Tuesday, 09 December 2008

  • How Clean Is Your Mouth?

    I was watching a special on Britain's worst teeth (not cute), and I immediately wanted to make a dentist's appointment. How often will you find someone saying that?

    In all seriousness, the mouth is an important device -- for communicating, kissing, etc., etc. Why don't people take better care of it?

    Like how many people actually floss? And do you really change your toothbrush every 3 months? I thought I was a good person because I use Scope everyday. Apparently, it doesn't do anything, except leave your mouth feeling minty fresh.

    My friend used Crest Whitening Strips, until her gums started to burn. This is apparently not a dangerous reaction. She kept at it. That stuff strips the enamel off your teeth, but no one seems to care.

    I admit. I've used tooth whitening products. Colgate's Simply White whitening gel worked, but then I started drinking coffee. I wasn't thinking about my stripped enamel either.

    Do we always go for beauty over function, to make them look better rather than to protect them?

    How often do you floss? Change your toothbrush? Have you tried tooth whitening products? Does it worry you that such products actually damage your teeth?

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Comments (38)

  • Random_Goldfish@xanga

    I do floss! A rare breed of human! I however, don't get a new a toothbrush as often as I should. I use tooth strengthing mouthwash...I floss and brush twice a day so everyone made fun of me and was shocked when I got my first cavity, 18 years in. I quote my dentist, "Your teeth have deep grooves in them which probably led to the cavity, use a stiffer tooth brush and a mouthwash that stengthens teeth" Hence my mouthwash! I used a teeth whitening kit once...I don't see what the big deal is, haha!

  • my_final_username@xanga

    I do  panic quite a bit with my teeth,   I got a nasty overbite which makes cleaning a lot harder (I think I got about 3 different toothbrushes)


    I changed my manual toothbrush once a month,   electric toothbrush head every three months (sometimes more often)  I been using the electric toothbrush for the last 14 years.


    I have been using mouthwash for the last few years,     my dentist have given me some special toothbrush which has helped.


    I worry about flossing,   because of my coordination I am more likely to slip.   I have tried toothpaste with added whitening made a little bit of different but scared to overuse it.
  • skillusionz@xanga

    I saw that show on BBC. *cringe* no offense to the Brits. 

    I used to have braces and since I wanted them off as soon as possible I would floss and brush like a maniac. I got so used to that routine I still do it now that my braces are off. And a clean mouth is a kissable mouth. 
  • shes_lump@xanga

    I brush my teeth twice a day, sometimes floss and have only used crest white strips a few times (like 4). My teeth at least are very straight because I was fortunate to have been able to have braces and I wore my retainer for 2.5 years. So they have stayed straight. Perfectly. No joke. Anyway, I wish my teeth were whiter but I drink a lot of coffee and tea

  • GirlMeetsWorld0407@xanga

    Honestly, I never floss.  And I just changed my toothbrush out 2 days ago after having the same one for over 6 months.  It made my gums bleed having such a stiff toothbrush! I don't use teeth whitening products because as you mentioned, they strip your enamel.  I do use "whitening" toothpastes though.  But they aren't harsh on your teeth like whitening strips or gels.
  • sWiMpRiNcEsS@xanga

    i floss every night, brush twice a day. i change my toothbrush when the blue indicator turns white lol.....i guess u could say thats about 3 months?

    i've whitened my teeth twice.....last time i used it was about 3 years ago. but i didnt know it strips away at your enamel O_O
  • kash

    I've tried the whitening toothpaste last year.  It didn't do anything so I stopped buying it.

    I just stick to brushing, occasional flossing and Crest Mouthwash (less intense than Listerine)
  • peacelove__CALLIE@xanga

    I brush my teeth 2-3 times a day, floss after brushing AND eating, and after I floss I rinse with Listerine to actually remove the stuff that I flossed out. You cant just spit out what you floss out, you need to rinse. I have used the crest whitestripes, and they did work for me. My dentist told me its ok to use them, but only once per year or so. I have only used them once and not even the full course. My teeth are pretty white anyway. Oh, and I change my toothbrush every 3 months, but I boil it once a month, or I change it if I have been sick.

    I am also one of the rare people born with perfect teeth. The only good gene I got from my dad.

  • psycho_ash@xanga

    I rarely floss, but I do change my toothbrush pretty often - about every three months or so. I've never used whitening stuff...

  • jedi_girl3@xanga

    i actually change my toothbrush more frequently than every three months. i usually do it every 1.5 to 2 months. i don't floss as much as i should, though. i only do it when i feel like i have stuff stuck between my teeth. i don't like doing it because often the floss itself gets stuck and then i can't get it out, which is obnoxious. (my teeth are not very straight; i think this may be why.) i've never tried tooth whitening products aside from just toothpaste that's labeled as "whitening", but now i think i'll avoid even that! O_O
  • Cow_chan@xanga

    I bet most people go for beauty over function under the influence of society. not to mention beauty is something to show off where as function isn't. I admit I love beauty but as my body start to deteriorate given I am only an  21 guy, I start thinking that function is the better choice to go by.

    Realized the truth behind many faked physical beauty, it is more important to have something more tangible. Coz after all, physical beauty is only one kind of beauty amount many.

    p.s. I floss everyday~
  • jupiter312@xanga

    I change my toothbrush on average about once a month because I chew on it and the bristles get flattened.  Nervous habit =)
  • kmiahali

    i change my toothbrush every few months maybe 5-6. i just know when it gets dirty. i have this gut feeling there are thousands of germs crawling around on it. 
  • kmiahali

    also use Listerine which hurts a lot!
  • myskinnyfiles@xanga

    I floss daily.


    I change the toothbrush every time I go to the dentist for a checkup and he gives me a new one.....so yeah...that's every 4-5 months....not 3 months. 

  • LadyLibellule@xanga

    Do we always go for beauty over function, to make them look better rather than to protect them?

    Some people do.

    How
    often do you floss?

    Once a day (or more, if something's stuck between my teeth).

    Change your toothbrush?

    Every few months.  Which reminds me... I should probably get a new one.

    Have you tried tooth
    whitening products?

    Other than a natural toothpaste that claimed to whiten teeth, no.  I haven't tried any of the peroxide-based whiteners.

    Does it worry you that such products actually
    damage your teeth?

    Yes.  That's why I won't use them.

    We've become obsessed with perfectly white teeth, even though it's not natural.  Go and have a look at older movies (five or ten years old should do the trick).  The actors' teeth were actually tooth-coloured!  And they were considered beautiful.  I worry that this uber-white thing is a trend, and that all these people will have destroyed their enamel for nothing when the craze is over.

    I often think of that Friends episode where Ross whitened his teeth so much they glowed under a blacklight.  Back then, too much whitening was laughed at.  Today, it seems to be almost a requirement.
  • KarmasNemesis@xanga

    I brush my teeth 3x a day. I floss, all day. And i mouthwash at LEAST 4x a day. I'm kind of a germaphobe. I'm ocd, for real...
  • bassangel@xanga

    I have used whitening products before... like right before my wedding. And I never went to the dentist much as a kid... mostly because my parents couldn't afford to take me... or have me in braces which I needed. I still need them. I am 24 and got my wisdom teeth out three months ago since I became eligible for dental insurance over the summer. Before that I have had two root canals when I was still on my Dads insurance and it was actually good enough to take care of it.... I brush every night and keep flossers and travel toothbrush with me at all times because sometimes my mouth just feels dirty... and now that i have insurance I can get my teeth checked twice a year like you are supposed to. I can even get the filling on my front tooth replaced that was done very poorly (I feel in high school and chipped one of my front teeth) the dentist that did it made it so I couldn't floss between my front teeth - so there is a cavity forming there... I have an appointment for that filling to be replaced in a month... which is very nice.
  • Earthboundgrowth

    I admit, I do need to take better care of my mouth. I should brush more, for one. Eat more apples and strawberries (hey, I'm working on this! Someday I'll grow a whole bunch and be just fine! ATM, I can rarely afford these from the grocery store and am fortunate to get them whenever I get them).
    But I do not use whitening products.

    I will chew gum that's supposed to clean your teeth, but I know all of what's in that and I know it helps instead of harms.
  • DistantStarlight@xanga

    Tooth health for the win!


    I floss pretty much daily, sometimes twice a day. Except for last night and this morning because I'm out of floss.


    I brush twice a day. I've been tempted to use whitening products but I haven't except for whitening toothpaste. My teeth may not be literally snow white, but I'm comfortable with a healthy, normal shade of ivory. It's not yucky stuff on them. It's their natural color. I don't drink coffee and luckily have no genetic predisposition to tooth stains. That must be a real pain.
  • LadyKnightEvilstrawberry@xanga

    I worry about my teeth a  lot, you only get one grown up set. The fact that my orthodontic work is costing upwards of $4000 also puts the pressure on..

    But it's very hard to remember to floss all the time! I do try...and I change my tooth brush ever coupe of months!  I recently found out from my orthodontist that brushing my teeth too hard and side to side causes the gums to recede. They never grow back...and mine had already started... I'm now being very very careful of how I brush...and I don't think I'll be doing any teeth whitening now I know that it strips enamel.
  • CrissySomedays@lovelyish

    I'm not going to lie... My teeth are a horrible shade of orange due to years of soda and braces.

    It's bad enough that people tell me to go brush my teeth. My sister (who was 7 at the time) did this too.

    .. like brushing will turn it white over night. Am I the only one who finds that rude?

    I brush my teeth and I'm trying to get into the habit of flossing more. I change my toothbrush every few months. I've tried whitening products and it's nice to see my teeth a whiter shade.. but after a meal or two, it's gone. It's not worth the damage. I can feel the area's sensitivity. It's just not worth it.

    My mom is going to pay for laser treatment one day. But I'm a twin, so if I get it done.. so does she. So it's impossible for the time being.. It would be nice to start over. I haven't had soda since they took my braces off.
  • MJRx9000@xanga

    Floss em or lose em
  • der_lila_Stern@xanga

    I never floss... Im not even sure if we have any!  I do change my toothbrush at least as often as they reccommend.  I have never tried the whitening stuff.  My teeth arent super white, but I dont really care enough to damage them!


    What are you saying that Scope doesnt do? 


    I do believe your hygeine habits regarding your mouth are only part of the story.  Genetics plays a big role what the fate of your teeth will be!
  • storyofmylife87@xanga

    I brush my teeth 2x a day, and I use mouthwash. I rarely floss tho....I know. I have permanent retainers behind my teeth to make them straight...so it's really hard to floss. I try really hard to keep them clean and healthy. My parents had to spend 40 grande on my mouth to fix my jaw, and I'd hate to ruin all the money by not brushing. =)

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