this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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I always brush my teeth beforehand, but I know that there are always people who will behave differently.

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[–] [email protected] 96 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I try to cram 6 whole months worth of dental hygiene into the hours before my appointment.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Dentist can't make my gums bleed if they're already bleeding.

taps temple

[–] [email protected] 62 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd be too embarrassed to go to the dentist with dirty teeth. Definitely brush before.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Last time I was at the dentist I watched a guy drink a Sprite and smoke a cigarette just before going in.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Im surprised a smoking person goes to the dentist. Most smokers I know have black teeth

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I've never seen someone with black teeth.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I see it no different than being showered before a massage. Its just rude otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

This. Dentist wants to see your teeth, not smell them.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

You shower before getting massaged? What's next? Using toilet paper before a prostate exam?

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago

Always brush and floss before. No need to clutter up the workspace.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I eat a package of Oreos beforehand to help out, that way the hygienist has a clear marker of if they've cleaned somewhere or not. Cleaning clean teeth would be like painting a grass green. Did I get that spot? But painting it purple, you know where you've been.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Seems like something a fabricator would do.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Taps temple.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That's a great Stephen Wright joke:

My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she has to cancel the rest of the afternoon's appointments.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Do you wash your hair before getting a haircut? Out of respect for the professional, always clean yourself before they have to get up close and personal.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My guy says that color sets better on dirty hair.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That’s true, but we always prefer clean hair otherwise ;)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, then they wash it again.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because we want it wet. Spraying with water usually isn’t enough. Besides, most folks enjoy the scalp massage.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh I'm not complaining by any means.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I thought you probably weren’t! :D

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

If you call a plumber to fix your toilet you should be nice and clean it beforehand yeah.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Do you shower before going on a date? Of course.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I brush my teeth beforehand. There were a couple of times when I didn't, which led to the dental hygienist picking at my teeth and gums a lot more than when I did brush. I'd rather brush and get rid of as much crud from my teeth that way as opposed to having spend more time and pain at the dentist.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Do you want to be done with the picking and scraping as easily and quickly as possible? Brush first. Not excessively, just as you normally would at night. If you're flossing, do it a couple hours early so any swelling can subside before they measure your gums.

Otherwise it's like trying to mop an unswept floor.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Dental assistant once thanked me profusely for brushing my teeth before the appointment. I always do, but that cemented my resolve to continue doing it indefinitely.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

The dentist doesn't want to play peek-a-boo with your last meal.

Obviously floss and brush beforehand.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I'd be mortified not to. It would be like going to get a haircut without showering that day.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I brush my teeth like normal usually unless I eat something like ribs, then I might brush/floss right beforehand. I'm in the habit of brushing twice a day and flossing regularly already though, so my teeth are usually relatively clean anyways.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I really like my dentist and everyone on her team, so I will always brush before an appointment. Feels rude not too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I brush my teeth every morning anyhow so I guess sbefore by default for me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Every dentist I've ever had gave out toothbrushes at check-in so you could brush before being seen. Is that not the norm?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

My orthodontist had a teeth brushing station with disposable toothbrushes (that come pre-loaded with toothpaste). I've never seen that at a dentist though. Mine have always given out toothbrushes at the end of an appointment. Probably because otherwise people would keep using the same one for years.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago

I would never brush or floss before, unless I had just eaten something awful within the last hour or so. I think it is best to stick with your normal routine. You give the hygienist a better look at how good or bad your cleaning is. They can easily tell what is recent and what has stuck to the teeth and requires scaling. Furthermore, you aren't saving them any stink. The stuff that you need their help to clean out smells about 50 times worse than the things you just ate (just smell your floss compared to your breath after any meal). A quick rinse with water will get the worst out of their way, and even if you're a sloppy eater the rest will take maybe 5 minutes at worst to remove.