Teeth Cleaning

Breathless Commuter Man

Stick with me; this is about bike commuting.

When I get to work I shower/shave/do hair and more importantly brush my teeth. My work colleagues have just become aware that I don't brush my teeth before I leave and the views about this are completely polarised. Some say its fine to leave the house without brushing teeth knowing that you are going to do it later, others think this is the worst hygiene crime imaginable.

What does everyone else do? Should I be brushing before I leave? Am I a bad person? :evil:

Cafewanda

Tell them to mind their own business. It's only an issue if you going to kiss someone and 'morning breath' is a problem

lost_in_thought

Very much a personal thing, but I always brush my teeth immediately after I get out of bed.

I'd be in the 'Oh my god ewwwwwww' camp...

You should do a poll!

PBo

interesting.

my wife always brushes first thing (because she hates that early morning cotton wool mouth feeling) - before brekkie/coffee, whereas I brush my teeth after the mornings consumption - if eating at home.

If breakfasting after commuting, I would brush teeth before leaving home (don't have a spare TB at work, and wouldn't want to do the bathroom ritual twice - shower at work -eat - go back to changing rooms to brush teeth.

I prefer brushing after eating, as this makes sense from a tooth decay pov, but also need to be cogniscent of breathing on others with stale breath....

In essence, you are brushing before inflicting any halitosis on others, so can't see how they can complain.....

BentMikey

Don't see what's wrong with that. You're brushing your teeth after all.

cuthbertrogergaylord

I use mouthwash pretty much immediately after getting up but brush my teeth in the shower at work.

sarajoy

I tend to brush at some point in the morning - not often I have any breakfast at all, so that's not really an issue.

Boyfriend brushes before bed, then not in the morning. To begin with I found that a bit odd - but occasionally I've scraped one of my back teeth with my fingernail in the evening (maybe trying to dislodge some food, whatever) and my God, that stuff coating my teeth smells rank.

So when staying over I sometimes do the evening brush too. I still do mine in the morning though... We're moving together soon, which might mean I do morning and evening forevermore...

Beeblebrox

PBo wrote:

I prefer brushing after eating, as this makes sense from a tooth decay pov, but also need to be cogniscent of breathing on others with stale breath....

Before or after doesn't make much difference.

(Interestingly (and iirc), the most important factor in brushing teeth is the mechanical movement of bacteria away from their compatriots - they can't produce decaying chemicals in any significant amount when out of the mini-colony they have built during the night.)

mickbrown

sarajoy wrote:

I tend to brush at some point in the morning - not often I have any breakfast at all, so that's not really an issue.

Boyfriend brushes before bed, then not in the morning. To begin with I found that a bit odd - but occasionally I've scraped one of my back teeth with my fingernail in the evening (maybe trying to dislodge some food, whatever) and my God, that stuff coating my teeth smells rank.

So when staying over I sometimes do the evening brush too. I still do mine in the morning though... We're moving together soon, which might mean I do morning and evening forevermore...

So you don't normally brush morning and night?

iPete

I've never seen the appeal in brushing straight out of bed, isn't the morning coffee/juice/toast/cereal/energy bar/last nights kebab going to taste just plain wrong?

BigJimmyB

If i'm at home and expecting to be working outside (i.e. in garden) and wearing 'outdoor' work-type clothes etc (and drinking copious teas), I won't bother with hygiene until I'm finished, then I come in a bath/shave/brush teeth and put clean clothes on.

Probbaly makes me gross, but I'm on my own with my breath so WTF!

bails87

mickbrown wrote:

sarajoy wrote:

I tend to brush at some point in the morning - not often I have any breakfast at all, so that's not really an issue.

Boyfriend brushes before bed, then not in the morning. To begin with I found that a bit odd - but occasionally I've scraped one of my back teeth with my fingernail in the evening (maybe trying to dislodge some food, whatever) and my God, that stuff coating my teeth smells rank.

So when staying over I sometimes do the evening brush too. I still do mine in the morning though... We're moving together soon, which might mean I do morning and evening forevermore...

So you don't normally brush morning and night?

+1! Isn't it the law?!

PBo

mickbrown wrote:

sarajoy wrote:

I tend to brush at some point in the morning - not often I have any breakfast at all, so that's not really an issue.

Boyfriend brushes before bed, then not in the morning. To begin with I found that a bit odd - but occasionally I've scraped one of my back teeth with my fingernail in the evening (maybe trying to dislodge some food, whatever) and my God, that stuff coating my teeth smells rank.

So when staying over I sometimes do the evening brush too. I still do mine in the morning though... We're moving together soon, which might mean I do morning and evening forevermore...

So you don't normally brush morning and night?

OMG Sarah - quick - you need a diversionary tactic to avoid a lambasting on your dental hygiene habits.....let's change the subject....eeeerrrrr I know!

" so who goes comman........"?

rally200

iPete wrote:

I've never seen the appeal in brushing straight out of bed, isn't the morning coffee/juice/toast/cereal/energy bar/last nights kebab going to taste just plain wrong?

too right OJ after toothpaste is nasty, and except for the odd occasion when you crash out drunk after a bit too much port and stilton/ lager annd kebab, you shouldn't be waking up to a manky mouth anyhow

sarajoy

bails87 wrote:

mickbrown wrote:

So you don't normally brush morning and night?

+1! Isn't it the law?!

It appears not necessarily..!

mickbrown

Each to their own, but if you move in with your boyfriend then between you, you'll have morning and nights covered.

PBo

mickbrown wrote:

Each to their own, but if you move in with your boyfriend then between you, you'll have morning and nights covered.

but this might restrict tonsil hockey, as at any one time, one of you is "unclean"???

sarajoy

PBo wrote:

mickbrown wrote:

Each to their own, but if you move in with your boyfriend then between you, you'll have morning and nights covered.

but this might restrict tonsil hockey, as at any one time, one of you is "unclean"???

Indeed, I can foresee our patterns being a little shaken up.. UNCLEEAAANNN!

Zachariah

Brushing before breakfast is the clinically approved method - if done correctly, it removes the bacteria before they have a chance to feast on your food. Sure it makes breakfast taste funny, but it's a small price to pay.

To the OP - I'd tell your co-workers to mind their own business (unless you have to kiss them all first thing in the morning).

suzyb

I only brush my teeth at night. I drink fizzy juice and read somewhere you shouldn't drink acidic juice after brushing as the brushing leaves the teeth more susceptible to the acid. So I brush just before I go to bed when I wont be drinking anything.

I actually went for many years without brushing my teeth at all. Seriously regret it now though. Don't think I have a tooth left without a filling

cee

I visit the oral hygenist every 3 months, as it is included in my dental insurance plan....

She recommends brushing before eating, as soon as you can after getting up...

something about brushing after eating being worse for the enamel......

I also try to remember to floss after most brushings.

lost_in_thought

I also don't often brush my teeth in the evenings, sometimes I go through phases of it.

I go to the dentist/hygienist only when something's up, and apart from a lot of orthodontic work, have no fillings and am always told my teeth etc are in a really good condition.

Interesting about what the oral hygienist says there, cee, I just can't bear the sleep-mouth!

tailwindhome

Brushing the teeth is part of the waking up routine.

When I've time I brush again when I arrive at work - to freshen up.

artaxerxes

Brush before bed at night, and in the mornings after the shower (brushing teeth in the shower is just wrong!).
Also drink lots of green tea during the day which kind of acts as a natural mouthwash apparently.

mickbrown

My ghast is still truly flabbered that people only brush once a day.

bails87

cee
I'm sure it's the acids in food soften the enamel, and then scrubbing with the brush can rub it away.

Acidic OJ would be particularly bad. But toothpaste and then OJ tastes awful, so I clean my teeth after breakfast.

cee

bails87 wrote:

cee
I'm sure it's the acids in food soften the enamel, and then scrubbing with the brush can rub it away.

that sounds about like what she said...

Kiblams

You are supposed to leave it at least an hour after anything acidic or carbonated drinks before brushing as this will as stated remove enamel before it has chance to harden again. That's about the only rule I have ever heard except for 'before and after bed'

suzyb

Kiblams wrote:

You are supposed to leave it at least an hour after anything acidic or carbonated drinks before brushing as this will as stated remove enamel before it has chance to harden again. That's about the only rule I have ever heard except for 'before and after bed'

So I've been doing it the wrong way round :oops:

Agent57

In the morning, I brush pretty much immediately after I get up. I don't like having a stale, claggy mouth, which is what I seem to wake up to. Brushing makes it all feel fresher.

I don't find the minty taste has any ill effects on food or coffee; I just don't drink or eat immediately after brusing, either (and really, even when I do, it's only the first mouthful or so that tastes odd).

Stone Glider

Does everyone use electric tothbrushes? They have made a big difference for me, particularly beneficial for the gums. Last thing at night and after breakfast is my routine