Metal Mouth Message Board

I've been looking on the internet trying to find how soon after eating you should brush. I've seem many different opinions ranging from 20 minutes to an hour. I have a sweet tooth but am restricting myself to a few squares of chocolate with lunch and dinner. No snacking and only water if I'm thirsty between meals. So, how long should we wait after eating before brushing?

Ciara

I try to leave it for a bit just encase I fancy snacking on something after dinner (most likely ice cream). But I try not to leave it for longer than an hour, and I always rinse with water after I've eaten.

All I drink is water so maybe that is just a habit anyway..

Lizzie365 wrote:I try to leave it for a bit just encase I fancy snacking on something after dinner (most likely ice cream). But I try not to leave it for longer than an hour, and I always rinse with water after I've eaten.

All I drink is water so maybe that is just a habit anyway..

Thanks, Lizzie! I never leave it longer than an hour, usually less than 30 minutes. I've been trying to cut back on the amount of coffee and tea I drink. Drinking all that water must be very good for you!
Ciara

I'm probably really bad. I just swish with water and then leave it until I'm due to brush them anyway

My daughter's have been on for 10 months and she only brushes twice a day (honestly, I suspect sometimes it's one) and she's had no cavities and the dentist AND orthodontist keep telling her what a good job she's doing. If I have fizzy drink (rare occasion) I'll brush within 20 minutes though. Somehow it feels wose (probably not, but it feels it!).

Just curious..does anyone use the water pik system? If so, how do you like it?

missivy wrote:Just curious..does anyone use the water pik system? If so, how do you like it?

I use it. It is absolutely wonderful for getting food out of braces. Also, when teeth are a bit sensitive after and adjustment and flossing would be painful, my water pik is wonderful.

Ciara

missivy wrote:Just curious..does anyone use the water pik system? If so, how do you like it?

I use it. It is absolutely wonderful for getting food out of braces. Also, when teeth are a bit sensitive after and adjustment and flossing would be painful, my water pik is wonderful.

Ciara

Tobilei wrote:I'm probably really bad. I just swish with water and then leave it until I'm due to brush them anyway

My daughter's have been on for 10 months and she only brushes twice a day (honestly, I suspect sometimes it's one) and she's had no cavities and the dentist AND orthodontist keep telling her what a good job she's doing. If I have fizzy drink (rare occasion) I'll brush within 20 minutes though. Somehow it feels wose (probably not, but it feels it!).

Well, this makes me feel much better. I was worrying that I wasn't brushing enough. I guess I can relax a bit.

Ciara

Ciara wrote:

Tobilei wrote:I'm probably really bad. I just swish with water and then leave it until I'm due to brush them anyway

My daughter's have been on for 10 months and she only brushes twice a day (honestly, I suspect sometimes it's one) and she's had no cavities and the dentist AND orthodontist keep telling her what a good job she's doing. If I have fizzy drink (rare occasion) I'll brush within 20 minutes though. Somehow it feels wose (probably not, but it feels it!).

Well, this makes me feel much better. I was worrying that I wasn't brushing enough. I guess I can relax a bit.

Ciara

My little brother had them a few years ago for almost 3 years and due to work could only brush twice a day the whole time. He was fine too

Tobilei wrote:

Ciara wrote:

Tobilei wrote:I'm probably really bad. I just swish with water and then leave it until I'm due to brush them anyway

My daughter's have been on for 10 months and she only brushes twice a day (honestly, I suspect sometimes it's one) and she's had no cavities and the dentist AND orthodontist keep telling her what a good job she's doing. If I have fizzy drink (rare occasion) I'll brush within 20 minutes though. Somehow it feels wose (probably not, but it feels it!).

Well, this makes me feel much better. I was worrying that I wasn't brushing enough. I guess I can relax a bit.

Ciara

My little brother had them a few years ago for almost 3 years and due to work could only brush twice a day the whole time. He was fine too

Good to know. I just used one of those plaque disclosing tablets I got from dentakit. It took me 20 minutes to get everything stained either pink or blue off. The good point is that it was mostly pink not blue. Oh, and my waterpik did remove most (90%+) of the staining between my teeth.

Ciara

Oh I hated those! I tried one once and despite scrubbing so much my gums hurt like crazy I still had pink braces! (and hot pink gums). It took 24 hours for it to finally all brush off. I've not wanted to use one again.

Glad it told you you're doing a good job Mine didn't have any real dark patches (where I'd missed anything) so I just continue to assume I'm doing an okay job of it

I only brush twice a day too. I'm really slack and I know it. My ortho said my teeth look fine and they don't feel dirty so until i'm told otherwise, twice a day it is!

30withbraces wrote:I only brush twice a day too. I'm really slack and I know it. My ortho said my teeth look fine and they don't feel dirty so until i'm told otherwise, twice a day it is!

Glad it's not just me who skips the lunch brush sometimes

no longer than an hour

I think most of us brush really carefully up to 6 times a day for the first few weeks, then we slack off a bit. I still try for 3 times a day though but I swish with water instead if I go out. My fiance had braces as a teen and brushed twice (and sometimes once) a day and was fine, so it's possible but I'm not going to rely on my luck too much! I really like my waterpik too