Brushing your teeth

[foilman8805]

Originally Posted by justin_ator

This, and there will always be exceptions to things both ways. For example I spent like five years from 11-16 or so where I didn't brush a single time, and it only improved slightly after that for a year or two when I picked it up again. I've never had a cavity and the only thing the dentist ever said to me is 'you seem to have been missing this spot here or there, make sure you get those areas when brushing' as if I wasn't neglecting my whole mouth.

Yes, I realize how bad that sounds, and like I said, I've gotten better. But my point still stands that it's not set in concrete that you'll get cavities brushing once a day, or even once a week. I know people that have diligently brushed their teeth at least twice a day and have had a few cavities already.

It's still not a recommendation anyone will give to you, that is, to not brush your teeth. Your genetics certainly have a lot to do with your ability to fight cavities, the pH of your saliva, the strength of the enamel on your teeth, etc. My mother brushes twice a day and flosses and regularly gets cavities and has had a number of root canals (preceded by chipped/cracked teeth). A majority of her teeth are crowns now. Point being that some people are a little more lucky when it comes to genetics, but over the long haul, not taking care of your mouth is a detriment to your health.

[justin_ator]

Originally Posted by foilman8805

It's still not a recommendation anyone will give to you, that is, to not brush your teeth. Your genetics certainly have a lot to do with your ability to fight cavities, the pH of your saliva, the strength of the enamel on your teeth, etc. My mother brushes twice a day and flosses and regularly gets cavities and has had a number of root canals (preceded by chipped/cracked teeth). A majority of her teeth are crowns now. Point being that some people are a little more lucky when it comes to genetics, but over the long haul, not taking care of your mouth is a detriment to your health.

I can agree with that.

[rushyrulz]

I don't eat breakfast.

[Bluearrowll]

Hey Reach, what's your opinion on Brushing after Eating + Listerine but no Floss? Also, Non Alcoholic Listerine or Alcoholic Listerine? (I have been using non alcoholic as it was recommended to me because it doesn't dehydrate the mouth as much?)

[Kibblre]

I don't eat breakfast, but I brush my teeth first thing when I wake up.

[~kitty~]

I never thought it made sense to brush your teeth before breakfast. I once went what is similar to a camp, and we all had to wake up at the same time. Nearly everybody brushed their teeth before breakfast. I didn't brush my teeth unless something built up over the night. I always came back after breakfast was served to brush my teeth (only a few others came back, usually to use the bathroom). I wonder why so many people think it's better to brush before? Online the consensus obviously is different as we are a different type of people as a whole.

[00Razor00]

My Frosted Flakes always tasted like ass when I brushed before, so I started brushing after and before bedtime.

[DN_Catastrophic]

I just don't understand how anyone can go through the day without brushing their teeth. I know someone who is like that and his breath smells horrendous! Even if people that are like that chew on gum or suck on a mint, it doesn't really do anything for the build up of what ever has been in their mouths throughout the day.

I brush after I eat breakfast though, unless I'm going to eat out somewhere or something.

[Reach]

Originally Posted by Bluearrowll

Hey Reach, what's your opinion on Brushing after Eating + Listerine but no Floss? Also, Non Alcoholic Listerine or Alcoholic Listerine? (I have been using non alcoholic as it was recommended to me because it doesn't dehydrate the mouth as much?)

Mouthwash isn't very useful.

Flossing >>>> mouthwash.

Mouthwash can only kill bacteria that are exposed and have not formed plaque colonies. Alas, Dentistry has failed to find a way to chemically destroy plaque. It doesn't actually seem possible, without damaging everything else as well, for a number of reasons.

The only way to remove bacteria that are forming colonies is mechanically, i.e. brushing and flossing. Mouthwash gives you that nice tingly feeling of freshness, but that's a marketing ploy (toothpaste does the same thing). The effect is very very minimal in most people.



Also, genetic explanations are usually a cop out. There are some situations where people have genuine conditions that dramatically increase their risk for caries, but in most people it's either chronic hygiene deficiencies or dietary problems. Like 99% of time. Many people that claim to brush or floss all the time do so improperly, or have dietary habits that are deadly for their teeth.

I mean, cavities typically take 1-2 years to form. That's a festering bacterial lesion literally sitting there on the tooth surface attacking it continuously for that entire time. It doesn't really happen by accident >_>

[Zageron]

Brushing before breakfast tastes disgusting.
Breakfast, Brush, Mouthwash, Morning, Lunch, Afternoon, Dinner, Desert, Evening, Floss, Brush, Mouthwash, late night, sleep.

[AlexDest]

I brush after breakfast, because drinking coffee and eating after you brush will taste awful.

[Coolboyrulez0]

Originally Posted by AlexDest

I brush after breakfast, because drinking coffee and eating after you brush will taste awful.

Makes even your favorite foods taste like shit. After Breakfast brushing is where it's at.

[Jerry DB]

sometimes before, sometimes after. I don't really have a set time I just make sure I always do it. Sometimes I actually brush before and after breakfeast if I'm doing something really important that day or am hanging out with a girl

[smartdude1212]

I don't eat breakfast, but I always brush my teeth in the shower. Foamy toothpaste all over the chest is a win.

I'm pretty sure if I had to brush my teeth clothed over a sink I would end up with half the contents of my mouth all over my shirt anyway.

[~kitty~]

Originally Posted by Reach

Mouthwash isn't very useful.

Flossing >>>> mouthwash.

Mouthwash can only kill bacteria that are exposed and have not formed plaque colonies. Alas, Dentistry has failed to find a way to chemically destroy plaque. It doesn't actually seem possible, without damaging everything else as well, for a number of reasons.

The only way to remove bacteria that are forming colonies is mechanically, i.e. brushing and flossing. Mouthwash gives you that nice tingly feeling of freshness, but that's a marketing ploy (toothpaste does the same thing). The effect is very very minimal in most people.



Also, genetic explanations are usually a cop out. There are some situations where people have genuine conditions that dramatically increase their risk for caries, but in most people it's either chronic hygiene deficiencies or dietary problems. Like 99% of time. Many people that claim to brush or floss all the time do so improperly, or have dietary habits that are deadly for their teeth.

I mean, cavities typically take 1-2 years to form. That's a festering bacterial lesion literally sitting there on the tooth surface attacking it continuously for that entire time. It doesn't really happen by accident >_>

Dietary habits? What kind of dietary habits?

[reuben_tate]

Before, most likely because it was a bad habit I picked up from my parents.

[Reach]

Originally Posted by ~kitty~

Dietary habits? What kind of dietary habits?

The most common ones are sipping on acidic drinks (energy drinks, sodas, coffees) over long periods of time and snacking. Candies are notoriously bad as well.

[Mollocephalus]

Why would you wanna brush teeth before eating? makes zero sense. Always brushed teeth afterwards, following the rule of thumb reach mentioned.

[DotKritic]

I brush right after my shower in the morning and eat later.

[Cavernio]

Where's the I don't brush regularly option?
My teeth often hurt after I brush them so I don't brush them nearly as often as I should. I think it's a toothpaste thing more than a brushing thing though. I will often pick at my teeth with my fingernails instead of brushing because I don't get the pain then, but of course I miss more of my teeth then too. But that's probably why my gums are in good shape.
I tend to brush for bad breath reasons (usually won't leave the house without brushing) more than oral care reasons, which is also why I use toothpaste when I brush. I try to avoid brushing my teeth anywhere close to eating because that just makes them hurt more. I think not eating cheese the past couple of months is just making the sensitivity issue worse. I probably have terrible enamel.
I've got cavities of course. Most of them are inbetween my teeth which makes a lot of sense because I have large gaps between most of my teeth where food always gets caught. I just don't think about flossing as a regular thing so I don't do it everyday even though that doesn't hurt my teeth at all. At my last checkup (first one in 6 years) I was told to floss at least twice a week to make sure I don't get any cavities on the other side of my mouth (there're weak spots there), and also that I only need professional cleanings once a year not twice because my teeth were generally gunk free. Go fingernails.