to wonder how tooth decay isn't much more common

[Pixi47]

So many people I see/lived with never floss and spend about a minute quick brushing their teeth. So many of my mates say they never floss either.I meticulously brush my teeth[at least 3 minutes each time] twice a day with electric brush and floss as well as rinsing an hour after brushing. What's your routine?

Think you need to get a hobby that doesn’t include monitoring friends brushing habits and timing them. Bet you are a riot at parties

Fluoride in the water

Some people just have strong teeth

Erm good for you.

It is common.

My dentist told me it's down to your saliva. If you don't have fillings by 25, you're likely to not need any until you're "old" (I don't know how old - I didn't ask)

I've never had anything wrong with my teeth, fillings etc and I just brush, rarely floss, eat loads of sugar etc.

I couldn't give a crap what anyone else does, unless I'm planning to kiss them!

I kind of wonder this too! Not so much knowing who brushes when or how many times, but I often think that now we have electric toothbrushes this must have improved a lot of dental health at population level - but then loads of people don't use electric brushes!

I brush twice a day, sometimes three times. Floss a few times a week. I know it should be every day.

I thought it was because of water fluoridation. I'm not overly scrupulous with mouthwash and flossing and I've never had a filling.

I think there are many many external factors. My mum was scrupulous with dental hygiene, I've always brushed for two minutes twice a day, floss, watch sugar and acidic food/ drink intake, regular dentist check ups. DH swishes a toothbrush round twice a day and doesn't go to the dentist for YEARS between check ups, drinks fizzy drinks daily. I have several fillings, two teeth removed and issues with enamel (teeth get "painted" with orangey stuff every so often), sensitive teeth, slight yellowing. DH has perfect white teeth, no fillings, nothing. Go figure.

It is common

Stopped using our electric toothbrush as it seemed to take two bloody days to charge
I do think some people just have better teeth than others

1. Sugar.

1. Proper brushing.

Simple.

My teeth were fine until I had three babies in 3.5 years and breast fed continually for 6 years. They are utterly knackered and so weak now

I think it's mostly genetic. My half sister takes meticulous care of her teeth, rarely drinks fizzy drinks, always brushes before bed. I live on diet coke, I'm ashamed to say I often go to bed without bothering, eat lots of acidic fruit- my teeth are fine.

I live somewhere that doesn't have fluoride in the water. I brush faithfully day and night, I floss. I don't eat sweets all day long and generally don't snack between meals. I never miss a checkup at the dentist. Despite this, I have over the past couple of years had the most horrendous tooth problems, resulting in losing two teeth and having several others filled. I know people who haven't been to the dentist in 20 years and haven't had any pain at all. Even the dentist said to me recently that I was doing absolutely everything that it's possible to do but it's still not enough to save my teeth.

So, in short, I'm going with 'its the luck of the draw'.

I've never flossed my teeth in my life. My dentist says my teeth are perfect. I've never needed anything more than a bit of plaque removal.

Eta: My mother said it was because she ate a lot of hard cheese when she was pregnant with me.

My dentist reckons it’s purely down to pot luck. Some people have good teeth some don’t. I’m lucky.

I 'fess I never saw a dentist till I was about 8, I don't remember cleaning my teeth before that either. We were very poor and life was a little chaotic. Although it was a time when we used to get yearly dental checks and termly Nitty Nora inspections in school.
Anyway, I never needed any kind of dental attention other than check ups until I was nearly 50. Then I needed a filling and that was scary.
My mother always said that my habit of going to bed with a glass of milk and a lump of Cheddar had neutralised any acid on my teeth and that was why they had lasted so well.
Nowadays I am slightly paranoid about dental hygiene and have an array of toothpastes that I rotate use of, a very expensive electric sonic death ray toothbrush and enough TeePee brushes to open a stall, mouthwash in a rainbow of different colours, little scrubbit things for any stains, a whole drawer full of gear in the bathroom.

I think lot comes down to genetics & saliva quality. I've a full set, never flossed & didn't go to the dentist for about 10yrs, still only needed scale & polish. I don't often have fizzy drinks or fruit but can certainly chomp through sugary foods & sometimes forget to clean teeth at night if I'm tired.

So if you work in an office and only drink water from the cooler or bottled mineral water you're getting a lot less fluoride than if you drank tap water at home? This never occurred to me before.

Fluoride in water and toothpaste.

@TheGinGenie

My dentist told me it's down to your saliva. If you don't have fillings by 25, you're likely to not need any until you're "old" (I don't know how old - I didn't ask)

I've never had anything wrong with my teeth, fillings etc and I just brush, rarely floss, eat loads of sugar etc.

I couldn't give a crap what anyone else does, unless I'm planning to kiss them!

I wish that was true for me. No filling until my 30s. Have about 3 fillings and 1 root canal. Since lickdown I've broken 4 teeth

Lockdown damn auto correct

I'm 64, healthy teeth & gums, don't floss
but I never snack either and I drink lots of water

Not sure it's genetic, but if so from my mum's side - my dad had full dentures in his late 40s as did his brother

You might be fine when younger but poor dental care comes back to bite you when you are older. That was me - never visited a dentist for decades - all good. Since my 40s, I have had a root canal, countless crowns, 1 dental implant, now looking at another crown done.

Even if your teeth are fine, your gums may not. Lack of flossing and poor oral care can lead to chronic gum inflammation, which is a risk factor for heart disease, strokes and even pneumonia/covid.