Do you brush your teeth more thoroughly when you have a cleaning coming up?

[cantdrv55]

I do a good job routinely, 3x day, but I know I dont brush for the recommended two minutes. I do floss nightly, sometimes 2x day. Anyway, I brush like a madman a few days before I see my hygienist. She’s brutally honest with me and I don’t mind it. She said some guys apparently don’t floss at all because they feel that’s her job!

[A930Rocket]

I do. My electric toothbrush has a two minute timer, in 30 second intervals, and it seems like it’s taking forever to brush my teeth. I’m a scrubber, so I tell myself I don’t have to brush two minutes…

I keep a small bowl of picks and floss sticks next to my bed and my chair in the family room, to make it easy to use both.

[stevej37]

Yep...I have a cleaning appt. a week from today.
It's the only time that I pay attention to the Sonicare tones for cleaning. I have not had a cavity in probably 15-20 years now. I always floss at least once a day.

[GH85Carrera]

No.

The main reason for bruising is to get the plaque off of your teeth. Flossing gets the food parts from between the teeth. I use my electric toothbrush for 90 seconds or so, and then I floss with a Plackers brand thin flosser with a plastic holder. It does great with the flossing, and I use them several times per day after eating anything.

My oral hygienist even complimented me on keeping my teeth clean. I do have some crowns and a history of less than proper care of my teeth. I keep seeing the reports that we are just 4 or 5 years from implanting a seed of tooth, and having a new tooth grow there and having a new tooth. Like nuclear fusion is always 10 years away, for the last 50 years.

[oldE]

I just do the usual (electric brush) daily. I have noticed annual checkup going faster since I switched to the electric brush on the recommendation of my dentist.

[aschen]

Make sure to pick your nose too.

Common courtesy so hygienist doesn't have to stare at your boogers for 25 min

[The Synergizer]

If you don't you have no respect for the hygienist. And if she's cute you have just eliminated any chance you might have had with her.

[masraum]

Nope, I brush the same 99.9% of the time. Very occasionally I'll slack and do a half-arsed brush, but it's super rare. I used an electric toothbrush.

[911boost]

My hygienist is a little person, small hands! It is great.

But to the OP, yes I do brush more leading up to it.

Bill

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I do. My electric toothbrush has a two minute timer, in 30 second intervals, and it seems like it’s taking forever to brush my teeth. I’m a scrubber, so I tell myself I don’t have to brush two minutes…

I keep a small bowl of picks and floss sticks next to my bed and my chair in the family room, to make it easy to use both.

I don't think you're supposed to scrub with an electric toothbrush.
And pushing harder isn't better, I think it's actually worse.

[Cajundaddy]

Yes I do. My teeth are kept pretty clean daily but I really go to town on the gums with both floss and waterpik to avoid bleeding or seeing my breakfast being pulled out when she gets in there with those steely knives.

** Only one cavity in my life but healthy gums are the main focus of my dental health.

[jyl]

Hell yes. Otherwise the hygienists shame me, and my (cute) dentist will think worse of me.

[NY65912]

Of course! I have an upcoming appointment and I am always concerned because I have really taken to care for my teeth in the last few years and don't want anymore work done.

[wdfifteen]

Yes. But I like to chew a handful or Oreos just before I go in.

[911 Rod]

Nope. And she always says my teeth look good keep up the good work.

[stevej37]

I love popcorn...but I try not to eat any a few days before my cleaning.
Before I did that, she would find a hull attached somewhere almost every time.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I love popcorn...but I try not to eat any a few days before my cleaning.
Before I did that, she would find a hull attached somewhere almost every time.

I had a hull in deep below the gum line for several days before my last appointment, I could feel it with my tongue, but no amount of wiggling or flossing got it; the normal cleaning procedure didn’t get it, but the dentist was able to dog it out.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yeah, they are like little round suction cups when they get attached.

[NY65912]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I love popcorn...but I try not to eat any a few days before my cleaning.
Before I did that, she would find a hull attached somewhere almost every time.

And that's why I use a Waterpik. The hygienist insisted I get one. I feel dirty if I don't use it.

[MAS956]

After my first ever "deep root cleaning" I got religion. Hygienist wanted me to get and use a Sonicare brush so I did and I do. I also found this great "expanding" floss on Amazon called Ezzi. It has charcoal and Xylitol. I've never used black floss before but you can see EVERYTHING it removes between your teeth. Good stuff. My wife uses a Waterpik at the recommendation of her hygienist. She used to complain about it being messy but still uses it.