Honestly, do you brush after EVERY single meal?

[elpi]

No I don't brush after every meal either. I do proper brushes morning and night and usually a quick brush once or twice in the day and I never floss at all since I got my braces cos my orthodontist and hygienist said it was okay not to.

I do avoid soda totally and sugary foods / fruit juices for the most part. So far no problems with decay *fingers crossed*

[lindesd]

No I don't brush after every meal either. I do proper brushes morning and night and usually a quick brush once or twice in the day and I never floss at all since I got my braces cos my orthodontist and hygienist said it was okay not to.

I do avoid soda totally and sugary foods / fruit juices for the most part. So far no problems with decay *fingers crossed*

Your ortho said you didn't have to floss? What was his reason for that? I ask, because I haven't been flossing and feel nervous about it. But the whole flossing ordeal just drives me crazy right now!!!

[sparkles]

lindesd don't know if this any help but I never floss either.
The hygienist I see told me to use toothbrush and toothpaste for normal brushing, then to use interdental brushes inbetween my teeth.
Works for me, flossing and me have never got on.

[lueyfufu]

lindesd: My ortho said not to bother with flossing, too. It's such a pain that you eventually get sick of it and quit anyway. He suggested using an oral irrigator (Water Pik or Oral Breeze) instead.

[chasandrico]

I too limit what I eat because of having to brush after I eat. But I do eat 3 meals a day, the braces have just helped me to not snack as much during the day (which is good ) I only floss, and use mouth wash at night just before bed. I will be getting a waterpik in the next few weeks. I just want to research a little to make sure I'm getting a good one.

[saycheeese]

If I'm at home, then yeah I try and brush after every meal, but if I eat out, then no, I just wash my mouth out with water, ain't too keen on brushing my teeth in public toilets lol

[KARESS]

I used to brush after every meal
Now I just brush in the morning and at night.
LOL!
and i floss every now & then..like once a month.
Yep..so lazy
but my teeth are nice..i promise.

[funshine]

Morning and night for sure and usually lunch, and maybe one other time during the day. It bothers me to have stuff stuck in my teeth so I'd rather just brush and get it out.

[elpi]

Your ortho said you didn't have to floss? What was his reason for that? I ask, because I haven't been flossing and feel nervous about it. But the whole flossing ordeal just drives me crazy right now!!!

I think in the UK dentists are not so pro-flossing as over in the US, they seem to accept that it's too much hassle with braces so don't bother. I *always* flossed before braces, but I'm happy not to now as my teeth / gums are still in good condition.

I will go back to flossing when they're off though

[Whitters]

I brush my teeth after every meal. Usually I feel uncomfortable if I don't brush
Because of this I have cut down on snacking in between meals. Usually I have a snack with my breakfast and lunch and I'll eat something in the evening too... So usually I'll brush about 3 times per day.

[artroxu]

My Ortho stresses flossing but after the first month I've only done it like once a month. Every adjustment I ask him how my teeth look as far as hygene and he says they look great. As I said in an earlier post I brush very well morning and before bed and most of the time use biotene mouthwash after. But I almost never floss, and my ortho says my teeth look "great" so I'm not concerned. I go in for a dental cleaning in 1 week so I'll get their opinion too. I've been thinking about getting a water pik though. *shrugs*