#Oral Hygiene

[reality-detective]

Natural Cavity Prevention

INGREDIENTS:

🔸3 tbsp of bentonite clay

🔸1 tbsp of calcium carbonate

🔸Crush 5 cloves

🔸Lemon zest

🔸1/2 cup distilled water

Mix all of them and use it as toothpaste and apply on gums and teeth for 5-7 mins and then rinse.

Additionally you can also use the paste and swish around for 10 mins, spit and rinse the mouth with warm water. 🤔

[magnetothemagnificent]

So tired of the American culture around oral hygiene. You see it most in toothpaste or other similar dental products commercials. It's not "buy our toothpaste because it prevents painful infections", it's "be dentist ready" and ads showing people doing the "tissue test" to see how white their teeth are, as if the only reason you should practice good oral hygiene is because you're worried about the approval of others.

It's just...so harmful.

Oral hygiene is important, not because your teeth have to be perfectly white or because your dentist will judge you (they most likely won't), but because your mouth is part of your body and your health is important. The state of your mouth can impact the rest of your body, oral infections can become life-threating or impact your ability to properly eat or speak without pain. That's why you should care about oral hygiene- because it's your body and you deserve to live with as minimal pain and discomfort as possible- not because of some shallow beauty ideals.

I'm just so tired of the mainstream message of oral hygiene as being purely aesthetic. It's not. It's healthcare.

[biscuitdolly]

oral health ♡

now , obv u wanna be brushing your teeth 3 times a day , flossing , mouth wash etc .. but here are some extra things that can help improve your oral health , breath and teeth!!

oil pulling ♡

you can use coconut oil , sesame seed oil , or sunflower oil. swish a teaspoon of said oil around in your mouth to coat all your teeth , spit , and then repeat. @/ally.renee1 on TikTok recommends adding peppermint oil , this helps it taste better and also acts as a natural mouthwash!!

floss your teeth before brushing ♡

use either waxed or woven flosses! never use glide flosses , they have Teflon (Teflon is a chemical , it's used in stuff like non-stick sprays , flosses with Teflon literally don't do anything but glide between your teeth). try flossing as if you're flossing both teeth instead of the space in between!

water flossing ♡

for this you'll need a water flosser. hold for about 5 seconds in between each tooth (don't water floss after brushing teeth because you want the fluoride in the tooth paste to stay on your teeth!!)

tongue scrap ♡

self explanatory. get a tongue scrap , and scrap from back to front 5 times. it's really gross what kind of stuff comes off , so you wanna make sure its all gone!

mouth wash ♡

i'd recommend a teeth whitening one but any will work!! (obv you can use whitening strips too). swish for 30 seconds then spit.

brush teeth ♡

personally , i use an electric toothbrush bc the rounded brush head gets rid of plaque better , but its okay if you don't have one! manual toothbrushes are fine , just make sure you brush extra good!

i brush my entire mouth once , spit , and then brush it again, just to make sure i get absolutely everything. make sure you're brushing the teeth at the very back , your gums , the roof of your mouth , and your tongue!! brush for a total of 3 minutes.

extra ♡

why do i use mouth wash before brushing? because i don't want to wash away the remaining fluoride from the toothpaste that's still on my teeth. If it's morning , i use mouthwash again around 20 minutes after brushing, just to make sure my breath smells good.

[nenelonomh]

oral hygiene practices

maintaining healthy teeth and gums is crucial for many reasons:

prevents tooth decay and gum disease. regular brushing and flossing remove plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that can lead to cavities and gum disease if not properly managed.

maintains fresh breath. poor oral hygiene can cause bad breath (halitosis). brushing your teeth, and tongue, and using mouthwash can help keep your breath fresh.

reduces the risk of systemic diseases. there is a strong link between oral health and overall health. poor oral hygiene can contribute to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections.

saves money. preventive care is often less expensive than treating dental problems. regular check-ups and cleanings can help catch issues early before they become more serious and costly.

so, let's look at some key practices to help maintain your smile.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ brush your teeth twice a day. use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. brush for at least two minutes, making sure to clean all surfaces of your teeth.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ floss daily. flossing helps remove plaque and food particles between your teeth and under the gumline where your toothbrush can’t reach.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ use mouthwash. an antimicrobial or fluoride mouthwash can help reduce plaque, prevent cavities, and freshen your breath.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ maintain a healthy diet. limit sugary foods and drinks, as they can contribute to tooth decay. eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can support overall oral health.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ stay hydrated. drinking plenty of water, especially fluoridated tap water, helps wash away food particles and bacteria.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ avoid tobacco products. smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ replace your toothbrush regularly. change it over every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ visit your dentist regularly. regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are essential for maintaining oral health and catching any issues early.

i know that i am only reinforcing what your dentist is already telling you - but my purpose is to provide easy information and further reading resources that may teach you something new. by incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy.

unfortunately, i know many people who ignore simple health facts (for a multitude of reasons). but this is not the way! looking after your health and your body is so important!

for further reading:

Oral Hygiene: Best Practices & Instructions for Good Routine | Cleveland Clinic

WOHD23-factsheet-oralhygiene-EN.pdf | FDI World Dental Foundation

Oral Hygiene | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

the original oral hygiene post (by me)

❤️ nene

[venatohru]

Seen a few things about neurodivergence + challenges around personal hygiene routines (especially showering) so thought I'd share one of the things the Child (6) and I (35) have both struggled with:

Toothbrushing Challenge #1: Toothpaste Flavours

The biggest challenge for me personally was that I can't stand the overwhelming spearmint flavour that most toothpastes have. I figured everyone felt this way and just sucked it up. So it wasn't until I started looking into other options for the Child (who doesn't mind the flavour, but finds it Too Much combined with the brushing sensation) that I discovered...unflavoured toothpaste

It was a game changer for both of us! I've also recently found some fancy flavoured toothpastes that I enjoy, though they're a bit expensive at full price so they're more like...luxury toothpastes

Toothbrushing Challenge #2: Bristles

I've tried a lot of different brushes and personally I'm generally okay with most brushes with soft bristles since the flavour was the bigger issue for me. The Child, on the other hand, is vehemently opposed to them so after trying various bristle types from stores we had to look for different options to meet his sensory needs. It took a lot of reading and browsing online but we found one he likes! Gentle U-shaped silicone brush head + extra bonus points for the cool rocket handle. You apply the toothpaste, bite down softly and kinda waggle it from side to side

The drawbacks here are that we often can't just go out to the store to buy these (except the fancy flavoured toothpastes, which are available at a couple of big chemist chains) so we need to order them online. They also cost more than the generic toothpastes and brushes that are available in stores. But, for us, it's a relatively small price to pay for good oral hygiene without the associated stress and discomfort

[lostlegendaerie]

quick tip for my sensory issue folks: if your dentist offers nitrous oxide (aka "laughing gas") for their fillings, you can ask to have it for your cleanings too! my place only charges me five bucks and it turns "absolute auditory and temperature sensitive hell" into "hell but five feet away and slightly to the left"

[misforgotten2]

"I'm up for it, but do you think your tongue can hold out for such a-- Oh, you mean-- Ha ha, just kidding. I never thought you . . ."

Parents Magazine - July 1944

[reality-detective]

This 👆 should help people out with their oral hygiene and tooth care. 🤔

[magnetothemagnificent]

Do you have dental advice for people who struggle to take care of their teeth due to disability, depression, etc? I'm afraid of needing dental work but oral hygiene is really hard for me.

Alright so my advice as a future dentist (current dental assistant, not a dentist yet):

1. Find a toothbrush you like. Doesn't matter what brand or what kind. What's important is that you brush. If a toothbrush with cartoon characters on it is what will motivate you to brush, get it.

(If the brush head is smaller, though, than the usual adult brush heads, just remember to spend a little more time on each tooth since smaller brush heads cover less surface area).

If an electric toothbrush is your jam, get an electric toothbrush. Just get a toothbrush.

2. Find a toothpaste you like. Doesn't matter what brand or flavor. They pretty much all have the same ingredients. I would highly recommend toothpastes for sensitive gums, like Sensodyne or Oral-B, because if you haven't been practicing consistent oral hygiene for a while, your gums are most likely very sensitive. But really, any toothpaste is good. Just stay away from the charcoal stuff, it's more likely to do nothing at best and cause damage at worst (especially if you take medication).

3. Try to brush twice a day, but no more than three times a day. Brushing a whole bunch one day doesn't make up for not brushing the day before, too much brushing can damage your enamel with the abrasion.

Brushing once in the morning and once at night is ideal. Try to brush before you eat breakfast, or at least half an hour after you eat. Brush for about 2 minutes, making sure you brush each surface of your teeth.

Your teeth have five surfaces, three that are accessible via brushing: Make sure you brush the sides that face your cheeks, the sides that face the inside of your mouth, and the biting surfaces.

4. Try to floss once a day. There are different flossing methods now, find one that works.

-Traditional string and fingers

-Handheld floss picks

-Electric water pick

There are pros and cons to each, but the important thing is that you floss. Flossing is important regardless of whether you have food stuck between your teeth; flossing helps remove plaque deposits between your teeth that can build up and cause irritation to the gums. Make sure you floss between each tooth. If flossing a certain groove brings up a large amount of debris, floss that area again until the string comes out clean.

5. Drink lots of water. Unfortunately, this isn't a "as long as you're hydrated situation". Other beverages can be great for hydration, but they're either very sugary or acidic or both, which aren't good for maintaining the pH in your mouth. This doesn't mean you have to give up your favourite drinks- just make sure you also drink plenty of plain old water, especially during and between meals. Do whatever you can to incentivize drinking water: fun water bottles, fun drinking straws, alarms, whatever it takes.

6. If you struggle with remembering to brush your teeth and/or floss, set alarms to remind you.

7. Try to reward yourself for practicing good oral care. Maybe put on a short YouTube clip while you floss and brush, or play a song. This may sound corny, but have a chart that if you reach a certain quota you reward yourself. It'll help you turn oral hygiene into a habit.

8. If you can afford it, try to see a hygienist to give you a full clean. At the very least they'll help get your teeth back to a baseline, and then all you need to do is maintain it. Some places will have free or reduced cost dental clinics, so keep an eye out for those if cost is an issue. Hygienists don't do any drilling or invasive dental work if that's a fear you have, all they do is essentially a very thorough brushing and flossing.

9. Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste in your shower if time and spoons are an issue, that way you can brush your teeth while bathing, knocking two out in one. Likewise, keep a toothbrush and toothpaste by your bed if getting out of bed is an issue. If you can, you can try to buy a bunch of pre-pasted disposable toothbrushes to keep by your bed, so that you don't need to worry about even having to apply toothpaste to your toothbrush.

10. Don't give up if you fall off the wagon. If you forget to brush your teeth one day, you always have the next day. If you brush your teeth but didn't floss, at least you brushed. If you flossed but only gargled mouthwash, at least you did something. Something is always better than nothing.

Best of luck!!!

[vintageadsmakemehappy]

1953 Pepsodent Toothpaste

[zealfruity]

Brushed my teeth so good tonight guys you wont even believe how good i just brushed my teeth. My mouth will never have a germ in it again i can feel it. Germ free zone forever. Im so powerful

[16woodsequ]

Sunday Steve - Day Five

Things that would be new or unfamiliar to Steve in the 21st century, either due to the time period he grew up in, or his social-economic status and other such factors.

Day Five: Toothbrushes

Before the invention of nylon (late 1930s), natural bristles such as boar bristles were used in toothbrushes, which could “tear up your mouth” (Link) 

Because of this, toothbrushing was not as common as it is now, and many people preferred using a rag to rub their teeth. Toothbrushes before the late 30s would usually have had animal hair bristles and a Celluloid (type of plastic) handle. (Link) Using animal hair for toothbrushes had its drawbacks though because they didn't dry out as well, the hair would fall out, and they were a breeding ground for bacteria.

An alleged Celluloid toothbrush circa 1920. (It's hard to tell from pictures so I'm not 100% sure.)

The hole in the handle was to hang the toothbrush to dry.

All this is is not to say people didn't notice bad breath. In the 1920s bad breath became "a bona fide medical condition" known as "halitosis" which led to rocketing Listerine mouthwash sales. (Link) This was popular with the emerging middle class. (Link)

If Steve didn’t grow up brushing his teeth (with a brush), he would have gotten into the habit of it during the war. Nylon bristled toothbrushes were supplied to soldiers and soldiers brought this habit back home after the war. (Oral hygiene back home was also seen as patriotic.) (Link)

Recovered WW2 US Army issues toothbrushes. Different variations of US Army marked toothbrushes. Above one in its brush protection device. They are presented with a Craig Martin toothpaste tube. Though rarely encountered on the battlefield, Craig Martin toothpaste was one of the well known period brands.

Army issued toothbrushes could also be held in a metal case. (Link) We examine toiletry kits in more depth in another post but the link above shows one.

Modern electric toothbrushes were invented in 1954 (although the first one ever patented was in 1937), and they were not sold in the U.S till the 60s (Link). Steve would not know them. 

An original 1942 color print ad for Dr. West's Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush with exclusive "Exton" bristles by Weco Products Company. Dr West's toothbrushes used nylon

Highly recommend this article to see different toothbrushes through the ages. 1920s toothbrushes have a lot of variation I didn't get into.

Sunday Steve Masterpost

[heardatmedschool]

“DON’T BITE INTO LEMONS!”

Exclaimed the dentist

[hothunkscentral]

Kori Sampson

[shubhamwadkar007]

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