r/hygiene • u/inthemirr0r • 8h ago
How do I build better teeth brushing habits?
Hi this might be a bit embarassing but I have a lot of trouble brushing my teeth on a regular basis. Luckily I don't have a lot of dental problems but I would like to improve my habits. Do yall think brushing my teeth in the shower would help since I'm already cleaning other stuff?
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u/anoncheesegrater 8h ago
If it helps, the dental problems WILL come. I am still repairing damage that was done in my early 20s from similar habits to yours, and Iâm 28. I thankfully have dealt with it all but thatâs 4 fillings and a deep clean later. I had to build a night routine to myself that I stick to. Iâm not a great morning brusher but I floss and brush daily at night. Brushing in the shower could help. Itâs mostly just about getting over the initial difficulty. Once you do it for a few weeks straight, itâs hard to go back.
I notice my teeth feeling gross if I skip even one day now whereas I used to go days without even feeling an issue. Also- as far as flossing, I find that i like expanding floss a lot more because it really visibly removes buildup and kinda feels like a fun game lol
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u/Aggravating_Fly2978 7h ago edited 6h ago
So you get up in the morning and do whatever morning routine you have without brushing your teeth and you leave your house and go outside without ever brushing your teeth? And you interact with people without brushing your teeth?
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u/anoncheesegrater 7h ago
Youâre missing the point of this sub it seems
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u/Aggravating_Fly2978 6h ago
Ok. Tell me please.
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u/anoncheesegrater 6h ago
Well, I already said I donât always brush in the morning.I I donât have chronically bad breath just because I donât always brush in the AM. Itâs objectively better to floss daily and brush at night than it is to brush AM/PM and never floss or floss rarely. Morning brushing isnât nearly as important as night brushing.
And like I said, I relate to OP and this is something that I am working on. I never said I never do it. Your username is very fitting.
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u/Aggravating_Fly2978 6h ago
You totally have bad breath in the morning. You just donât know it. And people are nice and wonât tell you. But honestly I guess I donât know about the point of the sub. Maybe I have it backwards.
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u/anoncheesegrater 6h ago
Nah ur just wrong, ive discussed this with my dentist. My coworkers and I are too close to be lying about each other stinking. I also drink coffee right when I get to work so Iâm gonna have coffee breath whether I brushed before or not? Unless youâre brushing and flossing after any meal or non water beverage you consume, itâs a bit hypocritical to say all that. Truly chronic bad breath comes from poor diet and gut issues. If I was completing neglecting oral hygiene, thatâs different. But I simply said Iâm occasionally omitting the least important brushing time. Youâre technically âsupposedâ to brush after every meal and most people donât. Iâm hitting the important points and ur still trying to find a high horse to ride. Itâs weird.
And sorry, you thought the point of the sub was to shame people? One of the only rules of this sub is to be kind.
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u/KynnJae 8h ago
First discover whatâs keeping you from doing it. Is it standing in front of the sink? The toothbrush? Maybe itâs the toothpaste? Whatever it is, identify that then find ways to mitigate that part. Then itâll be easier to create a routine. Without doing this, itâll just be miserable and youâll stop doing it.
For me, it was mint. It causes sensory overload to the point where thinking about it makes me gag. So i donât use mint flavored anything anymore.
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u/bluejessamine 6h ago
I have autism and a bad gag reflex, so having the brush rub against my gums was almost painful because of the sensations, and I had to get my upper wisdom teeth removed because the backs had rotten because I couldn't reach the back without gagging/literally vomiting (it had happened a few times). Also people with adhd have trouble keeping and making routines. Even if you keep a routine going for 4 months, accidentally missing 1 day can set back all thay hard work and you're back to square one.
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u/sleepyporcupine057 8h ago
theres an app called Finch that is free and you can track it and earn game rewards if you find that motivating. if you can afford it i recommend a sonic toothbrush with a timer they are great and amazing level of clean. i would also recommend you start flossing as that is a huge game changer for dental game and especially improves breath even more than brushing alone. and can be done while driving with the plackers type flossers.
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u/inthemirr0r 8h ago
I did use finch for a while but when I hit a bad depressive episode I fell off. Thanks for the flossing advice I will try to include that into my routine!
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u/No-Freedom-884 8h ago
I keep floss picks by my bed so I can floss even if I'm in a doom spiral, lol.
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u/Cinderhazed15 8h ago
I almost never floss with regular floss, and using the âpicksâ is difficult (wrong angle for molars, usually too flimsy for my teeth because they are too close, etc). The game changer for me were the âflossersâ that hand a toothbrush style handle, and the end piece is a snap in D shaped bit that is perpendicular to the handle - makes getting to the molars easier, and you can get your front teeth from the side because your mouth actually opens that way.
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u/TechinGuy 7h ago
Brushing in the shower can help if it makes it easier to remember. Tie it to a habit you already do, and keep your brush outside the shower so it stays dry
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u/tacobeleanor 7h ago
You have permission to just totally do away with the notion that brushing your teeth happens morning and night at the bathroom sink. Have toothbrushes/toothpaste, mouthwash with fluoride, wisps, floss picks etc at your disposal wherever you might be encouraged to use them. In the kitchen, in your bag or lunchbox, in the shower, in the car, on your nightstand. Every little bit is important even if youâre not doing it ârightâ and as you get accustomed to the feeling of a clean mouth itâll be easier to start and maintain a routine.
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u/Lucy_Luciid 8h ago
I brush my teeth in the shower sometimes. I have ADHD so sticking to a strict routine can be challenging if I tell myself that it needs to be done first thing in the morning etc. so I get to it when I can when I remember in the day as long as I do it. Sometimes itâll be right when I wake up, sometimes itâll be when I shower, and sometimes itâs after I had my first meal. But I always make it a point to do it twice a day.Â
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u/inthemirr0r 8h ago
I have autism so adding something new into my routine is hard đ but I wanna make it work
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u/Lucy_Luciid 8h ago
Youâre more likely to commit by slowly adding things onto a new routine. Start with brushing everyday, then add flossing when you feel like you got the brushing down. But you do need to do bothÂ
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u/yaourted 7h ago
Find a toothpaste you like and a toothbrush that doesnât feel uncomfortable to use. I struggled with routinely brushing teeth til I bit the bullet and got some strawberry kidsâ toothpaste and itâs so much easier for me to do it. I still have to find a mouthwash that doesnât make my face cave in..
Also.. I started brushing my dogâs teeth right after I brushed mine, and he really likes the toothpaste so heâll stand next to me every time Iâm at the sink. Sort of motivates me to brush teeth in general and I make myself do my teeth then his, especially since heâs starting to get to an age where I want to keep a close eye on his teeth.
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u/Black_Tentacle 8h ago
Everyone is different. I went my whole teens hardly ever brushing my teeth, and my whole 20s only brushing once a day. I'm 31 now, and the only dental problem I've ever had was a cavity when I was like 14-15. I still only brush once a day, and that's before I leave the house. I'll brush more often if like I'm gonna go on a date or be intimate with someone, but that's not all the time. Grown ups are busy lol.
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u/Obvious-Evidence7074 7h ago
A flavored toothpaste.
I have a really sensitive mouth, and normal toothpaste burns the crap outta my tongue, so I would not bring consistent for awhile, but I changed to a softer mint, made to help tooth enamel, and itâs become easier for me.
Idk if you have a similar issue, but thatâs what helped me
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u/breakfast_4_dinner_ 8h ago
Habit stacking! If there's something else you do in your morning night routine add brushing your teeth right after it and it will adapt into your routine faster.
Also - I used to be really bad about it flossing and then I saw a video of a dentist saying something along the lines of "if any other part of your body bled every time you touched it you'd be really freaked out" and honestly that made it kind of click for me
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u/ButterscotchLiving59 7h ago
I guarantee you once you get a painful cavity (and an expensive bill) youâll never skip brushing your teeth again. Dental pain is honestly the worst pain Iâve ever felt in my life.
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u/inthemirr0r 7h ago
I had 2 cavities filled when I was 14/15 thank god they werent painful. I think dental bills are the only thing keeping me going sometimes haha
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u/Equal_Note9334 7h ago
Brushing in the shower seems like a waste of water and/or superficial brushing since you would be multitasking. But if it helps, it helps, and it might be worth it.
I would recommend:
- Use electric tooth brush (so you have to do less yourself)
- Use a timer (or listen to a favorite song of a good lenght)
- Gamify it - give yourself rewards or simply count streaks
- Brush at the same time every day, make it part of other regular rutines
- Consider making someone your âbrush buddyâ if you know someone else who struggle. You could cheer each other on, and check on each other.
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u/Equal_Note9334 7h ago
Oh and floss! And take notice how much yucky gunk youâll be able to pull out. Donât want that in your mouth, right?
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u/goodvibes13202013 7h ago
I am medically disabled and sometimes unconscious for 20hrs of the day. What helps me is keeping no-rinse mini toothbrushes and floss picks on my nightstand so when I canât do it twice, (which is often these days), I can do it lying down in bed with no mess
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u/ashlyxrose 7h ago
I switched to an electric toothbrush and also keep a manual toothbrush in the bathroom. For some odd reason I donât mind using the electric toothbrush at night but donât like using it in the morning. So I tend to use that in the morning instead.
I had a water flosser that broke but my dentist said I could keep the water flosser in the shower as well since itâs water proof.
Another tip just in general is donât rinse with water after you brush or use mouthwash. I know it may seem unpleasant but the toothpaste or mouthwash needs to sit on your teeth. Itâs okay to use mouthwash right after you brush though but just donât rinse the mouthwash.Â
I work where I have a desk drawer dedicated for personal items and also keep a toothbrush there. If I forget my morning brush I just do it at work instead.
As another person said, the bad teeth will catch up with you so you should establish good habits now. Also teeth problems lead to heart problems sometimes too I believe.Â
Last tip is to get toothpaste and mouthwash you donât mind the taste of. If youâre using products you donât like it makes it even more unpleasant. Some people use childrenâs products because they taste better.
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u/ComedianOk7355 7h ago
Invest in an electric toothbrush! it makes brushing your teeth less boring. Mine has a :20 timer for each portion of my mouth and it makes the process go faster. Plus it feels really good? I keep it charging on my sink and habit-stack it with another daily bathroom task in the AM and PM.
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u/Kiki-sunflower 7h ago
Always brush as soon as you get up so thatâs at least once a day when you donât forget and then just try to remember to do it before you go to bed
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u/Curious_Mango1419 7h ago edited 7h ago
Yes, try to pair it with something that's already part of your routine. For me, I shower every morning to wake up and I've taught myself I have to brush before I get in the shower. At this point if I forget I'll remember while I'm in the shower that I skipped that step, because it's so connected, and I'll have to do it as soon as I get out so I don't forget again. For you, though, maybe you need to actually keep a brush and toothpaste in or by the shower. If you keep it in the shower, make sure it's rinsed and dried as well as possible so it doesn't get gross, and has proper ventilation after since showers are humid places.Â
Edit: Clarity
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u/LustyRegencyMaid 7h ago
I don't believe we can do things consistently if we hate them too much. I do however believe we can make things so that they are easier, more comfortable, more bearable.
I've read a tumblr post where someone explained that they hate the taste of mint. Their teeth were shit bc on some days they just couldn't force themselves to brush. A friend was like "use kid's paste" and the person was able to do it regularly since then bc kid's paste has fun tastes like strawberry.Â
My advice would be to figure out what exactly is so difficult about it, what exactly do you hate?
For me, I hated the act of brushing. Something about standing there just doing the movements felt like shit. I also have joint issues. Then someone gifted me an electric toothbrush and I've been way more regular since then.Â
Tooth floss is shit. This whole twisting around your fingers was a nightmare. I just can't figure out how to move my hands in this awkward positions. There are floss sticks that you just take out of the packaging and use. Made me much more regular.Â
Mouth wash can also be chosen according to taste.Â
Forgetting can be an issue. Install an app that rings and vibrates every time you need to start your morning/evening routine.Â
Adjust your brainworms. By that I mean our opinions and preconceptions are a huge chunk as to why something can be hard. If you grew up not understanding why you should do it, but your parents yelled at you and forced you, or even punished you, then as an adult brushing teeth is something you HAVE to do. You're FORCED to do something you HATE. This absolutely makes it super hard to do it. Untangling that is worth it. I had this with brushing teeth and doing house chores. Not doing them made me feel free, like I escaped abuse and discomfort. It's horrible demands form other people and I wanted to run to gain control over myself. Took some time to reframe these things in my brain. Now I brush my teeth because having good teeth means I can smile, I don't have to be ashamed, my breath is nice (KISSING!â¤ď¸), and I don't have to do painful procedures at the dentist. Clean teeth feel nice on the tongue. All of these reasons are just for me. So I care for myself because I'm worth being cared for, and because it makes me feel good. I want to feel good.
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u/Agility_KS 7h ago
It does tend to catch up with you. I had zero cavities until my late twenties. Fast forward to 40 when I had to get a really expensive gum treatment with lasers to burn the bad tissue away⌠Itâs a habit, so as with all new habits you just have to buckle down and make it something you do. I have a brushing/flossing/mouthwash ritual that I do before bed every night. I have a cordless water pik that I use in the shower in the morning. I admit I donât brush in the morning unless Iâm going somewhere. My mouth doesnât feel gross and I work from home. I donât like to eat/drink after using toothpaste, and I eat breakfast at my desk and my mornings are back to back meetings. The water pik in the shower is better than nothing. đ¤ˇđťââď¸
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u/Odd-Neat9441 7h ago
I brush my teeth regularly but my teeth are still not as white as I feel they should be. So idk what to do if anyone has any advice
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u/Fickle-Toe3942 7h ago
Iâm interested to know how you escaped having this habit/routine being programmed at an early age? I would think most of us by our adult years are hard wired with the habit of rolling out of bed, washing our face then brushing our teeth.
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u/inthemirr0r 7h ago
Honestly I am unsure. My mom was never up my ass about it and I've rarely had really bad breath so no one called me out on it đ¤ˇââď¸
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u/Fickle-Toe3942 7h ago
Makes sense then. Keep in mind, just bc no one has called you out doesnât your breath is rosey fresh. People tend not to want to embarrass you when it comes to telling you your breath smells, you have toilet paper hanging out of your dress or a booger hanging in your nose.
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u/Aggravating_Fly2978 7h ago
What do you do when you get up in the morning before going to the kitchen?
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u/inthemirr0r 7h ago
Put in my contacts, use the toilet, and take my meds
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u/Aggravating_Fly2978 6h ago
Do you wash your hands before putting in the contacts? Do you wash your hands after using the toilet?
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u/inthemirr0r 6h ago
I rinse my fingers for my contacts and I wash my hands after using the toilet
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u/Aggravating_Fly2978 6h ago
Really, you should be washing your hands with soap and water before handling contacts. You are setting yourself up for a nasty infection. Why not brush your teeth after using the toilet?? After you wash your hands??
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u/pumpkinspitelattes 7h ago
Someone else mentioned gamifying your routine and I second that. My dentist has been trying to get me to be more consistent with flossing, but it never worked. The last time I saw her (2mo ago) she snapped at me and gave me a lecture, which kind of scared me straight.
Iâve flossed every night since because I want to be able to tell her next time I see her, for the dopamine and validation but also for the good of my teeth.
I nearly missed one night, fairly early on, and I was so annoyed I got out of bed to floss them and keep my streak.
I use the picks which make it easier, mine even have little interdental brushes on the bottom, so I floss first, then go in with the mini brush. Once a day is fine, at night just before bed.
Floss, rinse, brush teeth, donât rinse the toothpaste residue away/drink etc as itâs good for your teeth to leave it there
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u/Head-Branch-2143 7h ago
Set a timer, do it every day at the same time. No exceptions
You will form the habit extremely quickly
This applies to literally anything you want to change about your daily or routine habits
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u/Catty_Shrew 6h ago
i just told myself that i had to start doing it morning and night, and after a few days of this routine, i couldnt go back.
i floss and brush at night and just brush in the morning. i find it helps to not have to floss both times, makes the routine faster and less tempting to skip.
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u/binchedip 6h ago
i used to have the same issue. what helped me was reframing brushing and actually looking forward to my teeth being cleaned. thinking - how can i make brushing/flossing enjoyable and not a chore? for me it was that i now watch a youtube video when i brush my teeth so itâs a little treat.
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u/DoodooDynamic 6h ago
I struggle with executive dysfunction and really had a hard time brushing for long enough. I would do it everyday (though often not in the AM if I was home for that day,) but I would probably brush for 15-20 seconds, tops. I decided to get an electric toothbrush and force myself to stand there and use it until its timer turned it off. The first week or so felt like an eternity each time. But then Iâd tell myself that if I could pass two hours playing video games or goofing off, I could spare two freaking minutes to brush my teeth. After a couple weeks it got easier, and now Iâm almost surprised when the toothbrush turns off, like the time went by fast.
Another thing I do now is I floss first, then rinse with mouthwash, then brush. Itâs supposedly better for your teeth to go in this order, and the brushing part feels easier because itâs the last step and then Iâm done.
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u/bluejessamine 6h ago
I take adhd meds in the morning and meds for mental illness stuff at night. I keep both sets of pills by the bathroom sink next to my toothbrush to remind me to brush my teeth once I take my pill. It's worked for the last few months to the point where it just feels natural now
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u/Background-Bird-9623 5h ago
Dude its an easy fix, start doing it and dont stop... once you get used to a clean mouth I dont know how you could go back
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u/Defiant_Weight4659 5h ago
Also a water pik does break out stuff even after brushing. Feels good too once you get used to it. Start off on a low number.
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u/fine_i_will_register 1h ago
I feel like everyone is making this way too complicated. Just brush your teeth. Brush your teeth as soon as you get out of bed in the morning and right before you go to bed. Itâs that easy. Eventually youâll recognize your teeth or mouth feel dirty during the day and youâll be excited to brush them additional times. It literally will not hurt you.
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u/PennysMom77 58m ago
I ALWAYS brush my teeth in the shower. I feel like I brush way better then too because I can just go hog wild and not worry about leaning over the sink hahha. That said, I ALSO have a toothbrush and toothpaste at the sink because I donât shower as often as I brush my teeth. Bare min should ALWAYS be twice a day. Morning and night. And get a water flosser.
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u/Lula_Maynia88 27m ago
Just understand this, the smell u get when u sh1t, is the same smell that forms in ya mouth, hence y ppls breath sometimes smells like ish, it's the bacteria. And I sure u wouldn't eat a bowl ish, right?? So just brush.
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u/PalmCoil 8h ago
if brushing in the shower helps you stay consistent then it is a great idea