Do you brush your teeth before going to the dentist?

[notsocreepylurker]

I tend to brush like an hour before my appointment with the dentist and I was wondering if others do as well. 

Poll question is: Do you brush your teeth before going to the dentist?
Answers: Yes , No, Special Snowflake

[marvine]

Yes, always. But I don't think everyone does. I went after work once and forgot to take a toothbrush with me and apologized to the hygenist. She said "well, you at least brushed once today, right?" And another hygenist told my mom that many people don't brush before, figuring why bother when they'll do it anyway. She told a story of someone who had eaten oatmeal right before their appointment and it was all in their teeth. *gag*

[TR]

Ew yes. Otherwise I assume there are bits of food from whatever I've eaten stuck in there. Gross.

[tacokick]

It sounds monstrous not to

[TR]

Apr 27, 2021 13:47:09 GMT -5 tacokick said:

It sounds monstrous not to

Right? We are trying to live in a society, people.

[k3am]

I brush, but don’t floss. The hygienist said flossing right before irritates the gums and makes their probes/charting/whatever it’s called off.

I know multiple people who think brushing once a day is sufficient (and they actually admit to it!!) so I assume dentists have seen it all.

[notsopicky]

SS: I brush AT the freaking dentist's office. OMG--how could one NOT brush one's teeth beforehand?

[circa1978]

Apr 27, 2021 14:07:34 GMT -5 notsopicky said:

SS: I brush AT the freaking dentist's office. OMG--how could one NOT brush one's teeth beforehand?

This. It just seems polite? LOL. I mean, I also shower before I go to the doctor if at all possible? Is that weird?

[lostrn]

Apr 27, 2021 14:09:19 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

Apr 27, 2021 14:07:34 GMT -5 notsopicky said:

SS: I brush AT the freaking dentist's office. OMG--how could one NOT brush one's teeth beforehand?

This. It just seems polite? LOL. I mean, I also shower before I go to the doctor if at all possible? Is that weird?

Not weird. I shower before the doctor no matter what the appointment is for. Even if I just showered before bed the night before or something.

[Leeham Rimes]

I brush but don’t floss since I was told to only the floss once a day and I only floss at night. I generally don’t eat much before my dentist appointment anyway because I like to schedule first thing in the morning and I’m never hungry for breakfast.

Not doing so just seems gross. Like if you go get your nails done of course they’re going to clean under your nails but you’re not gonna go in with dirt caked nails, right?

[Deleted]

I don't brush directly before if I'm at work, I don't have the ability. I do brush in the morning every day though of course (and at night but that's not a factor here).

So I chose SS cause I would if I could but I don't always have the chance

[Leeham Rimes]

Apr 27, 2021 14:11:58 GMT -5 lostrn said:

Apr 27, 2021 14:09:19 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

This. It just seems polite? LOL. I mean, I also shower before I go to the doctor if at all possible? Is that weird?

Not weird. I shower before the doctor no matter what the appointment is for. Even if I just showered before bed the night before or something.

Same on the shower front. I feel this is especially important with gynecological visits. At least in my own head, LOL

[fernweh]

Apr 27, 2021 13:42:40 GMT -5 marvine said:

Yes, always. But I don't think everyone does. I went after work once and forgot to take a toothbrush with me and apologized to the hygenist. She said "well, you at least brushed once today, right?" And another hygenist told my mom that many people don't brush before, figuring why bother when they'll do it anyway. She told a story of someone who had eaten oatmeal right before their appointment and it was all in their teeth. *gag*

I did this once too. I apologized profusely but she indicated that I was still in better shape than most people when they come in.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Yes. I brush, floss, and use mouthwash. I know my kids' dentist often asks if they need to brush when they show up because kids are often coming from school, and if so, they open the toothbrush they'd normally get at hte end and brush before the cleaning.

I also floss much more often in the 2 weeks before the appointment so that I can not feel guilty when they ask me if I floss regularly. I normally only floss about once a week otherwise.

[gastro]

Yes. If I’m out and can’t my dentist has prepasted brushes in their bathroom so I would do that.

I also eat a lot of kimchi and garlic so try to avoid that on a dentist visit day.

[dexteroni]

I use every dental implement I have at home - brush, floss, water flosser, and mouthwash. It's polite, plus to me it's like cleaning before the housekeeper comes, lol.

[joy]

I could never be a dentist. The idea of people coming in with anything less than sparkly teeth and breath would be unfathomable.

[Jalapeñomel]

Yes.

[starburst604]

The hygienist always gives a cup with mouthwash to swish and rinse before they get started, so I don't worry if I haven't been able to brush right before. I usually have an early morning appointment anyway and have brushed when I woke up.

[tab123]

100% always. There was one time that I had an early appt., was super pregnant and scarfed a piece of toast on the way. I apologized deeply and the dentist said it was good practice for him and it wasn't a big deal. I can only imagine some of the stuff they see.

[timorousbeastie]

Always.

Growing up, my mom’s BFF was a hygienist. She used to tell me horror stories of people whose teeth she had to clean when they had just eaten things like Oreos right before their appointment without brushing. It pretty much guaranteed that I could never go into that profession.

[rubytue]

My dentist has mouthwash in the bathroom. I always assume it’s a hint before your appointment

[rubytue]

Apr 27, 2021 14:11:58 GMT -5 lostrn said:

Apr 27, 2021 14:09:19 GMT -5 circa1978 said:

This. It just seems polite? LOL. I mean, I also shower before I go to the doctor if at all possible? Is that weird?

Not weird. I shower before the doctor no matter what the appointment is for. Even if I just showered before bed the night before or something.

A showered this morning before my derm appointment. Shaved my legs, too. I, so out of practice I sliced my thigh. Well, not a slice by a long streak between a slice and a razor burn. It got an ouch from the derm 🙄

[joy]

Apr 27, 2021 16:58:17 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Apr 27, 2021 15:05:15 GMT -5 joy said:

I could never be a dentist. The idea of people coming in with anything less than sparkly teeth and breath would be unfathomable.

How about an ob/gyn???

My mom is an RN. She did the OB/GYN rotation. Her stories are why I immaculately showed and shave before going.

[sent]

Oreos and Cheetos consumed right before the appointment are not an issue. It’s actually easy to clean that stuff off.

It’s the Oreos and Cheetos that haven’t been removed for the past week, month, or longer and has now turned into plaque that is gross and problematic. I mean it’s not gross to me to clean it off since this is my profession and I educate adolescents everyday about brushing properly. I have not gagged due to a patient’s mouth, but I’ve come across pictures online that I couldn’t unsee.

[RoxMonster]

Yes, I always brush right beforehand. If I'm going from work, I bring my toothbrush to work and brush there, but I try to schedule first thing in the AM so I can avoid lugging my electric toothbrush to work.

[raleighnc]

My stylist thinks I am weird for showering/washing my hair the same day as my haircut. Why would I go around feeling gross all day before my appointment just to avoid washing my hair twice?

[silvercrayon]

I bring my toothbrush and brush at the dentist office when I arrive.

[jillybean222]

How is this even a question?! YES! 1000x yes I brush before going to the dentist!

Funny story though....the first time we went to the dentist after Covid shutdowns I was so busy making sure we were following all the rules that I failed to check with my 3 kids who had appointments....one kid forgot to brush and I apologized profusely to the hygienist and she said, "2 out of 3 isn't bad...you'd be surprised how many kids come in here without brushing!"

[Deleted]

Apr 27, 2021 17:24:17 GMT -5 raleighnc said:

My stylist thinks I am weird for showering/washing my hair the same day as my haircut. Why would I go around feeling gross all day before my appointment just to avoid washing my hair twice?

I wash my hair in the morning with a hair cut but not with a dye cause I was told it may bond easier with dirty hair. Dunno if that was false or not.