How often do you brush your teeth?

[SaidThePinkToothbrush]

Inspired by another thread, and nc'd because I suspect I will be called a filth monger.

I usually only brush mine in the morning If I've eaten fish I'll brush after that and chew gum, or if I've eaten something particularly oniony during the day then I will brush at night, but other than that, I just leave it to the morning time. I sometimes use mouthwash and occasionally floss or use a water flosser.

I go for my checkup and clean once a year and the dentist always says how healthy my teeth are. It baffles DH because he brushes at least twice a day and his teeth are not as strong as mine (though I know genetics plays a huge role in this).

I just don't see the point in brushing at night, though I suspect some of you will now enlighten me and tell me that all my teeth will fall out imminently because of my slovenly ways. Who knows, you may even convert me!

Am I the only one?

(sorry if I've made anyone feel ill)

Twice. And I always make sure to not have eaten or drank anything except water in the hour before brushing.

Mine are really white and really healthy (no fillings/gum disease) and I often skip a bedtime clean. I also stopped flossing when I read that it doesn’t make a difference. I was really strict when younger, but now am a lazy arse.

You shouldn't use mouthwash after brushing your teeth as it washes off the goodness of the tooth paste, I'm pretty sure mouth wash should only be used after a meal when you can't brush your teeth etc. Also do not rinse your mouth after brushing as once again you are washing off what good the tooth paste does.

I think brushing without flossing is like leaving a job half finished. I’ll often brush my teeth and then find the floss will dig out tiny bits of food between my teeth that a brush just couldn’t reach.

I also stopped flossing when I read that it doesn’t make a difference

Where did you hear that? Not your dentist I bet.

I'm gobsmacked by the lack of education on oral hygiene on this thread! I dread to think of where (part of the UK) these people are from!

It's mouthwash that doesn't make a difference (except the medicated stuff, which you shouldn't use unless you need). Flossing done right makes a huge amount of difference.

I didn't know how to floss or why you should until I was in my twenties! But now I think not flossing would be like having a shower with your legs clamped shut and your arms by your sides, washing every part of your body except the armpits and crotch and then wondering why you still smell.

@FridalovesDiego you do realise flossing makes all the difference.... don't know where you heard that BS! All the plaque is left between your teeth without flossing, gross.

I brush 2-3 times a day. I'm a dental nurse and see a lot of difference to people who brush once a day to someone who brushes twice a day.

Not brushing at night you're leaving all the soft plaque etc on your teeth from the day 🤢

Why is it dependant on part of the UK? Isn't it just whether your parents knew this stuff or you were told by your own dentist?

How did you come by your oral health education, Buster?

@PixieDustt here
^www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36962667^
Interdental brushes or waterpiks do the same but less damaging to gums.

Sorry clicks link www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36962667

@FridalovesDiego that article is from 2016. Of course floss isn't going to be beneficial if you have large gaps between your teeth that's why you would use interdental brushes. However if you have tight gaps between your teeth then floss is the most beneficial.
It's also important to change the interdental brushes regularly like you would your toothbrush otherwise you're just shoving dirt back between your teeth.

Can you link to a more recent study then? Interdental brushes come in different sizes. A waterpik is the best because it can do the gumline. How are you doing that with floss, are all your teeth crowns?

I've fucked my teeth through years of compulsive over brushing, they are so sensitive because I've worn away the enamel. I probably still brush about 4 or 5 times a day but that's coming down from about 3 times that. No way could I go to bed without brushing at night!

My dentist said twice daily is the recommended number and not to brush teeth more than that.
I have chronic dry mouth and thought I’d get rampant decay so was brushing 3 or 4 times. Dentist says No.

Tuesdays 😁

First thing and last thing here. Plus an extra brushing if I've eaten something stinky. I wish to keep both my friends and my teeth.

Once a day before bed. Have used electric toothbrush since teenage (30 yrs ago) and interdental brushes for about 20 years. Brush for full 2 mins then floss/ID. Always spit not rinse. Never use mouthwash. Visit dentist twice a year religiously and hygienist 2-3 times.

Every one of my baby teeth were filled but none of my adult teeth are. My dentist knows I’m a one-a-day and always tells me I’ve got great teeth and I’m lucky. I also think it’s primarily genetics.

@FridalovesDiego no I don't have crowns or any fillings actually .
Also you don't use normal floss for crowns.. it's a different kind of floss.
I never said a waterpik isn't good, I use an air flosser myself.
But you stated floss didn't make a difference which isn't true unless you have big gaps between your teeth.
Don't wish to discuss this further as it's boring me now

Your teeth may be fine poshjock but your breath must be honking.

Surely if you only brush your teeth once after waking up your teeth are only clean/without food on them for 5 to 30 minutes out of a whole day, until you start eating again? At least if you brush once in the morning but after breakfast they are clean until the next meal ...
Saying that, my grandad I think never changed his toothbrush in his life, it was something else, and he liked sucking on hard candy (1 a day and no sweet tooth otherwise), and he had all his straight white teeth till the end and no fillings
I doubt his teeth could have been any better in spite of his dubious oral hygiene by today's standards. He never had bad breath

Bad breath most of the time is a stomach problem, isn't it? If I brush my teeth really well right before bed maximum I'll need is to drink a bit of water when waking up to not have any bad breath (not counting eating garlic previously etc)
And I'm not delusional about my breath, I have small children I can test it on and they'll tell the truth (they'll tell the truth unprompted if they think somebody's breath smells!)