How many times a day do you brush?

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#16 Post by **orangeracer** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:18 pm

4x a day, which is what my braces care sheet recommends. I was already doing 3x so it wasn't a big change for me.

when I get up, pulsonic then act rise after breakfast

after lunch, manual brush

after dinner, floss then pulsonic

before bed, manual brush and phos-flur rinse

waterpik or proxy brush as needed for food chunks

#17 Post by **VA5** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:35 am

I don't know which model it is, but it's a chargeable "Waterpik".. it has an ac adapter charger, so that when I use it I don't have a cord dangling, and I suppose I could bring it with me places but it's kind of big, so I haven't yet.

#18 Post by **Lisa43947** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:49 pm

When I got my braces on in January 2009, my ortho told me to brush 6 times a day! I have never brushed that many times a day in my life. I brush 2-3 times a day.

#19 Post by **.melski.** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 3:00 am

It's funny the discrepancy between what is recommended. I have been told multiple times by my orthodontist that brushing twice a day is fine. So I brush in the morning after breakfast, then after dinner/before bed and floss. The only thing I do at lunch is pick out any food caught in my braces with an inter-dental brush. No waterpik, no excessive flossing, nada. Get checked by the hygienist at every appointment and they're fine with that routine (and recommended it!)

#20 Post by **luchababe** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 4:50 am

Imagine brushing 6 times a day! Might as well have your toothbrush on a chain around your neck.

I have a feel I'll be able to relax soon about my brushing routine. I think how often I brush will end up depending on what I've eaten, if it was sugary and how much is still stuck in my teeth. I don't want to wear away my enamel and gums thinking I'm doing a good thing!

#21 Post by **EstelleDeParis** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:04 am

I brush each and every time I eat.

So it can vary from 4 to 6 times a day or more.

#22 Post by **Chicagogal** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:13 am

ashesgap wrote:In the morning I use my Oral-B then a kids brush for the top and bottom of the brackets then the RediBreeze. Then after any eating anytime during the day I use the RediBreeze (like a WaterPik). Then at night I floss, RediBreeze, Oral-B, kids brush, two sizes of proxabrushes, RediBreeze again then Listerine.
Its a lot of work, but i think it'll pay off in the end. I'm 100% sure I won't have any of those sad little white spots all over my teeth at the end of treatment.
The kids brush is great for those back bracket that have the elastics hooks, which are sometimes hard to get under.

now investigating this redibreeze. I'll check the do-dads forum as well, but was wondering if you need really high water pressure for that device to work? i don't have counter space for a waterpik.

#23 Post by **ashesgap** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:32 am

Chicagogal wrote:
ashesgap wrote:In the morning I use my Oral-B then a kids brush for the top and bottom of the brackets then the RediBreeze. Then after any eating anytime during the day I use the RediBreeze (like a WaterPik). Then at night I floss, RediBreeze, Oral-B, kids brush, two sizes of proxabrushes, RediBreeze again then Listerine.
Its a lot of work, but i think it'll pay off in the end. I'm 100% sure I won't have any of those sad little white spots all over my teeth at the end of treatment.
The kids brush is great for those back bracket that have the elastics hooks, which are sometimes hard to get under.
now investigating this redibreeze. I'll check the do-dads forum as well, but was wondering if you need really high water pressure for that device to work? i don't have counter space for a waterpik.

No i don't think so. As long as water is coming out it should spray just fine. The higher you turn up the water the harder it sprays. But i can't say for sure, since i have semi good water pressure. I have no counter space at all, so this is all i could buy. I actually love it.

#24 Post by **GeenBug** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 4:09 pm

I usually brush after every meal. I wait anywhere from half hour to an hour before brushing. If i can't do it at work because of time, I drink lots of water, rinse and swoosh the water around my mouth a couple of times and that gets rid of any residue or whatever's hanging around. I bought an electric toothbrush about a month ago and it's just heaven-sent. I've been using it twice daily, but now just once, at night. I use the manual toothbrush during the day and the electric one at night.

#25 Post by **felicia** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:17 pm

I got debraced more than a week ago. Towards the end of my treatment, I became lazy, and some days I only brushed twice.
Now I have retainers, so I am being a good girl again, I brush after every meal, 3-4 times a day.

#26 Post by **naijaman** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:33 pm

I brush twice a day...right after breakfast and right before going to bed at night. During the day I just rinse a lot after snacking or lunch and use my rotadent picks to pluck out any debris.

#27 Post by **bb2811** » Fri Nov 05, 2010 10:18 pm

I brush twice a day - once after breakfast and once after dinner. My ortho and dental hygenist don't think flossing is necessary - I just use the pixster brushes at night. For lunch I use a little pixter brush to make sure there isn't any food hanging around. I also use high-flouride mouthwash - the ortho is happy with how clean my teeth are - lucky because I don't think I could face doing anymore!