Short and Long Term Impacts

By Kendallguagenti

  • So what's the problem?

    Last week I went to the dentist for my usual cleaning. I have always had healthy good teeth, but I can never find myself to floss. When I went to the dentist they told me sternly that I was at risk of health issues in my gums if I didn't start flossing. I knew then that I needed to make a decision to start flossing.

  • Short Term Impacts

    When I got home, my mind automatically went to short term impacts. The textbook states “The long term impact of our current behavior is hard to “see” compared to the immediate benefit”(Unit 1: Making Healthy Choices). This was true before my dentist made me realize the danger of not flossing. I'd go into my bathroom, brush my teeth and then say, "hey, one day of not flossing won't hurt and I'll get the benefit of a few extra minutes to make breakfast" and that one day turned into every day.

  • Long Term Impacts

    After the confrontation with my dentist, I realized I needed to make a change and consider the long term impacts. The textbook states "We must recognize that our brains will look for the short-term gain and will not easily “see” the long-term risk" (Unit 1: Making Healthy Choices). I finally recognized the long term impact, that I would have nice, shiny, very healthy teeth.

  • The Healthy Choice

    After considering the impacts and realizing my mistakes, I came to a decision. The textbook states, “If we establish patterns of behavior we just routinely follow, we don’t have to think" (Unit 1: Making Healthy Choices). At this point, I decided to make flossing a part of my daily routine, and not even thinking about it. This is the healthiest decision because if I don't think about it, I won't have any reason not to do it.