In today’s installment of Five Things We Can Learn From Everyday Objects, let’s dive into the the exciting world of brushing our teeth. You’d be surprised how much we can learn from a simple activity we do daily.
Let’s take a look…
Five Things We Can Learn From Brushing Our Teeth
1. Consistency Is Key
It is good to brush your teeth once, but it will not do you much good if you stop there. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day. That means you need to be brushing at least 730 times a year.
If you want to have a blog, it is good to write one post to start. But it won’t do you much good if you never write again. If you want to improve your writing or your dental hygiene it is important to be consistent and do things over and over (and over).
2. Like it, Love it, Gotta Habit
Where does brushing your teeth fall during your morning routine? Does it come after taking a shower, or before? Does it take place after you put on deodorant or before? Wherever it takes place, chances are you have the same routine day after day. This habit is why you always remember to brush your teeth, but you might not always remember where you left your keys.
In The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg explains why habits exist and how they influence our lives. The habit of brushing your team is just one of the many routines you experience each day. Whether you want to lose weight, run a successful business or raise a child, creating a habit is crucial.
3. Less is More
How much toothpaste do you use each time you brush your teeth? Do you cover the entire brush with one big gob of Crest? If so, you are wasting toothpaste, and money. Turns out, the right amount of toothpaste is only the size of a pea. That small amount offers the same benefits as the giant gob you might be using.
The same thing can be said for taking chances and trying new things. We think we need to take huge chances in order to be successful and this causes us to become scared. We are intimidated by a giant gob of change. Baby steps can be much less intimidating and can make a much bigger difference than you might think.
4. Kill 2 Birds With 1 Stone
Do you put on your makeup while polishing your molars? Do you scrub your incisors while looking for your shoes? If you are like me, you multitask while brushing your teeth. That’s terrific. We are busy and doing multiple things at once can be time well spent. I’ve heard of people doing calf raises or leg lifts while brushing their teeth. What a great way to kill to knock out two things at one time.
How often do you multitask your dream? I don’t mean you should split your attention in so many ways that you can’t direct focus at all. Do you have a goal of learning a new language? Get an audio book to listen to on your drive to work. Do you want to get in better shape? Do a few pushups while you watch Modern Family. If you really look for it, you will be able to carve a little time into your busy schedule.
5. Improve Your Coverage
When you brush your teeth, you don’t just brush the left side or the back. You don’t just pick a few teeth to clean. You cover your molars, your incisors, and all the other teeth (those are the only two names I know). Leaving out one part can lead to cavities.
When you are chasing your dream you will need to cover many different aspects in order to be successful. You may have to think about finances, creative, and social media. Leaving out one area can create dream cavities (“Dream Cavities” sounds like a band name).
Photo credit: Wikipedia
