Toothpaste/Teeth Brushing in general

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The issue with not brushing is that bacteria feeds off of the plaque and not only destroys your teeth but can also cause heart disease. This makes me paranoid and I cannot go to bed without brushing my teeth. I will literally lie awake thinking about my teeth if I am unable to brush them for whatever reason.

However, search around online. I'm pretty sure there was a study that showed that brushing without toothpaste was just as effective as brushing with it. As long as you brush enough to remove the plaque, you should be fine. How about flossing? I think you can get unflavored dental floss.

Flossing and brushing are different, though. Flossing gets rid of what's in between the teeth, brushing gets rid of what's on them.

You need both. And preferably also a mouthwash.

(Source: I am severely addicted to dental higiene - not a bad addiction to have, really!)

I use Crest Expressions Citrus Splash toothpaste. It tastes like Orange Crush to me.

Fluoride externally applied to teeth can't hurt them. Just don't eat too much of it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr2bSL5VQgM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1KvgtEnABY[/youtube]

I thought the bacteria feed off of the sugars and other compounds in your mouth and continue to feed and grow colonies which the plaque is made up of. The waste products of the bacteria are acids that can eat away at your teeth, more colonies of bacteria grow in the rotten areas of your teeth and the problem spirals out of control. I guess that's why when you wake up and have a film of plaque on your tongue it tastes kind of acidic and nasty.

I can't stand the taste in my mouth when I get up. I also can't stand the feeling of plaque on my teeth. I find the act of brushing very annoying too, but I'm afraid of not having a clean looking mouth. My teeth are slightly stained, but I try to keep the plaque off of them as much as possible. I'm always afraid of losing my teeth. I love mint, actually, but the flavoring in toothpaste is kind of crappy. I don't really like sweet toothpastes. The abrasive in most toothpastes is actually the shells of tiny microscopic diatoms. I sometimes don't brush my teeth before bed, but I *ALWAYS* do after I get up. It's been such a routine for me that I can't imagine not dong it. I'll never eat or drink anything but water without brushing my teeth and tongue in the morning. I also can't go without using Listerine in the morning after I brush.

*gasps*

You even know what diatoms are.

No wonder I like you.

Diatomaceous earth might actually be a good solution for the OP - if they can stand having their mouth fill up with mud!

It makes a good facepack.

Yes, that's probably what I meant. Thanks. xD Starchy foods are the worst for this.

I have SERIOUS issues with brushing my teeth.
I'm allergic to the mint (or whatever they use to make it minty) in most toothpastes and those I'm not allergic too still seem to trigger a psychosomatic response, I have bad reactions to sodium laurel sulphates in toothpastes, I had to use fruity toothpastes as a kid which made me sick, I have teeth damage from fluoride, gum damage from brushing too hard, and I had acid reflux that made brushing teeth horrific. Now I gag whenever I brush my teeth, in fact if I don't gag it doesn't feel like I've done a good enough job.

I point out despite my problems brushing my teeth I still have good teeth, fresh breath and no fillings

Suggestions;
- Different flavours; fruity, bicarb, sensitive toothpastes, sea salt flavour, fennel, or herbal toothpastes.
- Baking soda or cream of tartar - but be careful as these may effect enamel.
- Hydrogen peroxide - diluted.
- Use a miswak - see; http://www.miraclebrush.com
- Maybe make your own - bentonite clay may work.
- Alternatives, something like tea tree oil, neem powder, vine charcoal - all will have a taste, but depending on what taste you find unpleasant you may want to try different toothpaste alternatives to see if anything works better for you. I'm assuming you taste different flavours when eating, maybe it's just mint and the texture of toothpaste making your mind freak-out. Trying different things may also allow you a more manageable oral care routine that isn't as difficult for you as brushing your teeth with toothpaste.
- Don't use anything at all! If you brush well enough you may not need to use toothpaste at all - or if you want to be sure you could use something like a mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse after just to be sure. See the following;
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/toothpaste-phobia/

I'd like to throw in that I ignored my teeth for years, then a few years ago I was faced with peridonitis, my gums were rotten and my teeth were abcessing and falling out. After a four-hour operation, and then waiting several years for my jawbone to grow back I underwent a complete rebuild with crowns, bridges, implants, and plasticoating for the few original teeth left.

Now they are beautiful.................


$12,000 later..........

That sounds pretty accurate to me. I suppose there is a reason lions don't lose their teeth, but lions are carnivores. Humans can eat just about anything. Maybe there's a genetic aspect to it as well. Maybe some people just have strong teeth, just as some people are muscular mesomorphs, and some people have big dicks. I will say this. When my diet improved, my teeth stopped rotting. It may be a coincidence, but an interesting one at that.

how long do they (lions) live? :O

Do tortoises have teeth?

In Islam, we are taught that before we pray, we have to ritually clean our bodies, including mouth and teeth. For that we use what is called a Miswak, which is a stick from a tree that when frayed at the end results in looking liek the bristles of a toothbrush. The company can package them in flavors, but I just go for the natural kind. You can get them here: http://store.dar-us-salam.com/G_Prayer/G88.html

Diatoms were one of my more mild interests when I was in grade school.

Ok so I got a little overzealous. Shut up. You aren't better'n me.

Just another thought about clean teeth - does anyone else do the "squeak" test?

I once saw George Clooney do it in a movie called Intolerable Cruelty (I think his character was a bit OCD) and it struck me as both amusing and desirable. I've done it ever since.

You just rub your finger over your teeth once you've finished cleaning them. If they're fully clean, they squeak! It's really fun.