This is Day 17 of Live a Healthier Life in 21 Days Challenge, Jan 2012 run. Subscribe to the free newsletter for lifetime access of personal development articles and future challenge announcements like this one.

Hello all, welcome to Day 17 of Live a Healthier Life in 21 Days Challenge! We now have only *4* days before the challenge is officially over!



Do any of you floss your teeth? As I shared in The Path to Healthier Gums and Teeth, I do - but I didn't used to do in the past.

According to a 2008 survey, only 49% of Americans floss daily, and 10% never floss.That’s unfortunate because flossing is as important as brushing in preventing gum disease and tooth loss. When I was younger I thought flossing is an unnecessary step in dental care. It was when I got braces (when I was in my early 20s) that I was more conscious about dental hygiene - and I realized that flossing is a very important step in oral care.

From WebMD:

Quote:"There is no instant gratification with flossing -- that's the problem," says Alla Wheeler, RDH, MPA, associate professor of the Dental Hygiene Program at the New York University School of Dentistry. "Patients don't think it does anything."

But flossing does about 40% of the work required to remove sticky bacteria, or plaque, from your teeth. Plaque generates acid, which can cause cavities, irritate the gums, and lead to gum disease. "Each tooth has five surfaces. If you don't floss, you are leaving at least two of the surfaces unclean,"Wheeler explains. "Floss is the only thing that can really get into that space between the teeth and remove bacteria."

If you experience bleeding during flossing, that's an even clearer sign that you need to floss. The bleeding occurs because plaque has already built up in the area and would have continued to corrode your gums if you didn't floss right there and then!

Today, let's practice our best dental hygiene. Brush your teeth before you sleep and after you wake up. Rinse your mouth/brush your teeth in between your meals. Then, floss before you go to bed at night.

For those of you who already floss, continue doing so. For those of you who don't floss your teeth normally, let's start flossing today! Continue to adhere to this habit for the remaining 4 days of the challenge.

Here's a short 1:54 minute video on how to floss your teeth properly:




Day 17 of Your 21-Day Healthy Living Plan

What are your tasks listed for today? Do them with excellence and report them in your 21DHL Journal.

Also, read your group mates' 21DHL journals and cheer them along! Pick a few members' journals and make it a point to post meaningful replies there.

Update Your 21DHL Journals

Once you are done for the day, update your 21DHL Journal. You are also welcome to update your 21DHL Journal multiple times throughout the day. Post all your results for today's task and your 21-Day Healthy Living Plan directly in your journal.

If you have any questions specific to today's task, post them here.

"If you want to get something you have never gotten before, you've to do something you've never done before."
Personal Excellence - For people passionate about achieving excellence in life

Hehe, we saw this one coming

Does chewing gum count for "after meals"?

"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable."

Pretty much I'd say. A lot of gum has sugar in it, so brushing your teeth, then chewing gum, is no different than redistributing sugar all over your mouth. Might as well not brush your teeth at all. Simply using a plaque locator tablet (refer to The Path to Healthier Gums and Teeth) reveals everything. When in doubt, simply look at the ingredient list of what you're eating.

"If you want to get something you have never gotten before, you've to do something you've never done before."
Personal Excellence - For people passionate about achieving excellence in life