#really good post op this is just something I know a lot abouton account of haong Problems Teeth

[qwertyfingers]

I have some more advice to add here: HOW you brush and use mouthwash is as important as products. You should always floss/interdental clean first, followed by brushing, then mouthwash. Try to leave a few minutes between brushing and rinsing, and if possible keep (some of) the toothpaste foam in your mouth while you wait. This is to give the fluoride longer to ~take~. I like to do my skincare stuff during this part.

I know from experience not everyone can tolerate flossing for various reasons, but please consider investigating other options for cleaning between your teeth. A lot of grief arises from damage to enamel here. All of these products are available in the UK but I'm not sure about anywhere else, sorry.

I use these things: interdental brushes by TePe. They come in many different sizes, some dentists carry them and might be able to tell you what size you need. They are more effective than floss at cleaning below the gumline and are especially important if you have wear a mouthguard/retainer of any kind. It takes a lot of getting used to the sensation, but you really notice how much cleaner your mouth feels if you use them consistently. Also worth considering: water picks.

Corsodyl — a brand you might know for their antiseptic mouthwash, often recommended for active gum infections — now have a range of alcohol free daily mouthwashes containing a smaller amount of the same antiseptic, Chlorhexidine. If you often wake up with bad breath or your mouth feeling a bit nasty, this stuff is your friend. It also contains fluoride for further tooth strengthening. It does not burn the way most antiseptics do.

On a semi-related note: if you find some dental products irritate your mouth but you don't have mint sensitivity: check the ingredients for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. They are a foaming agent in some toiletries but sensitivity/intolerance is relatively common.

EDIT: forgot to add that this other Sensodyne product, Pronamel Intensive Enamel Repair is the one my dentist recommends. I stopped needing prescription fluoride toothpaste since switching to this.

Okay listen I have another disability related thing that’s important!!

If you have any disabilities linked to tooth decay/erosion, through direct cause or secondary symptom, it is vital that you get one or both of the following items: Sensodyne toothpaste and enamel repair mouthwash

This includes health conditions such as acid reflux, diabetes, thyroid conditions, fibromyalgia, chronic pain & mental illnesses such as depression that create poor hygiene routines, sensory issue disorders like autism and ADHD, and any health condition that causes frequent vomiting / increased stomach acid, including eating disorders and migraines.

All of these disabilities will erode the enamel of your teeth, not only opening you up to cavities but making it very easy to chip your teeth from such simple things as biting the wrong way on the tines of a fork. (I’ve chipped my teeth at least 4 times this way).

The toothpaste on the left here (sensodyne pronamel) is gentle on your teeth, won’t cause painful sensations from any extreme mint flavor, and will even protect your gums if they’re sensitive from any of these conditions.

The mouthwash on the right (Crest enamel repair) will, as it says, repair your enamel — which is marvelous, because the technology to repair your enamel at all is relatively very new to society! — but it is most importantly non-alcoholic. Meaning that it works well as a once-a-day rinse without any of the burning sensations of antiseptics that typically discourage people with sensory issues from taking care of their teeth.

I know remembering to do these things every day can feel like a lot when you’re sick and exhausted, but I promise a collective three minutes out of every day is going to save you an incredible amount of pain and money in the future. If your teeth are susceptible enough to rot, you can actually die from infection. And as they say, with how little insurance actually covers dental —

Not brushing your teeth??

In THIS economy???