing your teeth on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do for your smile. Healthy teeth make a beautiful smile. Brushing can also help with gum health and even keep your breath smelling sweet. The Fort Collins Dentist knows this well.
For some of us, brushing can be a loathsome chore that gets in the way of a good time. Hopefully, you don’t think of brushing in such dire terms, but we know it happens.
The best way to build brushing into your routine is to make it a habit. A habit is an automated practice that becomes hard to give up. Some habits can be bad, of course. Brushing can be a good habit.
If you can make brushing your teeth a habit, you’ll be one step closer to a life of successful checkups.
Here are some tips for creating a good habit that you can teach to your kids. These tips will also work on teens. And they work on adults, too:
Keep It Simple
One of the best ways to create a habit is to keep the requirements simple. Brushing teeth is already a simple task, but we can focus on the simplicity to help it stick as a habit.
Don’t complicate the instructions for your kids. Keep it as simple as possible at the start. A small amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush, brush for about two minutes and rinse with clear water. Simple.
Regular Timing
One of the cornerstones of a habit is routine. Routine is rooted in consistent timing. Choose at least two, or three regular times to brush your teeth. Set a timer if you have to, but it’s best to create a habit around other regular activities. “First thing in the morning” or “after breakfast” are good times. After dinner or just before getting into bed are also good times.
Regardless of when you choose, make sure it is a daily activity, and that it is tied to another routine or habit as a reminder. In this way, you are actually appending an existing habit or routine, and that makes it easier.
Stick To It
Research indicates it takes about two weeks to create a habit. You have to do a task for at least two weeks in a row before your brain will turn it over to auto-pilot and make it into a habit. Your brain tries to do this with routine things so you don’t have to keep the task in your short-term memory.
If you can stick with a task for two weeks, you’ll be well on your way to creating a good habit. If you can hold on for 30 days, you’ll imprint your new habit as a reflexive routine. You may never have to think about it again!
Improve It
Finally, any good habit needs constant improvement. You can improve your habit of brushing your teeth by working on proper form, or by adding a little bit of time. Work toward the two-minute mark; any longer and it may start to cause damage. You can also make sure you are using a soft or medium brush, and that you are using fluoride toothpaste to keep your teeth healthy.
Start Today
There’s no time like right now to get started on creating healthy habits for your teeth. If you are having trouble with brushing, make a commitment to work on it starting now. If you are caring for a child, or working with a teenager, help reinforce good habits with reminders, positive support, and a leading example. The Fort Collins Dentist can attest to the importance of these practices.
Once you have created a healthy habit around brushing your teeth, you’ll have plenty of reason to smile. We look forward to seeing it!
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Have you ever been eating an ice cream cone when you encountered a sudden zap of pain in one of your teeth? If the enamel has eroded, or the gums have receded, the dentin layer of the tooth is exposed. The substances that cause tooth pain travel to the pulp where the nerves of the tooth are located. Ouch!
