this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2024
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No Stupid Questions

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 month ago (3 children)

If you are truly struggling and need actual dental care, try searching for a local dental school near you. Many will take patients for cheap or free, with the caveat that a dental student will be performing the treatment.

Otherwise, brush at least twice a day and floss. Do not re-use strands of floss, like with those convenient plastic picks. You'll just be transferring bacteria to each crevice after it's been used.

Get a water pick (whatever it's called) - I heard those are great but I don't have one myself.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Also, in my area, most dentists will allow you to pay over time (like a year+....).

And there are FREE programs like this:

Niagara's Mobile Dental Clinic

Ask around - you may be surprised.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Every dentist I've had disliked water piks. I had one for a while. Had.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

... Wait, don't reuse dental floss? Oh no. I thought the point was only to loosen gunk!

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My yearly dental works always cost a fortune, but my teeth are great now, since:

  • I got an electric brush and floss sticks;
  • I now drink coffee without sugar (you'll get used to it pretty quickly);
  • I almost completely stopped drinking sugary drinks (mostly bubbly water now, boycotting evil companies and being poor help).
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Point one is key! I will add to it, floss of any sort is great. And for my mouth 'interdental brushes' do just a little bit more, so the combination has become a key part of my dental routine.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago

What with the multiple recommendations for a water pick in the comments, lemme drop some aggregated info I've gathered about them after asking multiple dentists and hygienists over the last few years while sitting around waiting for various things.

They're great for what they are, but they aren't as great as people think they are.

They do definitely work, no doubts, every single one that I talked about them with said that they'll get the job done.

The problem is that they have a higher learning curve than you'd think, and that means they can cause more trouble than they fix.

See, you're using the water pressure at an angle because of how you have to hold the pick and move it. The angle that you'll likely use them at is the wrong one, and this means you are probably going to be shooting the plaque and debris the pick dislodges under your gums.

Obviously, that is not a good thing.

You can definitely learn how to avoid doing that with a bit of research, but most people don't do that bare minimum research, they just start spraying and then wonder why their gums are bleeding and sore.

So, if you want to invest in a water pick (and tbh, saving the money to pay for a yearly cleaning would be better), make sure you take the time to use it properly. But, they aren't better than floss at all, so unless you have some reason you can't floss, why spend the money?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Brush, floss and mouthwash. Stay clear of gum and soda.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Based on recent research, mouthwash is now in question in my books.

We aimed to assess if daily usage of Listerine Cool Mint influenced the composition of the pharyngeal microbiome... Listerine use was associated with an increased abundance of common oral opportunistic bacteria previously reported to be enriched in periodontal diseases, oesophageal and colorectal cancer, and systemic diseases. These findings suggest that the regular use of Listerine mouthwash should be carefully considered.

Basically, it differentially kills good bacteria, leaving more of the bad kind.

https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001830

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Mouthwash has never been a question in mine. Brush, floss, and genetics. Mouthwash is for suckers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What about sugar-free gum?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's not the sugar, it's the abrasive.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Totally true which is why I only chew abrasive free.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

The gum itself is abrasive. Think worn tire grooves in an old road surface.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Isn’t xylitol gum recommended though? Maybe I’m using the wrong term.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Your teeth only have so much enamel. Chewing gum rapidly wears that down.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Waterflossers are better than nothing. Best is floss to get the stuff wedged at the contact, then interdental brushes to get the stuff under the contact - these must be snug, otherwise you're not effectively using them.

Soft and small toothbrush, preferably an electric with a pressure sensor. The counter oscillating Crest/Oral B type is probably the most affordable. Don't need to get the top model. Some only time 2 minutes instead of 30s, so I'd recommend counting to 30 seconds (properly! Not rushing!) and do a quarter of your mouth at a time. Point at the gumline a little when you brush, approximately 45 degrees. You must push your lips and tongue out of the way. Do an extra minute after you're done with 2 minutes. Do this at least twice daily, consider a third time during the day, and you must not skip the one just before you sleep. Do not consume anything but water after this and prior to sleep. Do not get a midnight snack.

Use neutrafluor/prevident 5000 toothpaste, or clinpro 5000. Extra fluoride means extra protection from acid challenges. Use neutrafluor mouthwash if you must use a m/w during the day. Do not rinse the paste off your teeth.

Eliminate where possible from your diet anything sour, tart, or fizzy. That includes soda water and citrus and ACV. Eliminate where possible sweet things, including fruit - especially dried fruit.

Rinse with plain water after eating and drinking.

Common triggers of heartburn are foods that may be fried, fatty, and or spicy. Some people are triggered by dairy or lactose, or eating too late before lying down.

Treat your heartburn by prevention, not relievers. If you experience any symptom relating to heartburn, rinse thoroughly with plain water. Do this too if you vomit for any reason.

If you have dry mouth, try Xylimelts or the new range Freshmelts (this doesn't seem toxic to dogs). You can wear these during your sleep. Also treat the origin of your dry mouth.

...I'm sure I have other tips... But these are the most common ones I make to my patients.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Another "not" stupid question - about the paste, I've seen this before where it says don't rinse off the teeth. Does that mean you're supposed to brush and spit out what you can, and just leave the foaming mess in your mouth as you sleep? I'm genuinely confused.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Once you've spat out as much as possible, it's not a foaming mess, just a smear.

Many toothpastes don't foam either.

If you dislike not rinsing at all, my tip is to brush, rinse, then smear a very small amount of fresh toothpaste on.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Sadly genetics are not things you can do to maintain your teeth. You have them or you don't have them. But regardless of your base genetics, regular flossing, regular brushing, and no sugar in your diet will give you the best dental hygiene you can hope for

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

Brush and floss

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

The same as you do if you can afford dental care:

Most importantly: Brush at least once, better twice a day. No exceptions ever. Make it part of your daily morning or evening rituals. It takes about a day for plaque to harden and then you can no longer brush it away. Don’t ever let it get to that.

If you can afford one, get an electric toothbrush.

Be gentle with the brush. All you need is a very soft scrubbing. Pressure can damage your teeth and gums.

Chewing gum can reduce acids and help remineralize your enamel after eating. Sugar free is better, but afaik even gum with sugar has a net positive effect if you chew it long enough after the sugar has dissolved.

Try to avoid getting into a routine that leaves out spots when brushing. Personally, I switch hands every day and once or twice a week I use a non-electric brush.

If you want to optimize this: those tablets that the dentist uses to stain plaque to check where you missed a spot are cheap, you don’t necessarily need a dentist for that if you can’t afford one.

Floss and use interdental brushes regularly. Use mouthwash every now and then, and at the first sign of gum inflammation. Preferably one without alcohol, because that seems to increase the risk of cancer.

If you can’t afford professional tooth cleaning, try asking for calculus removal, if you have any. Here in Germany that’s ~15€ instead of ~100€. Once it’s gone prevent it from building up again (see above).

If you have cavities, try to get rid of them as early as possible. Maybe there are some charity or teaching clinics. Cavities only ever get more expensive in the long run. And it is much easier to maintain an infection free mouth than to constantly fight to keep the decay from spreading.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Get a Sonicare toothbrush

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Brush and floss just like your dentist tells you. Also use a real mouthwash, like Listerine.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

If you do exactly what your dentist tells you, you should be coming in every 6 months for a checkup..

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

And your point?

Fine. Don't brush and floss every day. Don't visit the dentist often. It's your call. It's your teeth.

Between genetics and laziness, most people need a cleaning every 6 months.

If you don't think you do, then don't. Last I checked the dentist isn't your mom or dad.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

That's wildly out of the financial means of a lot of us.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Sorry, but it just gets more expensive to care for them later. Aim for at least a yearly cleaning/exam so that they can catch issues before they become serious. Twice a year is better.

And find a dentist that is conservative about fillings. My dentist almost never recommends procedures unless there is actual decay, and I trust them to not push work on me that I don't need.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Shop around, you can frequently get discounts or cheaper rates if you tell them you're uninsured / self pay. I've had to do this during tough financial times.

There may also be some luxuries or other corners you can safely cut if you go over your budget with a fine toothed comb.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

See comment above, but basically, I question whether mouthwash is all that, based on recent research: https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001830

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Gotta get the mouthwash with fluorine; not all kinds of Listerine have it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There isn't really anything "extra" you can do at home that you aren't already supposed to be doing to maintain those mouth bones.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

It's a turn of phrase, but I appreciate the pedantry.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

A toothpaste that restores your enamel. It’s prescription in the US but you can get Apagard Premio off Amazon.

It’s probably a good idea to get some extra fluoride since the Apagard doesn’t have any. I use purple Listerine, but I kinda hate it, so find something you like.

You should floss, which I’m shitty at, so I use a water pick a few times a week. All kinds of nasty crap comes out, even after brushing, so it’s gotta be better than nothing.

I use a Philips Sonicare toothbrush, no need to get the fancy ones, it’s mostly extra accessories. There are probably less expensive ultrasonic toothbrushes out there that work well… doing it twice a day manually is probably better for you than once a day with a fancy toothbrush.

Hang in there, clinical trials of a drug that regrows teeth are underway and the results are promising.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Floss picks, with a little piece of floss held in a plastic "harp" are so much easier than a spool of loose floss.

I am also told that flossing, while it does remove gunk and food bits, introduces oxygen, which serves to fight off anaerobic bacteria.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Disclaimer: This is not personal medical/dental advice, just my own understanding that I'm sharing.

Floss (or water pick) first, then mouthwash, then brush, then don't rinse.

Floss to open up the gums and knock loose anything stuck in between teeth. Mouthwash to get rid of the solids and get a bit of fluoride in between teeth. Brushing after mouthwash, because toothpaste typically has a much higher concentration of fluroide than mouthwash does. And avoid rinsing after brushing so you don't wash away the residual fluoride from the toothpaste.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Watch YouTube videos on how to brush and floss.

I am absolutely taking the L here since I've apparently been brushing my teeth wrong for most of my life.

I'll never get flossing right so water picking has been the next best thing.

I currently spend a 1-2k a year at the dentist, which imo, isn't that bad. But probably way less had I learned proper brushing and had better flossing habits.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

You can get dental work for cheap or free by reaching out to dental schools near you. They always need patients for their students.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Good Morning! I just created this account after discovering Lemmy, then discovering your post. Last year I found an old list from a relative with ingredients they claimed make teeth actually regrow. I've been working with them personally for over a year, and they definitely do. First, hydrogen peroxide, it is a well known oral debridement agent, mix up 50/50 hydrogen peroxide/tap water, and aggressively swish it around your mouth for 30seconds to a minute. This will kill cavities and germs/bacteria. Be sure to always rinse with just tap water after words to clear any remaining hydrogen peroxide. The most important thing I've come across, a tooth with a cavity currently in it, will not heal. I have 3 teeth that had root canals previously and they regrow millimeters usually over night when I apply the mix. The cavities I've worked on need to die before the tooth heals usually leaving a big hole in the tooth, its not painful, but can be difficult to keep clean and cavities can regrow easily while healing so extra care has to be taken. Now for the Ingredients to regrow a tooth, they are all essential oils, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF USING THEM IS IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY EAT OR VAPE SUGAR WHILE THE ESSENTIAL OILS ARE STILL ACTIVE IT WILL CAUSE NEW CAVITIES! 8ml sweet almond oil 6ml Peppermint essential oil 6ml spearmint essential oil 6ml wintergreen extract 5ml clove extract oil 5ml grapefruit seed extract Mix them together, shake well, put a drop into a cavity, or on the remainder of a root canalled tooth and allow it to soak in, for an actual cavity you should feel the oils soaking into it, it is rather intense, but not anywhere near the pain of a cavity. I don't feel much for teeth that were already rooted. Hydrogen peroxide neutralizes the essential oils but you must rinse aggressively enough the essential oils down in a cavity get rinsed out, I use a dental syringe I bought offline for hard to reach crevices, and sometimes I need to hold my head upside down to let the h2o2 soak into the cavity to neutralize the oils(otherwise cavity will get worse). Done correctly teeth heal, done half assed you will get new cavities, the thing to keep in mind, the mint should never be sweet, if it is, you need to rinse with hydrogen peroxide immediately.

Most ecig juice has sugar. Coffee flavors, and tobacco flavors do not have sugar in my experience.

Also your teeth need you to consume the right nutrients: Calcium, magnesium, zinc, kelp, vitamin d, and potassium all work together to help teeth and bones regrow and grow healthy.

If you don't have cavities, you can just rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide instead of harsh alcohol based washes, and that will help long term with cavities and mouth health.

You can add additional mint essential oils, and it does improve the results, but the mints must be kept in proportion to the non mint oils, you should always have 16-18ml of mint for the other mixes despite if you have multiple strains of mint(there are many, and they all seem to work)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Cut out soft-drinks in general.

They are not only packed full of sugar, but some very popular ones contain phosphoric acid. If you had to invent an combination of edible ingredients designed to damage tooth enamel, you couldn't do worse. The fact that this is a diet-friendly option is almost a side-benefit. It's that bad.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Pick up boxing as a habit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I have dental care, but the thing we should all be doing is flossing once a day. Brush twice a day. Brushing should take 2-3 minutes. Do a circular motion with your brush and get all of the surfaces clean. Use your tongue to feel for plaque and spot brush to remove that. I hope you can see a dentist sometime in the future.