Do you ever consciously, consistently not do something that you know is important?

Yes, Homework or studying for tests. I know I should, but I just never do.

brushing and using mouthwash that many times a day means you have significantly better dental health than most people. also I’d say a very small part of the population flosses regularly.

@jackm: But for me, I have significant bone loss in my teeth, receding gums, and some deep pockets in the gums. Meaning if I don’t floss, tarter gets into the pockets where the toothbrush doesn’t reach, causing my gums to become swollen and sore, and if I don’t take care of it with my regular cleanings, it continues to cause bone loss. I have special dental needs, basically.

And that sparks another question I should ask… is it right to be mad at my father for not taking me to the dentist more when I was a kid, even though he couldn’t afford it, since now it’s causing me all these freaking problems? lol

@poofandmook
There is no right and wrong with anger, you can be mad a whom ever you want!
For example I am mad at you right now for no reason at all ;)

@poofandmook: I keep floss next to computer, on sofa by TV, in the car and in my purse.

I can then floss while downloading, computer housekeeping, watching TV, stuck at red lights or railroad crossings. (14 trains a day go through the main intersection here.) It is easy and effortless.

You can ‘t change the past although you certainly have the right to feel angry at your dad. That feeling could get distracting after a while.

I’m with you on the flossing. I hate it and I’m not sure why. I also have been avoiding the dentist like the plaque since the late 90’s. :/

I can’t seem to keep myself flossing either. I have no idea why since it only takes a minute.

My biggest issue is ignoring household tasks. After four years of staying home, it seems redundant and unrewarding. Do the laundry, do the dishes, make the bed… and do it all over again the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next…

Studying.

Renewing my driver’s license, although I think it’s subconscious. And exercising, as well.

Oh man, 2 threads in a row where I get to talk about flossing. Heaven. But seriously, get those little floss picks…. they make flossing so much easier. I use them at least once a day and it takes about ½0th the amount of time as using regular string floss. So much easier to get to your back teeth, and there’s a little “pick” type thing on the other end if you need to scrape anything around your gums. Try them, seriously, you’ll wanna floss all day long.

@Deni: I have them. The problem is that I have a permanent retainer on the back of 5 of my bottom teeth, which I can no longer have removed because of how much bone loss there is in that area. I need to thread floss in between the teeth under the retainer to floss. That might be the single biggest thing that I dread about flossing. It’s such a pain in my tookus.

Ugh, that’s such a pain. I have a crown on one of my molars so I have to use string floss to get between that tooth, I HATE IT. The floss always frays, I end up cutting off circulation in my fingers. Awful. But have you tried to use the pick on the other end of those little flosser things?

@poofandmook Why not get a sonic toothbrush? It’s fun! Really, it is. Your teeth will even feel cleaner

@Spatzie: Because I can always think of a better way to spend the money. Really though, for as bad as my gums are, flossing is the only option.

@poofandmook Water pik?

@Spatzie: According to my dentist, it’s the act of pulling the gunk up and out with the piece of floss. In my case, the water pik would push it back down.

@poofandmook I see. You must have created some real craters, then. My husband also has a permanent retainer, but can use the pokey stick things pretty well since his is in the front of his lower jaw.

@poofandmook: In the two hours since you started this thread, you could have flossed 60 times.

Another reason is to stimulate the little pink triangle of flesh between the teeth to get the blood circulating.

@gailcalled Lurve!

@poofandmook To replace a bad habit, you need to fill with a good one….Maybe you could create a rule, no dessert w/out flossing or no Fluther w/out flossing?

@Spatzie: When they use the air gun on my gums after a cleaning, you can see them puff out.

@gailcalled: It’s not that I can’t find the time to do it. That’s why the first thing I mentioned was being self-destructive. I just have some strange mental aversion to doing it. Incidentally, since I’m at work, I think it would be sort of icky to just floss in clear view of people. :)

@poofandmook: If you’re in your car, it doesn’t count.

What’s really screwy, and rather convenient for me, is that I have an overbite, so when I smile, my teeth look great. It’s when I open my mouth and pull down my lower lip.

@poofandmook: You do want that lovely smile (with your own teeth) in 30 years, don’t you?

Guess what? I can use my floss with only one hand…here and now?. It’s a gift, I guess.

@gailcalled: I know. That’s what started this thread. I have no idea what my issue is. I’m sure going to try. And maybe after a while I’ll be able to floss with one hand without a mirror too.

I just noticed that I typed “the plaque” instead of “the plague.” The dental gods are trying to send me a message! Also, I’m an idiot.

@ubersiren yes, I wouldn’t have noticed this w/out your pointing it out ;)

@ubersiren: that’s okay. In the other flossing thread I typed “plague” instead of “plaque” and had to change it.

Diet consistently. I’m pretty good at keeping my weight from going up further but I should be 10–20 lbs. thinner.

Your question seems to describe a bit of contradiction.

The fact that you consciously, consistently ignore or neglect to do something demonstrates you really don’t believe that particular something is important at all.

See…I don’t think about, justify, or categorize things in that manner. If there’s something I wanna want to do, I do it. If I don’t want to so something, it doesn’t get done…

…I don’t give it another thought.