The Best Time to Floss Is When You’ll Actually Do It

Motivation follows action, not the other way around.

Meaning, you have to get yourself to show up and take action first. Because motivation is a follower, not a leader.

Why your “optimal” might not look like what the research says is best

…and that’s okay!

A while back, I wrote about how a single coaching session on flossing changed my life. Not because some wellness guru helped me discover a magical secret to dental hygiene, but because it reframed how I approached doing any habit. That session shifted me from a perfectionist mindset to a more practical one. And from not flossing at all to flossing every single day, without fail.

That was over four years ago. I’ve been learning and iterating since.

Noticing what was actually stopping me

Flossing daily used to be impossible. Not because it was hard or because I was forgetful or insufficiently motivated. But because I was trying to do it at night, when I was tired and even fun things felt like demands.

Here’s another related example…

I don’t like to eat sweet things in the morning. I never stopped to think about why. Then I listened to a podcast episode from Excellence, Actually where they briefly discussed dopamine levels after sleep and it clicked.

Eating sweet things in the morning feels sickly indulgent and I get no rush from it.

Photo by NickyLloyd from Getty Images Signature.

When can you do hard things? When is a treat not necessary, and in fact, too much?

For me, the answer took me a long time to figure out: I am most successful when I do boring, hard, and tedious things early in the morning. That’s when I’m sufficiently resourced and require no boosts or bribes. I usually get on with it.

So I front load my day accordingly.

When is your energy lowest? Mine’s at the 3pm hour. More so if I have jetlag or slept poorly. In the afternoon, you’d be lucky to get me to walk across a room for a piece of tasty cheese.

“But isn’t flossing in the morning...not optimal?”

Maybe.

Technically, flossing at night, after you’ve eaten all day and before you sleep is better for long-term gum health.

But optimal for who?

For the typical subject in a controlled study? Sure. For me? Nope.

I tried flossing at night and I failed repeatedly.

I’m tired at night. I forget. Or I just don’t want to. So I don’t. And that means I wasn’t flossing at all.

Now I floss in the morning. It’s become an automatic part of my morning routine. I’ve been doing it every day for years. My dentist says my gums are in excellent shape. So even though I’m not flossing at the “optimal” time, clearly it’s working.

If I insisted on doing it the “right” way, I’d probably be headed for another gum surgery.

Good enough beats ideal

As coach Kara Lowentheil puts it:

“Go half-ass something you’ve been not-assing at all.”

That quote lives rent-free in my head.

So often, I let myself be paralyzed by what’s ideal. I think a lot about “best practice” or what’s scientifically supported. But I often sidestep thinking about what’s realistic.

It’s the same with sleep. The recommendation is 8 hours a night. But some people feel great on 6. Others need 10. The science gives us a guide, not a commandment.

What’s the point?

Do what makes sense for you.

The science is helpful, but it’s based on averages. You are not an average.

If flossing in the morning means it actually gets done — and your gums are healthy — then morning is the right time.

Lift ‘n shift that advice for whatever task you’re struggling to show up for. And remember, motivation is not required.

Key takeaways:

• “Optimal” doesn’t mean “mandatory.”

• A realistic habit you can manage is better than a perfect one you’ll never stick with.

• Don’t aim for the average. Aim for what’s possible in your life.