Day 1: I texted FLOSS to BotherMe because I was writing the service and figured I should eat my own dog food. At 9 PM, my phone buzzed: "Did you floss today? Reply YES or NO." I had not flossed. I lied and said YES because I felt weird being judged by software I wrote.
Day 2: The guilt from yesterday's lie was surprisingly motivating. I flossed. Replied YES honestly. Felt disproportionately proud.
Day 7: One week in. Haven't missed a day. The streak counter in my reply ("7 days! Keep it going!") is doing something to my brain. I don't want to break it.
The First Test
Day 12: Got home late from dinner. Was already in bed. Phone buzzed. "Did you floss today?" I seriously considered lying. Then I got up, flossed, and got back in bed. This is what my life has become.
Day 15: My partner asked why I've been flossing so religiously. I said "a text message is bullying me into it." They signed up for WATER the next day.
The Streak Effect
Day 30: A full month. The automated message said "30-day streak! You're in the top 5% of flossers." I don't know if that stat is real but I don't care. I'm elite now.
Day 34: Almost forgot. Was brushing my teeth and about to get in bed when the text arrived. Perfect timing. I've started to associate the buzz with flossing, like Pavlov's dog but with better dental hygiene.
Day 45: I realized I don't dread flossing anymore. It's just... a thing I do now. Like brushing my teeth. The text is less of a reminder and more of a check-in.
The Dentist Visit
Day 62: Went to the dentist for a routine cleaning. The hygienist said, and I quote, "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. Your gum health has noticeably improved." I almost showed her my BotherMe streak but decided that would be weird.
Day 63: I told the team about the dentist comment. Everyone was unreasonably excited. We may have high-fived.
The Home Stretch
Day 80: Twenty days to go. At this point, flossing is automatic. I do it without thinking. The text is basically a victory lap now — I've already flossed by the time it arrives most nights.
Day 90: Set my accountability buddy to my dentist's office email as a joke. (I didn't actually. But I thought about it.)
Day 95: Five days out. Started telling people about my streak unprompted. I have become the annoying flossing person. This is who I am now.
Day 100
The text arrived at 9 PM as usual. "Did you floss today? Reply YES or NO."
YES.
"100 days! That's incredible. Your gums thank you. Your dentist thanks you. We thank you. Keep going — you've built something real."
I won't pretend I got emotional about a flossing text. But I will say that 100 days of any habit feels like an achievement, even a small one. Especially one you've failed at dozens of times before.
What I Learned
The secret to flossing (and probably most habits) isn't motivation or discipline. It's a persistent external nudge that shows up at the right time and makes you feel slightly guilty for saying no.
That's it. That's the whole trick.
I'm on day 147 now. Still flossing. Still getting the text. Still replying YES.
My gums have never been happier.