Sometimes the hardest part about taking care of your mouth and gums is remembering to do it. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash promote healthy teeth, freshen breath, and dramatically decrease your risk of dental issues such as cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. But they won’t work if you don’t do them every day. 
Building a routine is the easiest way to consistently care for your teeth. While it can take a while to develop these good habits, once you make them a part of your everyday life, they will become second nature and you may never have to worry about your dental health again.
Building a Routine
A routine is simply a process that you repeat every day over and over again. There are negative, self-destructive routines such as taking a cigarette break at work at the same time every morning or reaching for your smartphone at every idle moment to scroll through your social media. Then there are positive routines like brushing, flossing and using mouthwash at least twice per day.
The key to developing a good routine is making sure you have everything you need and a place to do it. For most people, this usually is their home bathroom. Make sure you have toothpaste, a clean toothbrush, some dental floss, and a bottle of mouthwash at hand every day. If you run low, buy more supplies before you run out.
Time and Time Again
The other essential is commitment. Psychologists tell us it takes about 28 days to create a habit, good or bad. Once you commit to performing the same simple tasks every morning and night for about a month, you probably will never have to think about it again. It will have become part of your regular routine and you will brush, floss, and garble almost automatically.
Building positive routines can improve your life immeasurably. Good oral health habits can lead to brighter teeth, fresher breath, and less time in the dentist’s chair.
