The dental hygiene challenge

Try to find some routine in it mate…

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That’s the goal. I hope that within time it won’t cost me energy to brush. This challenge is going to help me stay motivated until it’s my routine. Afterwards, brushing my teeth will feel normal again

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I am glad that you are doing better. In the case of brushing your teeth you can still start tonight.

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Day 1: 100%

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Just for the record, I think 95% is quite high!

Thanks so much for starting this topic, cause it’s really helping me, it’s really shone a light onto the times that I have not brushed… I think I’m managing maybe 95% but it’s been a push, I think you set yourself a very high bar (which IS great, don’t get me wrong) but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make that standard, every brush individually is good!

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Hey Jan a suggestion,

I know things like setting alarms don’t work, cause I’m good at procrastinating,

But me personally, I have a mirror in the shower, I take care of everything in one big shot, shower shave brush teeth. It saves on cleanup and is just convenient.

Plus too, later on If you find yourself a significant other she might be incredibly grateful that she doesn’t find your spit or stubble in the sink, I’m sure the women of the forum will gladly tell you how much they hate that lol

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On the other hand, run through the 100 days see what percentage you do, at the end let’s say you hit 90% round 2 aim for 100% but if you get above 90% your Making progress, keep aiming higher till it’s a second nature

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I have read the brushing teeth under the shower somewhere already and have difficulty to get it. I’d either freeze while brushing my teeth or I’ll just be uncomfortably naked in the shower brushing my teeth before taking the shower. :scream::see_no_evil:

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Lol I can imagine some might think it to be uncomfortable. When I did it, I would wash hair and body and then brush my teeth before I jumped out. I’m still not sure why I had that habit or where I learned it.

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I don’t hide from the water I just push the head down lower so it still runs on me, but I’m not getting the equivalent of water boarding when I brush my teeth

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Ah I was thinking that. We have a mild energy crisis in Europe and water will be short in some years as well. I’ll stick to brushing them outside.

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Kind of understatement :wink:

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I haven’t weighed in here yet. I didn’t have the best dental hygiene when I was drinking and severely depressed. I would go a day without brushing at all here and there, mostly just brushing at night, and never flossing. Since I’m sober I floss every day! Have missed maybe twice in that time, when I was very down.

However, I find it so boring too, it’s never anything I look forward to. :sleeping: I walk around brushing my teeth, I watch sth on my phone or even tidy up the house. I brush in the shower or even bath sometimes. I try to use a toopaste I enjoy the flavour of. And I use a floss that is expanding rather than the thin and waxed kind. it feels so much more satisfying to floss with some friction rather than the smoothness of the waxed floss that never feels like you’re making a difference!

Good luck Jan! The struggle is real! But you deserve to have good teeth, no pain and fresh breath! Imagine how much more comfortable you’ll feel socialising knowing you’re all clean and fresh! :dizzy::grimacing:

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Boring, a word I’ve read several times in this thread :stuck_out_tongue:

There’s a Buddhist teaching, especially taught by Thay, that we should try to be aware that all the reasons for happiness are allready inside us, and that once we realise that all we feel neutral towards, can become a positive.

Translated to our world : yesterday there was yet another news article in a Dutch newspaper about a guy making his move towards a girl in a nightclub. She rejected him and she ended up being attacked by two guys. Knocked out her tooth, broke a few more and broke her jaw on three places.
Same day she got surgery. Eight screws in het jaw, and mouth closed for six weeks in which she could hardly talk, eat or anything.

Next time you feel bored while brushing your teeth, think about her and ask yourself how happy it would have made her, to do a simple task like brushing her teeth.

Never answered this question Jan…

In my NA homegroup, we have a guy like in the story above. Knocked out a girls entire set of teeth.
And I struggle with that guy.
My toothbrush signals me every 30 seconds to move to a next quadrant.
The first two, I practise compassion for how she must have felt loosing her teeth in one single moment.
The other two I try to practise compassion for him (difficult, guess my dentist is going to have more complaints about that part of my teeth this year). If impossible, I try to not feel rage towards him. Adjust goals :wink:

Nothing boring in those two minutes.

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I didn’t brush my teeth last night. I was too optimistic thinking that I’m back on track. So much stress that I have to push away to avoid that unbearable pain of powerlessness. It makes me wish I was dead, again. So last night I couldn’t be bothered. My wellbeing is fucked one way or another. So I made the conscious decision to watch YouTube and TV aware of the fact I had an assignment due last night. And as a result, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about brushing either.

But I can’t give up this easily. I can’t allow myself to go back to that shit hole. If I can’t handle the stress, perhaps I should stop coping and start removing.
So I had an incredibly difficult situation with my boss resulting in that I have more break time. I have less hours. And if needed I can take a medical leave for my mental health.

Oh, and I brushed this morning to make up for not doing it last night. And I did it under the shower which wasn’t awful :thinking:
So day 2: 100% :smiley:


Quick sidenote: day 3: 100% :sunglasses:

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Sorry for the radio silence.
I’m doing a lot better. I will be successful in this challenge. Because:
day 4 & 5: 100%
One of those five days, the first, I had a social gathering right out of work until 5am. But thanks to @anon74766472 I went home inbetween work and the social gathering which was at my workplace to brush my teeth. My goal will remain at least 95% though. I tend to strive for more improvement when I happen to have a good period. Which leads to disappointment. It is unreasonable to think that I will brush perfectly because I did 5 days in a row. But it’s good to know that it’s not impossible :smiley:

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Day 6: 100%

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I struggle with this too! Thank you for being open about it! I too will be joining you

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Day 7: 100%

I’m very proud of myself :smiley:
A whole week!
I think I can count on one hand how many times I’ve brushed everyday for a week in the last 7 years or so. So this is huge!
And I’ve even flossed a few of those days!
Not to forget, I was in a huge funk for the biggest part of this week. Not only did I keep on trucking, despite a lack of energy, I (re)started the challenge, which takes a lot more energy!

Thanks for all the support guys, couldn’t have done it without you!

Next step: 2 weeks.

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I very much relate to this! I’m good about brushing in the morning but at night I bring tea with me to read in bed. So it feels silly to brush before tea and afterwards I fall asleep right away. Going to join you in this and try to get better about my evenings. Brushing after dinner / before tea, because it is better than just skipping brushing all together.

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