Taking care of teeth.

This is kind of embarrassing but I really struggle to take care of my teeth with regular brushing and flossing.

So I'm going to use this thread to track how well I do with brushing and flossing once/day going forward.

I'm hoping posting it publicly will help me stay on track.

I'll be interested in following your thread. Flossing is my Achille's Heal.

I loooooove flossing. The trick is to do it while you are sitting and say watching tv. Maybe brush your teeth first so you dont have big chunks, but i dont usually have this problem. Sitting down your back wont hurt and you wont be leaning towards the mirror. Keep the floss handy next to the tv remote!

Also, you know you wrap it around your two middle fingers, then guide it using the index fingers.

Hopefully following for help with my brushing.

Flossed last night, but didn't manage to brush. Shooting for both today.

I like to floss and then brush while in the shower. I don't feel rushed and it fits in with cleaning up and taking care of my physical person.

I'm also known for wandering around the house while brushing my teeth. No need to stand in front of the sink rather than do something else. Multitasking. Sort junkmail, refill the cat bowl, unload part of the dishwasher, etc.

I heard of a trick which helps me floss. Instead of winding the floss around your fingers, make a circle the size of all the floss you will need, and move down the circle as you floss each tooth.

Also I use the picks and just wipe the floss with a tissue as I go.

Well, didn't manage to brush, floss yesterday. I've got to try to do it earlier in the evening, as last night I fell asleep before I did it.

I have to put 3 different eyedrops in, in the morning and night, with at least 5 minutes between each, so that is helping me set a routine. Like i brush in between drops. They say the best way is to link new activities to old ones. I need some sweet self-care routines. My elbows look like a t-rex.

Another day fail - didn't manage to brush or floss yesterday.

I think this is a great thread, well done for taking responsibility and trying to change, that’s incredible

I too struggle with self care at times. Especially when I’m low (currently). So I hope you don’t feel alone!

Yesterday was a better day. Managed to both brush and floss, so that feels good.

Yesterday I managed to brush but not floss. I'm still counting it as progress.

I struggle with it too. You're not alone.

Been offline as my computer died and this site is hard to access on my phone. I'm currently at work. I'm doing better but still not great. I'm at least brushing every other night, and flossing about every 4'th night. Really need to get on this

I think you're doing really well! I keep a few flossers in my pocket and use them while doing training at the computer. I sometimes skip brushing at night because it invigorates me and then I get the urge to stay up too late. I'd prefer to drop into bed as soon as I'm done with night-time chores.

Managed to both brush and floss yesterday, so it was a win.

I'm so happy to see this thread, though I'm sorry you struggle with this as well. I struggle with this a LOT. The past few days though I've managed to brush and floss three times a day.

I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday to get some fillings

I'm gonna keep posting in here because I feel it will motivate me

Great job!

I overslept and missed brushing my teeth this morning. But am gonna do it this afternoon and also before bed

I’m also trying to cut back on coffee due to the acidity in it not being good for tooth enamel

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Managed to brush but not floss yesterday. Shooting for both today

I went to the dentist today. Turns out I didn’t need a filling they thought I did. So they just repaired a chipped front tooth while I was there. Looks a lot better now. Have an appointment in July to get my 7 year old crown replaced

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@Blue_Bird I'm glad you didn't need a filling.

Well the past 2 days have been a bust. I'm really struggling with what my mental block around this is.

I’m sorry you’re struggling, the good thing though is that you’re trying to incorporate the habit, that’s the first step it takes time, you will get there

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For 30 minutes after brushing, nothing, including water, should be in the mouth. This allows fluoride to work. So brushing in the shower is not ideal.

I brush and then wipe my mouth with a paper towel. It is important not to rinse the mouth with water after brushing, again, to let the fluoride do its work.

I also alternate between two kinds of fluoride, sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride. You can buy toothpaste with one or the other OTC, but for sodium fluoride, I use prescription strength toothpaste. My dentist has endorsed my practice of alternating between sodium and stannous fluoride.

I am too tired in the evening so I have my oral care routine in the morning. Immediately upon waking up, I floss very carefully, then use a tongue scraper, then brush with an electric brush for two minutes, wipe my mouth with a paper towel and set the timer on my microwave for 30 minutes. During that time, I usually apply the sunscreen booster, then sunscreen, then go for a slow walk around the apartment complex. This way I get the morning sunlight which is supposed to really help with the sleep-wake cycle, and I also love it. When I am back, usually 30 minutes have passed and I can make my coffee and if I have time for it, cook breakfast.

Ideally I would brush twice a day but I am too tired in the evening. And I have done extensive research into this and found out that brushing once a day is enough. As for flossing, there is a 24 hour cycle to plaque formation so if you floss once in a 24 hour period, you break this cycle and that is all that is needed.

My dentist says that my gums can be displayed at an exhibition, so the ritual I have developed works very well.

More than 10 years ago there was a time when I simply could not make myself floss. But I was at a very low point. I have a far healthier mouth now than I did a decade ago.