And floss too. If it's the evening, that's a perfect time to do it. If it's the morning, great time as well. Middle of the day? You've probably had food, brush them teeth. If you've recently (but not immediately after, wait a bit, drink some water) eaten, that's a perfect time to brush. Especially if you've recently had something sugary (avoid sugary stuff, also like I said not too recently).

And if you can, and haven't recently, see a dentist.

Your teeth are precious, and hard to replace. Lack of proper dental care can in many ways amount to a tax on the poor, where a lack of proper preventative care can turn mouths into an unaffordably fixable mess. Get people in your community to take care of their teeth too.

There's really only a few situations where you shouldn't be brushing your teeth right now: you vomited recently (brushing after vomiting can degrade the protective coating on your teeth), or you brushed recently.

Not having the equipment for it on you is only an excuse this once, carrying that stuff with you is a good idea. You eat and drink throughout the day, so you should brush and floss throughout the day. And who knows when you'll need to be presentable? You don't want to barrage your comrades, friends, partners, or "path to promotion" (your bosses) with bad breath.

  • TankieTanuki [he/him]
    cake
    ·
    25 days ago

    I recently found out that for the past thirty-four years I've been missing a spot when I floss. ohnoes

    It's the interior lower incisors. There is a lot more exposed enamel on the inside of these teeth than the outside. If you floss in the mirror you have to lower your head and open your jaw wide to see them, and to reach them you have to pull the floss down further with the fingers on the inside of your mouth. My dentist said tartar there is "normal" (to make me feel better?😢).

    • egg1918 [she/her]
      ·
      25 days ago

      I've found those little plastic floss fork things are waaaaaaay easier than fucking around with a piece of floss

      • Roonerino [they/them]
        ·
        25 days ago

        Unfortunately, according to my dentist at least, also much less effective. And they create a bunch more trash.

        • Edamamebean [she/her]
          ·
          24 days ago

          It's unfortunate indeed, but at the same time, the best floss is the floss you'll actually use reliably. I know a lot of people, myself included, wouldn't floss if it weren't for the convenience of the sticks