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?

Wow, she needs to be on the news or Guinness book of records, has she eaten sugar?

@Jodes12 if that's to me, I'm 36. My parents both had mouthfuls of fillings, and one of my sisters has a few. I've really cleaned up my diet though - eat veggie whole foods and a lot of minerals, and take supplements, and have cut right back on sugar and acidic things. I'll never give up the wine though!

I do think much of it is genetic, and then diet.

DM, aged 92, drank nothing but coke all her life, never drank water, ever. Only started getting issues with her teeth aged 90! They then started to crumble, but you know, at 90, that's probably quite normal. She put it down to good Italian diet and calcium injections as a child.

I am quite lucky too. I have two retained baby teeth, still there aged 55. Brush twice a day, but never floss or mouth wash. Go to the dentist once every two years or so. Dentist says teeth in good order. Fingers crossed, so far, no issues.

I think it all depends on people’s teeth in general ! I brush 2x a day floss and rinse with mouthwash but I’m prone to infections with a wisdom tooth so I’m super careful with me teeth I have never had a filling thou I’m nearly 45 and my teeth are super white ! X

I have 3-4 hygiene appointments every year

Just seen this . I would say unless you have an issue, this is a money making exercise. I have never been to an hygienist, for example. My dentist gives me a quick clean and polish when I see him, every couple of years, and that's it. I do think some practices take advantage.

Some people do just have strong teeth....I'm not super meticulous with mine and haven't been to the dentist in a LONG time, but they give me no problems. My Mum on the other hand is far more fastidious about hers, and goes to the dentist twice a year, has spent thousands on her teeth, and has a lot of problems with them.

It's not all about individual behaviour.

Yes, I believe it's partly genetic. My dentist says so anyway. Passed down by the mother largely (gut flora etc..).

I floss, brush twice a day, use corsidol, Tee-Pees. Dentist & hygeinist visits 3 times a year and still I get cavities - always have.

My teeth seem to just shatter and buts break off. Ive had receding gums since I was 19.

Ive spent about £15,000 on cosmetic dentistry in 30 years. Implants, root canals, veneers, crowns, porcelain inlays, white fillings, bleaching ...

it's largely the legacy of pay per treatment dentistry in the 1970s and 1980s.

I brush 3x a day and floss 1-2 every day. Since i was a child i always had cavities. I think i dont have any teeth that haven't been fixed
My teeth look nice and are really white and you cant see that they have been fixed, i just dont understand why they arent perfect. My sister is the same.
My brother used to brush his teeth once a day at the most and he never had anything as a child/teenager (now i dont know). But i was always so jealous of him!

I realise i contradicted myself there.

The genetics mean you're pre-disposed to poor teeth but the dental care (or abuse) compounded it.

Floss was a product made in 1815 and doesn’t actually have any evidence to back its use. It’s more because it’s sn accepted practice rather than it actually makes a difference.
There is an argument that floss damages gums.

@Mypathtriedtokillme

Floss was a product made in 1815 and doesn’t actually have any evidence to back its use. It’s more because it’s sn accepted practice rather than it actually makes a difference. There is an argument that floss damages gums.

Interesting. My dentist actually said, he doesnt recommend floss any more.

I thought we were not supposed to floss anymore, just use interdental brushes.