How often do you

brush your teeth and floss every day? I just had a really bad experience at the dentist after losing insurance for 7 years and I have always brushed my teeth twice a day but just wondering if i should do this more and how often i should floss. I know, strange question. Thanks guys

p.s. i definitely don't recommend getting any oral piercings. it totally screwed up my gums, i need to go for surgery now

Re: How often do you

I WAS flossing at night, but fell out of the habit. But I brush twice...once after breakfast and before bed.

Re: How often do you

I brush my teeth twice a day and typically floss daily. I am very big on dental care. I still wear my retainer to bed, years after getting my braces off.

Re: How often do you

I do not floss. It's terrible I know.

Re: How often do you

I brush my teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and use Listerine a few times a week.

I used to not be so careful, I'd eat sweets & not floss... and ended up with the worst pain & needing 2 root canals. So now I'm very into getting the sugar off my teeth (since I still love candy!)

Re: How often do you

I'm glad you're getting rid of your oral piercing, I've had so many patients mess up their teeth that way.

I would recommend brushing at LEAST twice a day and flossing at least once. Here's the thing, brushing for 30 seconds or a minute ( research shows the average adult brushes barely 45 seconds) doesn't get the job done. You should be brushing 2 to 3 minutes, gentle circles, with the brush angled at the gum line. If you want a fool proof way, invest in a good power toothbrush (not a SpinBrush--those things are crap) like Sonicare or Oral-B/Braun. I hope your hygienist showed you correct flossing technique.
Also, while Listerine is a good rinse it does not remove plaque from teeth. It kills bacteria( a.k.a plaque), it does not physically remove plaque that is adhered to your teeth. Please don't make the mistake so many of our patients do and think rinsing is "just as good as flossing".
And get your teeth cleaned every 6 months.
The first prophy (cleaning) is always the hardest after a long absence from the dentist.

I will now step down from my periodontal soapbox, I had a rough last patient. The garlic he ate last night and let fester in between his teeth all day was making me ill.

Re: How often do you

Not enough.

Re: How often do you

oh i took out my piercings like 4 years ago :-/ i had it from age 16-21 and it totally screwed my whole mouth up. i had a labret ring that did the most damage, then i had 2 lip rings at one point (one on each side) and i had 2 tongue rings in but i had a keiloid (sp?) so i had to take it out. she spent like an hour doing the cleaning. it was horrible :(

since i've been there, i've still been brushing my teeth twice a day but have been brushing for about 2 minutes now (used to be like 45 seconds, i'm guilty!!) i've been flossing twice a day and didn't know if that was too much. my teeth where my gums are messed up are so sensitive and hurt. i did also eat an apple today and yesterday so i feel like killing my teeth. thanks so much for the advice! i've been so lazy in the past and just never cared. It's horrifying to know how much bacteria i've been swallowing that the baby has been exposed to! now i wanna get braces since i never had them when i was younger.

Re: How often do you

brush 2x/day and floss 1x/day

Re: How often do you

twice a day.

if you're pregnant, your teeth & gums are going to be WAY MORE sensitive...

Re: How often do you

oh yeah, they're terrible. i would bleed the second the toothbrush hit my teeth/gums but ever since the cleaning, it barely bleeds unless i'm flossing.

Re: How often do you

Re: How often do you

Posted by SuchIsLife


I will now step down from my periodontal soapbox, I had a rough last patient. The garlic he ate last night and let fester in between his teeth all day was making me ill.

Re: How often do you

Re: How often do you

Generally I brush twice a day and floss a couple times a week. I know I should floss every day, but I tend to forget.

Re: How often do you

Brush 2x a day

Floss in the morning

Use listerine in the morning

Re: How often do you

I brush 2-3 times a day. I dont floss as often as I should though...my dentist always yells at me for that

Re: How often do you

Brush 2-3x a day. Floss and rinse with listerine at night.

Re: How often do you

floss 1x a day and brush 2 x at night I brush with a prescription flouride toothpaste.

Re: How often do you

The most important thing is to not SCRUB your teeth with the toothbrush - that can damage your gums, or saw away with the floss - you have to wrap the floss around and under each tooth, and use a soft toothbrush and work into the gums, not brush vigorously....