• ch00f@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    I floss and electric toothbrush every night. My dentist routinely complements my hygiene. Every cavity I’ve had filled in the past 8 years started from before I had an e-brush.

    At a recent visit after remarking on how little plaque I had, my dentist asked if I brush twice a day. I told him no, only once a day.

    He immediately changed his tune and told me that I should brush twice a day for better results.

    I think he’s in the pocket of Big Paste.

    • QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Healthy teeth have a lot to do with genetics too. I’m a once/day brushed (with a powered brush) and never flush unless something’s stuck in my teeth and I don’t get cavities or have other teeth and mouth problems. My wife brushes twice a day, flosses, and uses mouth wash, and has had 12 root canals, and has cavities 25% of the time she gets her cleanings done.

      There are two other main differences between us. She loves sugar and I’d prefer anything salty. I’m sure this isn’t helping her and is helping me since sugar is our mouths’ enemy.

      • TheTechnician27@lemmy.worldOP
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        7 days ago

        The sugar is honestly probably the biggest factor here. Plaque is just bacteria poop, and giving them a bunch of sugar is basically speedrunning their growth and telling them to produce as much poop as they possibly can.

        • QuarterSwede@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          What I left out is that I don’t know anyone in my family with teeth issues and she definitely does. Her mother had garbage teeth as does her father. But yeah, sugar is bad for you period.

    • JimmyChanga@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Not brushing in the morning and at night is noodling my melon. Always brushed twice a day, floss at night. Surely you have morning breath everyday?

      • ch00f@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        Not really. Mouthwash as well before bed. Never struggle with odor. And I wear a night guard to boot.

        Edit: oh and a tongue scraper helps

        • GiuseppeAndTheYeti@midwest.social
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          7 days ago

          Morning breath is caused by bacteria replicating overnight so even if you use mouthwash and a tongue scraper before bed, I promise you have morning breath. I’ve tested it myself with my wife by doing all sorts of hygiene before bed. Floss, water rince, tongue cleaning, brush, then mouthwash but still my breath smelled in the morning. Its just a fact of reality. Please brush your teeth in the morning for those of us that end up smelling your breath.

          • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world
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            7 days ago

            People have wildly varying body chemistry. Your experience is not everyone’s experience.

            I am like him and have had that experience confirmed by numerous romantic partners over the decades.

    • chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz
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      7 days ago

      I also only brush at night with an electric toothbrush and get the same compliments from my dentist. I also keep plackers at my desk (work from home) and use them regularly. Although I’ve never told my dentist I only brush at night.

      I think one thing that helps is my toothbrush does a pattern at 30 second intervals so I brush for a total of 2 minutes every time hitting each quadrant relatively evenly.

      The first time I used this toothbrush, I was floored by how much cleaner my teeth felt.

    • prenatal_confusion@feddit.org
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      7 days ago

      I brush with a regular brush in the morning (if I don’t have to leave the house sometimes I don’t), have perfect teeth and get compliments from my dentist.

      Flossing is another story. She notices.