Week 37 Challenge: Brush Twice Daily & Floss Once

Why This Challenge Matters

This week’s challenge may seem so simple that some of you will think, “We already do that!” If that is the case, wonderful. This will be an easy habit to maintain.

But for many families, including ours, this is a surprisingly practical and worthwhile challenge. Life is busy, kids are wiggly, and evenings are full of routines that sometimes leave Mom or Dad skipping their own oral care altogether.

So this week, we are being intentional about brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

• Consistency builds habits. Skipping once often leads to skipping again. Creating a rhythm helps make brushing and flossing automatic.
• Kids are watching. When they see us keep up with good habits, it reinforces that it is worth the effort.
• It saves trouble later. Brushing and flossing are some of the simplest things we can do to support healthy teeth and gums.

This kind of challenge fits the heart behind many of our weekly family rhythms. Small habits, repeated with intention, can slowly shape the culture of a home. If your family has enjoyed other simple routines, you may also like the “I Have 3 Minutes for You” Family Challenge.

How This Plays Out in Our Family

In my adult years, before kids, I would have said I had excellent oral hygiene. And even now, I never miss brushing at least once a day. But here is where the slip happens:

And since flossing almost always happens in the evening, that means I end up missing flossing on those nights too.

Claire’s Routine

Claire, age 9: She is working hard to show she can handle her nighttime routine on her own. For her, the deal is that she must remember to brush in the morning without a reminder for two weeks straight to “graduate” to full independence.

Peter’s Routine

Peter, age 5: He needs reminders in the morning. Sometimes we give the reminder, but he is in the middle of play or breakfast, and we forget to follow up. Result? Missed brushing. This week, we are making sure his second brush of the day really happens.

Mom and Dad’s Routine

Mom and Dad: We are consistent with at least one brushing a day, but sometimes the evening slips away. The kids’ teeth get done, but ours do not, so we miss the second brush, and with it, the floss. This week’s challenge is about tightening up that evening rhythm for us as well.

This kind of honest family reset reminds me that habits are not built through perfection. They are built through returning, trying again, and creating systems that help everyone grow. That same idea shows up in our 3-Minute Daily Stretch Challenge, where the goal is not doing something impressive, but doing something small consistently.

The Challenge

This week’s challenge is simple and clear:

That is it. Simple, clear, and very doable.

For children, CDC oral health guidance also emphasizes brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, which is a helpful reminder when building family routines around oral care. Read the CDC’s oral health tips for children here.

Tips to Make It Stick

• Pair it with another habit. For example, brush right after breakfast and right before bed.
• Use visual cues. For kids, a fun checklist on the bathroom wall can help.
• Model it. Let your children see you brushing and flossing too. It is a family thing.
• Track it. Even as adults, a simple checkmark can be motivating.

Little routines like this are part of building responsibility over time. That is one reason we care so much about a contribution-focused childhood. Children grow stronger when they learn to participate in everyday life with consistency and care.

For Those Doing This Alone or From Afar

Maybe your kids have flown the coop, but you would still love to join in our family challenges. This can be a wonderful way to stay connected with your grown children, grandkids, or other loved ones, each of you working on the same habit from wherever you are.

And if you are doing this entirely on your own, that is okay too. Use this week as a little self-check-in. Are you getting both brushes in each day? Is flossing sneaking past you? This is your reminder to stay steady with both brushes and floss.

If you are looking for another simple habit that can be practiced across households, the Family Deep Breathing Challenge is another easy one to do together even from far away.

Mid-Year Reset Reminder

Just like last week, this is a great time to revisit those New Year’s resolutions. Did “health” or “self-care” make your list? Oral hygiene may not have been what you were thinking of, but caring for your body in the little things builds strength and discipline for the bigger goals too.

Healthy confidence often grows through small responsibilities that children slowly learn to manage. Brushing and flossing may seem ordinary, but these little habits teach follow-through, ownership, and maturity. I wrote more about that kind of growth in What Healthy Confidence Actually Looks Like.

Jump In Anytime

If you are new to our 52 Week Family Challenge, welcome. Each week we take on one simple habit to grow together as a family. You can start right here at Week 37. There is no need to catch up on the others.

So this week, let’s do it together: brush twice a day and floss once. Small habit, big impact.

Tell me in the comments: Do you already have this one down, or is this a habit you want to strengthen in your household?