Dentally

Today I went to the dentist and, as usual, the hygienist said I had great brushing skills but needed to do better with my flossing. She then proceeded to provide some really good evidence supporting the importance of flossing and told me that the only dental issue I need to worry about as I get older is gum disease, which is preventable by flossing. Every time I go to the dentist the conversation is the same, and every time I go home, convinced that I'm going t floss every day. Then I do it regularly for a week or two, then I start doing it every few days when I think about it, and eventually it becomes a rare occurrence.

I think going to the dentist is a lot like going to church. I go there on Sunday and I hear something that I know I should do and I decide that I'm going to start doing it. Whether it's praying more, or witnessing, or whatever, it usually plays out dentally. Monday morning rolls around and I'm tired, back to life, and then I remember that I was gong to make some change, so I do whatever it was, and then as the days go by it sort of trails off until I'm back to doing things the same old way.

So, how do we make ourselves actually do it? I think part of it is on us, but I also think that there may be a lack of application in the teaching. I know I need to floss, but shouldn't the dentist give me some tips about how I can make it happen? The same goes for church, perhaps I do need to read my Bible more, but if that's all you tell me, it's unlikely that I'll do it. The next time you find yourself in a teachable position, be sure to send your pupils off with a clear knowledge of what they, personally, can do to implement their new found knowledge in their own lives.