You’re sitting at your dentist appointment, and the dental hygienist asks that pesky question you’ve been dreading, “Have you been flossing every day?”
If you’re like us, you answer with something along the lines of “Of course! Well, maybe not quite every day…”
Why is flossing such a big chore?
We know flossing is good for us, like taking a multivitamin or going for a run. So, why do we find it so tedious?
One of the biggest factors, according to licensed clinical psychologist Alicia Clark, PsyD, is the lack of clear-cut, immediate results. It annoys us to complete a task that doesn’t make us feel better or visibly improve our smiles.
It seems we also feel guilty when we don’t floss as often as we should, which in turn makes us anxious when we consider flossing.
Don’t worry, missing a day here or there won’t be a problem. You can still have healthy gums if you’re an occasional flosser.
