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Hi Guys,
I am asking this question because I think I may be going overboard. My ortho told me that I should be brushing 3 times a day, well for me I did this pre braces so this was not anything new. Nowdays I am brushing 6 to 7 even eights times in one day. Also I use a peroxide based mouthwash twice a day and floss 1 to 2 times a day. Is this to much and how many times a day do you brush?
I don't have my braces on yet but this sounds like way too much to me - too much brushing can lead to gum recession and you don't want that! Also, if it's a fluoride mouthwash, all that fluoride can lead to problems (google fluoridosis).
Brush three times a day, and only use mouthwash once if you can. It's quality over quantity when it comes to brushing, really.
I'd be slightly worried about gum recession in your case as well. I try to brush after every meal, though sometimes after lunch I'm not able to get to brush my teeth. I always use the proxy brushes between the brackets and floss in the evening. I'm using a Sonicare for my morning and evening brushings, and also at lunch time if I'm home.
When I had braces I brushed at least 4 times a day. Now, 2-3 times a day.
I had a tendency when I had braces of brushing too hard so my dentist recommended I switch to soft bristle and that helped. Now I use Sonicare so it matters less and my gums are healthier.
3-4 times a day most of the time. I brush after every meal and before bed generally (unless I had a late dinner and then after dinner is before bed brushing). Only once per day for mouthwash or flossing. I have to say having braces is making me eat less only to cut down on dental care time!
That definitely sounds like excessive brushing to me!
Once in the morning, after lunch (with mouthwash) (after dinner if I am going out (even just to the gym), and right before bed.
So that is 3-4x a day. I floss, use my waterpik and a flouride mouthwash before bed.
I love the feeling of a freshly cleaned mouth. It really makes a difference if I don't brush after a meal, I can't stand it, I feel like I can taste metal in my mouth plus my mouth tends to get dry.
After lunch is always a must for me, even before I had my braces I would brush. I really wish some of my co-workers would brush after lunch. I would hate if people thought that about it.
You should wait at least an hour before you brush your teeth after meals. There were several posts about brushing after eating and how it can destroy your enamel or something. I only brush twice a day sometimes 3 times depending on if I have time. Between brushings I use my waterpik and so far no problems. I just got my cleaning 2 weeks ago and the hygienist says that my teeth are doing well.
Braced for 23 months 1 week and 3 days!
I had 4 extractions and all my wisdom teeth removed.
I decided to get removal retainers so it will be easier to floss.
Hi guys thanks so much for your advise and imput. I will try and cut back on the brushing and rinse in between meals. I just dont like the idea of food being stuck on my braces and even worse someone seeing this!
I have never eaten together with somebody who has "normal" braces - I have In-Ovation C and food doesn't really get stuck, so I brush morning, sometimes after lunch, and before bed. Don't use waterpick and can't floss.
My ortho gave me an A- ok a week ago, so I guess I'm good.
Still, every time I read one of this posts, I add a brush a day for the next few days
I brush morning, noon (after lunch) and nighttime before bed. In between those times I swish with water or mouthwash and use the little fuzzy brush thing to clean my brackets.
I'm debating on investing in a sonicare but I can't quite bring myself to spend that kind of money when I already get good results from my regular manual toothbrush.
bookfairy wrote: ... I have In-Ovation C and food doesn't really get stuck ...
Sorry if I'm going a bit OT here but this intrigued me! How do you not get food stuck in InOvation Cs?? I've had them for nearly 2 years and I haven't mastered that trick yet
SARPE: Sept 2007 Braced: May 2008 BSSO: Nov 2010 Debraced: March 2011
By "doesn't get stuck" I mean that if I drink something with my meal, I don't have to run to brush my teeth before I start opening my mouth in public. I can just slosh the water around in my mouth a bit and the food is gone.
I am only assuming here that others have more problems with it, since a lot of people are talking about their much beloved waterpick and it's qualities.
But as I mentioned, I have never eaten with another braced person before, so I don't have a model for comparison!
And I do only have upper braces so far, maybe that is the secret?!?
Now I feel like I've insulted you, you know, you having them for so long, and then a freshling like me comes along and is acting all smartypants...
