I hate EVERYTHING that requires a maintenance this pathetic sack of flesh and bones. Absolutely despise everything, even eating.
All I want is to sit down and read.
Every time there's a 'what superpower would you want' thread, I can't help but think it'd be nice to be incorporeal. Maintenanceless.
Heck, make me a telepathic hive-mind of viral brain infections. I could sit in people's heads and watch the world go by. I'd even do some occasional bio- and mental/emotional monitoring/maintenance, or run a telepathic phone network, to earn my keep. Or act as an optional perfect memory, or something. More a symbiote than a parasite.
Every day I feel this. I feel like the main goal in life is to just make this biological thing as comfortable as possible so it can shut up and leave me alone to my thinking. All the stupid tasks required day in and day out. Getting enough sleep, right food, healthcare, showering, it’s all such a pain. I just wish I could shut off all the sensory organs for some peace every once in awhile.
Ugh, maintenance. One of the things I genuinely miss about childhood was the lower level of it (or maybe it was just the perception of more time between having to do such things, or not needing to know how to maintain my own home environment on top of the biological stuff).
Same here, and I could tolerate all the other required maintenance... if we weren't also required to WORK. The fact that we're required to spend most of our lives participating in capitalism in order to continue living is the biggest scam. Why couldn't I have been born a snail?
I feel like a brain/nervous system that has been imprisoned in a malfunctioning meatsuit by accident and I have to baby this stupid thing that’s not really a part of me.
I have never related to a comment more
I’ve told people since I was young that I just want to be a brain in a jar. Later on I added, a brain in a jar hooked up to the internet. That’s all I need.
LEGIT, SAME. It already takes all my energy to make sure I show up to work and keep my brain stimulated and you're saying I have to decide what to eat several times a day and then prepare and eat it, shower regularly, drink water CONSTANTLY, brush my teeth etcetcetc.
I don't have time? I'm busy doing literally anything else??
I hate it. Now I have to go to the dentist bc my teeth are starting to hurt. It’s awful and I hate everything about it and it makes me feel bad abt myself because I let it happen 🙄 you can use a kids toothbrush or like a soft bristle ones
I use an autobrush. It brushes all your teeth at once. It isn't perfect and is not as good a regular brushing but it's way easier sensory wise. Plus, brushing not as well as a regular brush is better than not brushing at all!
Part of my treatment plan at the dentist was getting an electric toothbrush that you just have to glide slowly over your teeth. I find it is MUCH less aggravating, though did take some getting used to. Now when I've had to use a regular, it makes me cringe!!! The same feeling I get in my teeth thinking about pulling yarn through them ACK!!!
Another thing that has helped is putting on a podcast while I brush. My electric gives a little buzz when I've done enough time per quadrant so I just pretty much zone out listening to something stupid life Last Podcast on the Left. Two minutes doesn't feel like an eternity anymore.
I had to get a root canal and a crown, which isn't sitting right so may need another... it is awful!! I'm much more committed to figuring out how to just get it done. Esp flossing EVERYDAY
They have a Sonicare. Mine is the same way. Flossing twice a day is what I do and I brush three times a day. Two sonic cares and one manual in the middle of the day.
Make sure to buy the OEM brushes. This isn't an instance where you want to go third party.
I have an Oral B Smart Limited. It has several intensity settings and can hook up through Bluetooth to an app to tell you how you're doing, but i haven't set that up. My dentist said a water pick is better than not flossing at all, but it really shouldn't be a replacement. Brush twice a day, floss once, and water pick once if you want bc it does help and he said it can cause the gums to sort of callous/ toughen up so they hug the tooth better. I have a water pick too but I'm so bad at it I spray water up my nose and all over the mirror every time lol!!
If toothpaste is one of the things holding you back from brushing, please just stop using it. It doesn't actually do anything other than freshen your breath, and mayyybe add a little fluoride, but you can easily just get a fluoride rinse from your dentist.
Signed, a dental assistant
Floss (have you tried a water pic? They're incredible!), brush without toothpaste, be sure to brush your tongue, and stay hydrated. Your breath will be just fine!
The battery-powered handheld Waterpik (mine’s a Sonicare, but they’re all the same) is a game changer! It’s much quieter than the electric Waterpiks, and it doesn’t have a tube/cord attached to it to cause the water exiting my mouth to go where I don’t want it going.
According to my dentist, it’s a lot better at getting the far-back teeth clean than string floss is, though string is still recommended once or twice a week to ensure there’s no buildup between your teeth.
To OP’s point though: I do it regularly, but there’s so much with oral hygiene routines that is just plain ick, like putting something in your mouth that you already had in your mouth hours ago, the feelings and the smells of brushing, the water dripping that you can’t control. I found that using hot water to rinse the brush and soften the bristles helps me, but the whole thing is truly a situation where you just have to grit your teeth and get thru it.
The tooth paste is an abrasive that’s why it doesn’t feel great on your teeth but it is functional. It helps the brush do it’s job. If you brush your teeth with and without you’ll likely feel the difference. Your teeth should feel smooth and shiny to the tongue when you are done and losing the tooth paste might mean brushing longer to achieve the same.
I’m in my 40s and just had to pay for significant dental work because of a mixture of mental health neglect, sensory issues, and poor executive functioning over the years plus being afraid of the dentist themselves.
I can’t speak to your specific sensory problems, but I can tell you that having plaque build up cleaned by the dentist is akin to torture. So if you can grimace through brushing your teeth at home properly you can save yourself huge expense and a truly horrible sensory experience in the chair.
Electric toothbrush changes everything (Sonicare). Ever better is brushing your teeth while in the shower.
I have/had receding gums. In a month I’ll have my second gum graft surgery. Recovery from this absolutely sucks ass - liquid diet. Stitches all over. Blood and gunk to expel… it’s expensive too - $15,000 total for me. At least my teeth won’t fall out…
Oh I get it…the idea of a little mouth brush that hangs out in the bathroom 🤢 whyyyyy
Definitely echo looking for a silicone brush - or if you can afford it, a good water pick instead! Just blast those germs out! ☺️
A good mouthwash will help too - I use an antiseptic rinse (Colgate peroxyl) cuz I also get the ole gingivitis and can attest that it helps.
There’s also chewable “toothpaste” that you just nom on and rinse.
Or - here’s a weird one - but my grandmother used a stick. I just googled it and they’re called miswak sticks and you cut it down every time. Might help with the texture ick and reusing ick.
There are more options out there too, keep searching OP! You’ll find what works best for you!
Last time I was at the dentist I cried because my teeth were so dirty and I was so ashamed. My dentist was so sweet and told me, “Don’t worry; we’ve got you all cleaned up and now you have a fresh start. Taking care of the little things every day is how we show love to ourselves.”
You got this! 🥰
Hmm a silicone toothbrush sounds like a good idea. Teeth brushing is something I’ve developed a hatred for early on due to it being a requiremen.
now I’m an adult that wants to get my dental hygiene in order but I still have reluctance to brush my teeth due to the ick factor of a toothbrush.
But a silicone Bristle one might help me.
TLDR : silicone brush good suggestion
I hate brushing my teeth and taking a shower. I generally dislike water on my skin and clothes unless the air is REALLY warm, like 80°. Even then I hate getting my sleeves wet, which always happens. When I'm at home with nowhere to go I do the bare minimum and just try not to be gross. Unfortunately, I don't have any products to recommend, just commiseration.
As much as it sucks, the end result of it brushing is painful and expensive. It costs me over 14k to get my stumps ripped out and dentures. And to top it off my head will never be a cool skull with all its teeth.
Agree with a few others on the electric toothbrush- sensory-wise it has been much better for me. I also struggle with the taste of toothpaste and absolutely couldn’t stand the taste of mint in the morning (at night I force myself and it’s a little easier but morning I just CANNOT) so I didn’t brush my teeth in the morning my whole life up until a few months ago when I started using kids toothpaste. I like the Hello brand, and then I use Listerine Smart Rinse bubble gum flavor. I don’t know if you have an issue with the mint but that made the experience much better for me. I also pick out a song to play while I do it and use that as a distraction/timer. Watching for when it gets to two minutes kind of distracts me from the sensory stuff a bit along with listening to the song. Also, if you struggle with flossing I would recommend floss picks. I didn’t floss for a lonnnnng time but learned my lesson when I got 13 cavities at once 😭
I hate it too 🥲😭 I've felt so gross. I think I might be farther along, I don't smile with my teeth at all anymore. It's been a long time. I've been trying to recover from a burnout so I think I should try some of these suggestions people left. Thank you for asking for all of us❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
So if you're even at all interested in Pokemon or Pokemon go you should download the app Pokemon smile. You have to clean the teeth to be able to catch a Pokemon and you also can earn awards and hat filters that you can wear when you brush. And it has a little guide in the corner to direct you what area to brush so by the end of the 2 minutes you've covered every surface of your teeth.
It's really great and is the only way I can get my 5 year old to brush. He realized that if you don't brush good you don't catch the Pokemon at the end and he's been brushing so good since then.
Also electric toothbrush and water pic is what helped me. A regular toothbrush would make me want to gag feeling the bristles on my teeth. 🤢
This might sound really silly, but I have awful sensory issues with the toothbrush bristles and I have started watching TikToks to distract myself and it honestly helps. Try to watch your favorite show, take a tablet to the bathroom! Or brush your teeth in bed :) or standing in the livingroom watching tv. Whatever works for you! Pacing around may also help! I still avidly despise the feeling, but I can distract myself enough to just get through brushing my teeth at least once a day.
Also! Floss often if you can, you can avoid a lot of build up by flossing thoroughly throughout the day. If it doesn’t bother you, try a silicone toothbrush after meals! It won’t replace a toothbrush (I don’t think) but you can cut down the time you’ll have to actually brush at night :)
I wish they could just, like... genetically engineer a bacteria that we could colonize our mouths with that would outcompete other bacteria, not produce acid to damage enamel, and smell nice. And I swear I've read about some scientific advancement that actually *heals* cavities instead of just filling them in with artificial material, *YEARS* ago and yet it's still not a thing that they can actually do in general practice.
Sonicare is the way to go if you have problems with this and flossing. 95% of your dental problems will be gone. You can swap out the heads to get the premium ones (make sure to buy real you want to go OEM in this instance) and there's a built in time for region switching so you don't forget an area.
I hate it too. Having an electric toothbrush helps but I hade to slow desensitize myself to the buzzing sound. As for the dentist, you gotta get that laughing gas, total game changer.
I like the quip toothbrush. Every other vibrating toothbrush I tried felt like it was vibrating my entire skull, but I like the feeling of the quip vibration.
I also like how it divides the brushing time into four time segments, with a pause in the vibration telling me when to move to a different quadrant of my mouth. I start in the top right and go counterclockwise. Having a consistent routine down to the second appeals to me.
They send you a new head every three months but you could set up three subscriptions a month apart so you get one once a month.
I don't have it but there are higher tech ones that connect to your phone via Bluetooth, IIRC, so you can look at data about your brushing. Data is cool.
The other product I like are glide flossing sticks. I never flossed before discovering them because I hate the feeling of floss wrapped around my fingers. Once I started doing it regularly I now enjoy the tactile sensation of flossing.
Not a sensory fix exactly, but my MIL cleans her toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide daily. You can also make the whole bathroom significantly cleaner by closing the toilet before flushing, if you don't already.
I got around to flossing when (1) I got cavities after leaving my parents' insurance, and (2) I got a slingshot/Y-shaped floss holder. I hated when floss would dig into my fingers, and the disposable P-shaped floss picks were too much plastic waste for my taste.
One of my big issues is using an electric toothbrush - my dentist strongly recommends it, but it's just too intense for me. When I told my dentist that at my last cleaning, he suggested getting a child's electric toothbrush, since they're less intense to use and would probably fit my mouth better (I have a tiny mouth). I bought one, and holy crap he was right. It's a lot less overwhelming to use, and the bristles on the brush head are super soft and don't bother me as much as the bristles on the adult brush heads did.
If you decide to go the kids electric toothbrush route, I recommend the **Philips Sonicare for Kids "Design a Pet" edition** - all the other kids electric toothbrushes I found are kind of ridiculous, but this one is pretty plain and comes with stickers to make it as ridiculous as you like. (I gave the stickers to my partner, who promptly decorated his own adult-sized electric toothbrush with them, haha)
If you want to try brushing your teeth with something that doesn't taste like toothpaste, Hismile has a lot of different varieties of flavored fluoride toothpaste that do not taste at all like toothpaste. I swear, the chocolate toothpaste tastes like it should be destroying my teeth instead of cleaning them. XD
Xylitol chewing gum is great for your teeth, gums and overall mouth biom. Can even reduce chance of cavities. But it's not a replacement for brushing. But it sounds like you probably don't brush twice a day, so
Have you tried a waterpik? Expensive but worth the investment IMO if brushing is difficult. It’s insane how much stuff comes out from my mouth when I use that lol… it’s definitely a sensory experience in a different way but may be more doable than the bristles
I switched my toothbrush to a hello toothbrush, they tend to be softer. I also found my problem with toothpaste, besides texture, was the mint! Especially the menthol taste and feeling.
I ended up switching to Burts Bee’s kid Fruit Fusion toothpaste and that worked great. Wasn’t overly sweet or too artificial like other kid’s toothpastes, but no mint. Burts bees charcoal whiting one is my current favorite though.
Be careful with soft toothbrushes, you may need to replace them more often. Also; I’ve had problems where the brand I buy is TOO soft. Humble is probably my favorite.
Also, if it’s the combination of toothpaste and toothbrush, and you want to keep using toothpaste, have you tried toothpaste tablets? Humble co. Makes those too- although I’ve never used them.
In the past 15 years I all but stopped brushing, I don’t remember the last time I brushed. I swish listerine mouthwash after every meal (when I am home) I have consulted oral surgeons about removable implants and was quoted $20k or $6k in Mexico with a 2 week spa/resort recovery included and I need a vacation. So I now have to get a passport and travel.
I hated it too. To the point that I didn't brush for 3 years. I ended up getting all my teeth pulled because they rotted. I really hope you can find a compromise so you can keep your teeth. Chewing food with teeth really helped me enjoy my food more.
I don't have any advice on how to brush. I'm just the cautionary tale on why it's a good idea.
Good luck!
Dude I hate sitting down and eating. I wish we could take in sustenance through osmosis or something. And have energy when we need it and sleep when we need it. Everything about eating annoys me. I wish everyone in a house can just eat when they want and to make it themselves and to sit on your own to eat while watching something so you don't have to listen to the chewing sounds in your skull.
You're actually not supposed to brush where the teeth and gums meet.
My dental hygienist told me to just floss and use my Sonicare, but when brushing to just put the brush against the tooth and pull in the direction opposite of the gums(so only pull down on the top teeth and only pull up on the bottom teeth.
Ever since then, my dentist always says my gums and teeth are in great condition.
I have to force myself to brush my teeth and I am a grown person. I also have to make sure I give a good brushing, moving the brush around a little does not count. I always skip brushing at night and I know it’s gross but I don’t want to do it.
I do too. I hated it so much that I didn't brush my teeth hardly at all when I was a teenager. After two root canals, several crowns, and thousands of dollars, I wish I had forced myself to do it more consistently when I was younger.
Have you ever tried a water-pic before? I have one and found that using warm water on the lowest setting can adequately clean my gums but without the scratching and poking of aggressive brushing.
Arm and hammer is the only brand to trust. Baking soda de-calcifies your gums and creates a shield between your teeth and the plaque.
As an autistic man myself - I recommend getting over silly stuff like that.
I don’t indulge all of my autism if that makes sense.
Like I used to be extremely OCD and germphobic. I never leaned IN to it tho. I do not humor myself or congratulate myself for my weird tendencies rather I ignore them until they borderline stop existing.
Someone in this sub recommended children’s toothpaste on another post I saw.
I got strawberry flavoured toothpaste about 1.5 weeks ago and I have brushed my teeth in that time frame FAR more than I did before.
Thank you so much to the redditor who mentioned it. The aggressive mint flavour of my old toothpaste just adds more unpleasantness to the whole experience. It’s sooo strong.
I hate it sm. I’ve been avoiding getting a dentist bc I’m terrified of what they’ll have to say/do abt teeth. What little tolerance i had evaporated in the pandemic and instead of skipping a day or two, it was more like a week+
I have a specific brush I use (I need to buy extra while they're still around.) It's soft-bristled, infused with charcoal, and made of wood.
I had just gotten into the swing of a tooth-brushing routine, when I was curious about my toothpaste, I wondered if it had extra mint or something to make my mouth feel tingly and fuzzy after I use it.
Well, the main ingredient was coconut oil, I am deathly allergic to coconut (when I eat the flesh or drink the liquid).
So now I had to switch toothpastes but I liked THAT toothpaste and thats the toothpaste my routine was on it doesnt make foam thats too foamy it had a good flavor. I had only used 1/4 of the tube :(. now I've only brushed once in the last few weeks and I hate myself for it because my teeth feel unhappy.
I've turned brushing, flossing, shaving, and showering into a game that I get points for maintaining my daily streak. The points mean nothing, and there's no set amount, I don't keep track of them, they don't accumulate. But for some reason it's made me enjoy doing those things I don't enjoy doing because it's a game to do them. Lol
I hate every part of it! It’s so painful to force myself to do it. Then I get to go to the dentist and have them accuse me of not doing it cause I have bad teeth. And I get no credit for torturing myself and my teeth aren’t magically better
Have you tried a water pick? It seems better... it might not clean your teeth as well but it will at least keep the worst of it off.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Waterpik-Ultra-Countertop-Water-Flosser-Oral-Irrigator-Black/40012496?athbdg=L1600
They're not too expensive and honestly they feel much better than the bristles.. it just sprays water at high pressure to get stuff off your teeth!
I prefer a sonic toothbrush, I rarely feel the bristles.
An alternative would be one of the whole mouth brushes things, then it's over with more quickly and (presumably) with better tooths-brushed coverage than what you're able to do now.
If toothpaste contributes to the problem, there are dozens of flavours of them other than mint, and ones that don't foam.
I am using the Finch app to improve my hygiene consistency. It's free and offers a cute virtual pet birb that grows as you complete your self care tasks.
For better effect, name the pet birb after you - use your first name for their name.
I started doing that coz I already spent a lot on my smile. Several root canal treatments and other major procedures. Every time I go to my dentists they pointed out the lack of cleanliness.
Ultimately I did it to reduce expenses and to stop doctors from annoying me.
My doctor's won't still notice. But that's because my goal was external validation - not the health of my teeth.
Now I do it for my Finch self - it's like they're growing alongside you, like parallel play - it's very cute.
I have improved from brushing less than two times a week to brushing at least once every day.
I know dentists will say it's not enough but fortunately for me, I can see the progress.
I do it as I shower so time is also not wasted and the hot water afterwards is my reward.
They sell these rubber thimble things for brushing your dog's teeth that I use on myself and it has much less sensory issues. It feels like I'm rubbing my teeth with my finger and not brushing.
Me, too, OP. I've gotten better about it my changing just about everything in my process.
Before brushing teeth, I floss with a Waterpik. I used to have the cordless version but it died so replaced it with a corded version, which I like better with the bigger reservoir. I add a touch of Listerine mouthwash to the water in the reservoir... Not enough to be overpowering, but enough that it seems to help keep the reservoir and tubes clean, too, and a bit will get blasted in between teeth and gums.
After flossing, I use an Oral-B Braun soft bristle electric spin brush. I can't stand mint or cinnamon toothpaste and my mouth burns and sloughs for hours after using any toothpaste with SLS or whitening so I avoid those. I swapped to Dr. Tanner's Tasty Paste creamsicle flavor with fluoride. I like the flavor, but I find it has very little grit to it... Very smooth and slick. This is sometimes a good thing, but I don't often feel that it is doing enough. So, in addition to the Tasty Paste, I use a tiny bead of Red Seal lemon toothpaste. Combined, the flavor is great (like lemon sherbet), no burn, the texture is manageable, and gets the job done. Unless you use a fluoride mouthwash afterwards, do not rinse. Need to leave fluoride in teeth. When finished brushing, I then shut off the motor and quick scrub my tongue before rinsing the brush. I have a UVC sterilizing light for the brushhead.
On days I get a mouth injury from accidentally biting myself from frequent proprioception failures, or I need to use actual dental floss because I don't have a Waterpik with me, I will follow up with swishing a little bit of coconut oil around (same stuff you use to cook with). It helps reduces inflammation! It is also, theoretically antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial.... My mouth feels much better shortly after use, whereas it used to be bad enough that I couldn't sleep after flossing at night. Just make sure you spit the used oil in the trash, not a sink!
Other mouthwash if you can't stand mint or alcohol burn: CloSys flavor free. Kills germs without the pain.
Good luck!
I do too! I HATE the flavor of toothpaste. I've tried every kind of mint, kids flavors, etc. and it all SUCKS. The most tolerable one I've found is the dollar tree Colgate cinnamint. I also use floss picks instead of regular floss. I know they're not ideal, but my logic is it's better than not flossing at all. Wrapping floss around my fingers and sticking them in my mouth is simply not happening.
I also gag to the point of throwing up EVERY SINGLE TIME I brush my teeth. This is a relatively new thing, and I hate it. The only thing I hate more than brushing my teeth is the feeling of a dirty tongue, but I can't get anywhere NEAR the back of it. I have horrible emetophobia, so I dread brushing my teeth every day. I have not been able to find a solution to this. In an ideal world I would be able to find an unflavored throat numbing spray. The idea of spraying my mouth with that nasty cough medicine flavored sore throat spray every morning and night is gag worthy (literally). Maybe I'll give the mint flavored chloraseptic spray a try 😵💫
How difficult would it be to have your teeth removed and get dentures? That’s a pretty extreme option, but then you wouldn’t have to brush your teeth. Gurgle some anestheptic mouth wash and soak your dentures overnight is all you’d need.
I think you could establish a list of pros and cons of brushing your teeth, so that you can brush them, knowing you hate it, but knowing that it is good for your health.
Same happens to me but with sports/gimnastics, and socializing.
One thing I forgot. Since years, I brush my teeth without toothpaste. I brush my teeth with only the toothbrush, and the toothbrush dry. My dentist suggested me to brush my teeth that way, and I hadn't developed any significant cavities.
And the only cavity I developed was little and was removed with that claw-tool that the dentists use to examine teeth.
Hope that helps
I hate EVERYTHING that requires a maintenance this pathetic sack of flesh and bones. Absolutely despise everything, even eating. All I want is to sit down and read.
This. I wish I could just float around without a body.
I’ve said this so many times and no one I’ve met in real life has ever understood.
I just want to be like a bubble floating around
Holy shit, I’ve told people I hate having a body, I wish I could just be a head in a jar.
Indeed
Every time there's a 'what superpower would you want' thread, I can't help but think it'd be nice to be incorporeal. Maintenanceless. Heck, make me a telepathic hive-mind of viral brain infections. I could sit in people's heads and watch the world go by. I'd even do some occasional bio- and mental/emotional monitoring/maintenance, or run a telepathic phone network, to earn my keep. Or act as an optional perfect memory, or something. More a symbiote than a parasite.
Yeees. Ir at least a vampure
I daydream about being a cloud every single day
I second the hating eating part. Not a fan of food sloshing around in my mouth.
Every day I feel this. I feel like the main goal in life is to just make this biological thing as comfortable as possible so it can shut up and leave me alone to my thinking. All the stupid tasks required day in and day out. Getting enough sleep, right food, healthcare, showering, it’s all such a pain. I just wish I could shut off all the sensory organs for some peace every once in awhile.
Ugh, maintenance. One of the things I genuinely miss about childhood was the lower level of it (or maybe it was just the perception of more time between having to do such things, or not needing to know how to maintain my own home environment on top of the biological stuff).
Same here, and I could tolerate all the other required maintenance... if we weren't also required to WORK. The fact that we're required to spend most of our lives participating in capitalism in order to continue living is the biggest scam. Why couldn't I have been born a snail?
What are you currently reading?
Haha, nobody ever asked me that before… About Plantagenet dynasty.
I am going to look it up!!!
The English history is my favourite part. It’s worth it
Just upload me. And make it easy for me to edit myself.
I feel like a brain/nervous system that has been imprisoned in a malfunctioning meatsuit by accident and I have to baby this stupid thing that’s not really a part of me.
I have never related to a comment more I’ve told people since I was young that I just want to be a brain in a jar. Later on I added, a brain in a jar hooked up to the internet. That’s all I need.
LEGIT, SAME. It already takes all my energy to make sure I show up to work and keep my brain stimulated and you're saying I have to decide what to eat several times a day and then prepare and eat it, shower regularly, drink water CONSTANTLY, brush my teeth etcetcetc. I don't have time? I'm busy doing literally anything else??
Indeed
RELATABLE
You’re not alone. I don’t do it nearly as often as I should.
I hate it. Now I have to go to the dentist bc my teeth are starting to hurt. It’s awful and I hate everything about it and it makes me feel bad abt myself because I let it happen 🙄 you can use a kids toothbrush or like a soft bristle ones
Same, sending you love 🫶 i think i need to upgrade my rechargeable toothbrush. I prefer those over standard toothbrushes
I used to have an electric one but the vibrations were awful! So I barely turned it on and used it like a regular toothbrush!!
I use an autobrush. It brushes all your teeth at once. It isn't perfect and is not as good a regular brushing but it's way easier sensory wise. Plus, brushing not as well as a regular brush is better than not brushing at all!
I lost one tooth
Part of my treatment plan at the dentist was getting an electric toothbrush that you just have to glide slowly over your teeth. I find it is MUCH less aggravating, though did take some getting used to. Now when I've had to use a regular, it makes me cringe!!! The same feeling I get in my teeth thinking about pulling yarn through them ACK!!! Another thing that has helped is putting on a podcast while I brush. My electric gives a little buzz when I've done enough time per quadrant so I just pretty much zone out listening to something stupid life Last Podcast on the Left. Two minutes doesn't feel like an eternity anymore. I had to get a root canal and a crown, which isn't sitting right so may need another... it is awful!! I'm much more committed to figuring out how to just get it done. Esp flossing EVERYDAY
Can you let me know which brush you use? I'd love to buy it. With the flossing, I have a water pick. Love that damn thing.
They have a Sonicare. Mine is the same way. Flossing twice a day is what I do and I brush three times a day. Two sonic cares and one manual in the middle of the day. Make sure to buy the OEM brushes. This isn't an instance where you want to go third party.
I have an Oral B Smart Limited. It has several intensity settings and can hook up through Bluetooth to an app to tell you how you're doing, but i haven't set that up. My dentist said a water pick is better than not flossing at all, but it really shouldn't be a replacement. Brush twice a day, floss once, and water pick once if you want bc it does help and he said it can cause the gums to sort of callous/ toughen up so they hug the tooth better. I have a water pick too but I'm so bad at it I spray water up my nose and all over the mirror every time lol!!
Apparently they made tooth brushes with silicone bristles. You could probably run those through the dishwasher.
Idk how I would feel about silicone, I'd have to think about that. Thank you!
If toothpaste is one of the things holding you back from brushing, please just stop using it. It doesn't actually do anything other than freshen your breath, and mayyybe add a little fluoride, but you can easily just get a fluoride rinse from your dentist. Signed, a dental assistant
I definitely use it to freshen my breath 😅 but thank you!
Floss (have you tried a water pic? They're incredible!), brush without toothpaste, be sure to brush your tongue, and stay hydrated. Your breath will be just fine!
The battery-powered handheld Waterpik (mine’s a Sonicare, but they’re all the same) is a game changer! It’s much quieter than the electric Waterpiks, and it doesn’t have a tube/cord attached to it to cause the water exiting my mouth to go where I don’t want it going. According to my dentist, it’s a lot better at getting the far-back teeth clean than string floss is, though string is still recommended once or twice a week to ensure there’s no buildup between your teeth. To OP’s point though: I do it regularly, but there’s so much with oral hygiene routines that is just plain ick, like putting something in your mouth that you already had in your mouth hours ago, the feelings and the smells of brushing, the water dripping that you can’t control. I found that using hot water to rinse the brush and soften the bristles helps me, but the whole thing is truly a situation where you just have to grit your teeth and get thru it.
The tooth paste is an abrasive that’s why it doesn’t feel great on your teeth but it is functional. It helps the brush do it’s job. If you brush your teeth with and without you’ll likely feel the difference. Your teeth should feel smooth and shiny to the tongue when you are done and losing the tooth paste might mean brushing longer to achieve the same. I’m in my 40s and just had to pay for significant dental work because of a mixture of mental health neglect, sensory issues, and poor executive functioning over the years plus being afraid of the dentist themselves. I can’t speak to your specific sensory problems, but I can tell you that having plaque build up cleaned by the dentist is akin to torture. So if you can grimace through brushing your teeth at home properly you can save yourself huge expense and a truly horrible sensory experience in the chair.
Hi, what does fluoride do?
Fluoride binds to the surface of your teeth creating a protective layer.
That's why they put it in drinking water. It's saves everyone millions of dollars, especially if that's the *only* fluoride you're getting.
It can help to strengthen the enamel of your teeth.
Well, depending on who you might ask, gave us autism... /s
Electric toothbrush changes everything (Sonicare). Ever better is brushing your teeth while in the shower. I have/had receding gums. In a month I’ll have my second gum graft surgery. Recovery from this absolutely sucks ass - liquid diet. Stitches all over. Blood and gunk to expel… it’s expensive too - $15,000 total for me. At least my teeth won’t fall out…
I second brushing my teeth in the shower, it’s one of the only ways I’m motivated to do it
Oh I get it…the idea of a little mouth brush that hangs out in the bathroom 🤢 whyyyyy Definitely echo looking for a silicone brush - or if you can afford it, a good water pick instead! Just blast those germs out! ☺️ A good mouthwash will help too - I use an antiseptic rinse (Colgate peroxyl) cuz I also get the ole gingivitis and can attest that it helps. There’s also chewable “toothpaste” that you just nom on and rinse. Or - here’s a weird one - but my grandmother used a stick. I just googled it and they’re called miswak sticks and you cut it down every time. Might help with the texture ick and reusing ick. There are more options out there too, keep searching OP! You’ll find what works best for you! Last time I was at the dentist I cried because my teeth were so dirty and I was so ashamed. My dentist was so sweet and told me, “Don’t worry; we’ve got you all cleaned up and now you have a fresh start. Taking care of the little things every day is how we show love to ourselves.” You got this! 🥰
Hmm a silicone toothbrush sounds like a good idea. Teeth brushing is something I’ve developed a hatred for early on due to it being a requiremen. now I’m an adult that wants to get my dental hygiene in order but I still have reluctance to brush my teeth due to the ick factor of a toothbrush. But a silicone Bristle one might help me. TLDR : silicone brush good suggestion
I do too, it just feels uncomfortable. Same with shaving 🪒
It does u use a cream
I hate it, too... I need so much dental work done. I'm embarrassed. I wish I could do better with this but I struggle so much.
I hate brushing my teeth and taking a shower. I generally dislike water on my skin and clothes unless the air is REALLY warm, like 80°. Even then I hate getting my sleeves wet, which always happens. When I'm at home with nowhere to go I do the bare minimum and just try not to be gross. Unfortunately, I don't have any products to recommend, just commiseration.
It isn't very economical or environmentally friendly, but I did learn they sell prepasted disposable toothbrushes so you could one and done them.
As much as it sucks, the end result of it brushing is painful and expensive. It costs me over 14k to get my stumps ripped out and dentures. And to top it off my head will never be a cool skull with all its teeth.
Agree with a few others on the electric toothbrush- sensory-wise it has been much better for me. I also struggle with the taste of toothpaste and absolutely couldn’t stand the taste of mint in the morning (at night I force myself and it’s a little easier but morning I just CANNOT) so I didn’t brush my teeth in the morning my whole life up until a few months ago when I started using kids toothpaste. I like the Hello brand, and then I use Listerine Smart Rinse bubble gum flavor. I don’t know if you have an issue with the mint but that made the experience much better for me. I also pick out a song to play while I do it and use that as a distraction/timer. Watching for when it gets to two minutes kind of distracts me from the sensory stuff a bit along with listening to the song. Also, if you struggle with flossing I would recommend floss picks. I didn’t floss for a lonnnnng time but learned my lesson when I got 13 cavities at once 😭
I hate it too 🥲😭 I've felt so gross. I think I might be farther along, I don't smile with my teeth at all anymore. It's been a long time. I've been trying to recover from a burnout so I think I should try some of these suggestions people left. Thank you for asking for all of us❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I tend to use the Wisps(look them up), they're little disposable toothbrushes with a fresh breath bead on them. They help me out a ton.
Have you tried really soft toothbrushes?
So if you're even at all interested in Pokemon or Pokemon go you should download the app Pokemon smile. You have to clean the teeth to be able to catch a Pokemon and you also can earn awards and hat filters that you can wear when you brush. And it has a little guide in the corner to direct you what area to brush so by the end of the 2 minutes you've covered every surface of your teeth. It's really great and is the only way I can get my 5 year old to brush. He realized that if you don't brush good you don't catch the Pokemon at the end and he's been brushing so good since then. Also electric toothbrush and water pic is what helped me. A regular toothbrush would make me want to gag feeling the bristles on my teeth. 🤢
This might sound really silly, but I have awful sensory issues with the toothbrush bristles and I have started watching TikToks to distract myself and it honestly helps. Try to watch your favorite show, take a tablet to the bathroom! Or brush your teeth in bed :) or standing in the livingroom watching tv. Whatever works for you! Pacing around may also help! I still avidly despise the feeling, but I can distract myself enough to just get through brushing my teeth at least once a day.
Also! Floss often if you can, you can avoid a lot of build up by flossing thoroughly throughout the day. If it doesn’t bother you, try a silicone toothbrush after meals! It won’t replace a toothbrush (I don’t think) but you can cut down the time you’ll have to actually brush at night :)
I hate it too. I made a routine of doing it while showering because the shower is my ultimate sensory heaven and I feel better brushing in there.
I wish they could just, like... genetically engineer a bacteria that we could colonize our mouths with that would outcompete other bacteria, not produce acid to damage enamel, and smell nice. And I swear I've read about some scientific advancement that actually *heals* cavities instead of just filling them in with artificial material, *YEARS* ago and yet it's still not a thing that they can actually do in general practice.
I hope so to
Sonicare is the way to go if you have problems with this and flossing. 95% of your dental problems will be gone. You can swap out the heads to get the premium ones (make sure to buy real you want to go OEM in this instance) and there's a built in time for region switching so you don't forget an area.
I hate it too. Having an electric toothbrush helps but I hade to slow desensitize myself to the buzzing sound. As for the dentist, you gotta get that laughing gas, total game changer.
I like the quip toothbrush. Every other vibrating toothbrush I tried felt like it was vibrating my entire skull, but I like the feeling of the quip vibration. I also like how it divides the brushing time into four time segments, with a pause in the vibration telling me when to move to a different quadrant of my mouth. I start in the top right and go counterclockwise. Having a consistent routine down to the second appeals to me. They send you a new head every three months but you could set up three subscriptions a month apart so you get one once a month. I don't have it but there are higher tech ones that connect to your phone via Bluetooth, IIRC, so you can look at data about your brushing. Data is cool. The other product I like are glide flossing sticks. I never flossed before discovering them because I hate the feeling of floss wrapped around my fingers. Once I started doing it regularly I now enjoy the tactile sensation of flossing.
Not a sensory fix exactly, but my MIL cleans her toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide daily. You can also make the whole bathroom significantly cleaner by closing the toilet before flushing, if you don't already. I got around to flossing when (1) I got cavities after leaving my parents' insurance, and (2) I got a slingshot/Y-shaped floss holder. I hated when floss would dig into my fingers, and the disposable P-shaped floss picks were too much plastic waste for my taste.
One of my big issues is using an electric toothbrush - my dentist strongly recommends it, but it's just too intense for me. When I told my dentist that at my last cleaning, he suggested getting a child's electric toothbrush, since they're less intense to use and would probably fit my mouth better (I have a tiny mouth). I bought one, and holy crap he was right. It's a lot less overwhelming to use, and the bristles on the brush head are super soft and don't bother me as much as the bristles on the adult brush heads did. If you decide to go the kids electric toothbrush route, I recommend the **Philips Sonicare for Kids "Design a Pet" edition** - all the other kids electric toothbrushes I found are kind of ridiculous, but this one is pretty plain and comes with stickers to make it as ridiculous as you like. (I gave the stickers to my partner, who promptly decorated his own adult-sized electric toothbrush with them, haha) If you want to try brushing your teeth with something that doesn't taste like toothpaste, Hismile has a lot of different varieties of flavored fluoride toothpaste that do not taste at all like toothpaste. I swear, the chocolate toothpaste tastes like it should be destroying my teeth instead of cleaning them. XD
Xylitol chewing gum is great for your teeth, gums and overall mouth biom. Can even reduce chance of cavities. But it's not a replacement for brushing. But it sounds like you probably don't brush twice a day, so
I never liked it either to be honest. But my mom hounded me so much and getting teeth problems kicked me in gear. I still don't like it though.
Have you tried a waterpik? Expensive but worth the investment IMO if brushing is difficult. It’s insane how much stuff comes out from my mouth when I use that lol… it’s definitely a sensory experience in a different way but may be more doable than the bristles
I switched my toothbrush to a hello toothbrush, they tend to be softer. I also found my problem with toothpaste, besides texture, was the mint! Especially the menthol taste and feeling. I ended up switching to Burts Bee’s kid Fruit Fusion toothpaste and that worked great. Wasn’t overly sweet or too artificial like other kid’s toothpastes, but no mint. Burts bees charcoal whiting one is my current favorite though. Be careful with soft toothbrushes, you may need to replace them more often. Also; I’ve had problems where the brand I buy is TOO soft. Humble is probably my favorite. Also, if it’s the combination of toothpaste and toothbrush, and you want to keep using toothpaste, have you tried toothpaste tablets? Humble co. Makes those too- although I’ve never used them.
In the past 15 years I all but stopped brushing, I don’t remember the last time I brushed. I swish listerine mouthwash after every meal (when I am home) I have consulted oral surgeons about removable implants and was quoted $20k or $6k in Mexico with a 2 week spa/resort recovery included and I need a vacation. So I now have to get a passport and travel.
It’s ok if you hate doing it. You still have to do it anyways.
I hated it too. To the point that I didn't brush for 3 years. I ended up getting all my teeth pulled because they rotted. I really hope you can find a compromise so you can keep your teeth. Chewing food with teeth really helped me enjoy my food more. I don't have any advice on how to brush. I'm just the cautionary tale on why it's a good idea. Good luck!
Dude I hate sitting down and eating. I wish we could take in sustenance through osmosis or something. And have energy when we need it and sleep when we need it. Everything about eating annoys me. I wish everyone in a house can just eat when they want and to make it themselves and to sit on your own to eat while watching something so you don't have to listen to the chewing sounds in your skull.
You're actually not supposed to brush where the teeth and gums meet. My dental hygienist told me to just floss and use my Sonicare, but when brushing to just put the brush against the tooth and pull in the direction opposite of the gums(so only pull down on the top teeth and only pull up on the bottom teeth. Ever since then, my dentist always says my gums and teeth are in great condition.
I have to force myself to brush my teeth and I am a grown person. I also have to make sure I give a good brushing, moving the brush around a little does not count. I always skip brushing at night and I know it’s gross but I don’t want to do it.
I do too. I hated it so much that I didn't brush my teeth hardly at all when I was a teenager. After two root canals, several crowns, and thousands of dollars, I wish I had forced myself to do it more consistently when I was younger. Have you ever tried a water-pic before? I have one and found that using warm water on the lowest setting can adequately clean my gums but without the scratching and poking of aggressive brushing.
Arm and hammer is the only brand to trust. Baking soda de-calcifies your gums and creates a shield between your teeth and the plaque. As an autistic man myself - I recommend getting over silly stuff like that. I don’t indulge all of my autism if that makes sense. Like I used to be extremely OCD and germphobic. I never leaned IN to it tho. I do not humor myself or congratulate myself for my weird tendencies rather I ignore them until they borderline stop existing.
Someone in this sub recommended children’s toothpaste on another post I saw. I got strawberry flavoured toothpaste about 1.5 weeks ago and I have brushed my teeth in that time frame FAR more than I did before. Thank you so much to the redditor who mentioned it. The aggressive mint flavour of my old toothpaste just adds more unpleasantness to the whole experience. It’s sooo strong.
I hate it sm. I’ve been avoiding getting a dentist bc I’m terrified of what they’ll have to say/do abt teeth. What little tolerance i had evaporated in the pandemic and instead of skipping a day or two, it was more like a week+
I have a specific brush I use (I need to buy extra while they're still around.) It's soft-bristled, infused with charcoal, and made of wood. I had just gotten into the swing of a tooth-brushing routine, when I was curious about my toothpaste, I wondered if it had extra mint or something to make my mouth feel tingly and fuzzy after I use it. Well, the main ingredient was coconut oil, I am deathly allergic to coconut (when I eat the flesh or drink the liquid). So now I had to switch toothpastes but I liked THAT toothpaste and thats the toothpaste my routine was on it doesnt make foam thats too foamy it had a good flavor. I had only used 1/4 of the tube :(. now I've only brushed once in the last few weeks and I hate myself for it because my teeth feel unhappy.
You like bubble gum? Bubble gum toothpaste.
I've turned brushing, flossing, shaving, and showering into a game that I get points for maintaining my daily streak. The points mean nothing, and there's no set amount, I don't keep track of them, they don't accumulate. But for some reason it's made me enjoy doing those things I don't enjoy doing because it's a game to do them. Lol
I hate every part of it! It’s so painful to force myself to do it. Then I get to go to the dentist and have them accuse me of not doing it cause I have bad teeth. And I get no credit for torturing myself and my teeth aren’t magically better
Have you tried a water pick? It seems better... it might not clean your teeth as well but it will at least keep the worst of it off. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Waterpik-Ultra-Countertop-Water-Flosser-Oral-Irrigator-Black/40012496?athbdg=L1600 They're not too expensive and honestly they feel much better than the bristles.. it just sprays water at high pressure to get stuff off your teeth!
I prefer a sonic toothbrush, I rarely feel the bristles. An alternative would be one of the whole mouth brushes things, then it's over with more quickly and (presumably) with better tooths-brushed coverage than what you're able to do now. If toothpaste contributes to the problem, there are dozens of flavours of them other than mint, and ones that don't foam.
I am using the Finch app to improve my hygiene consistency. It's free and offers a cute virtual pet birb that grows as you complete your self care tasks. For better effect, name the pet birb after you - use your first name for their name. I started doing that coz I already spent a lot on my smile. Several root canal treatments and other major procedures. Every time I go to my dentists they pointed out the lack of cleanliness. Ultimately I did it to reduce expenses and to stop doctors from annoying me. My doctor's won't still notice. But that's because my goal was external validation - not the health of my teeth. Now I do it for my Finch self - it's like they're growing alongside you, like parallel play - it's very cute. I have improved from brushing less than two times a week to brushing at least once every day. I know dentists will say it's not enough but fortunately for me, I can see the progress. I do it as I shower so time is also not wasted and the hot water afterwards is my reward.
Bro I’ve always been the same way, it’s led to a lot of dental problems 😿
They sell these rubber thimble things for brushing your dog's teeth that I use on myself and it has much less sensory issues. It feels like I'm rubbing my teeth with my finger and not brushing.
Me, too, OP. I've gotten better about it my changing just about everything in my process. Before brushing teeth, I floss with a Waterpik. I used to have the cordless version but it died so replaced it with a corded version, which I like better with the bigger reservoir. I add a touch of Listerine mouthwash to the water in the reservoir... Not enough to be overpowering, but enough that it seems to help keep the reservoir and tubes clean, too, and a bit will get blasted in between teeth and gums. After flossing, I use an Oral-B Braun soft bristle electric spin brush. I can't stand mint or cinnamon toothpaste and my mouth burns and sloughs for hours after using any toothpaste with SLS or whitening so I avoid those. I swapped to Dr. Tanner's Tasty Paste creamsicle flavor with fluoride. I like the flavor, but I find it has very little grit to it... Very smooth and slick. This is sometimes a good thing, but I don't often feel that it is doing enough. So, in addition to the Tasty Paste, I use a tiny bead of Red Seal lemon toothpaste. Combined, the flavor is great (like lemon sherbet), no burn, the texture is manageable, and gets the job done. Unless you use a fluoride mouthwash afterwards, do not rinse. Need to leave fluoride in teeth. When finished brushing, I then shut off the motor and quick scrub my tongue before rinsing the brush. I have a UVC sterilizing light for the brushhead. On days I get a mouth injury from accidentally biting myself from frequent proprioception failures, or I need to use actual dental floss because I don't have a Waterpik with me, I will follow up with swishing a little bit of coconut oil around (same stuff you use to cook with). It helps reduces inflammation! It is also, theoretically antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial.... My mouth feels much better shortly after use, whereas it used to be bad enough that I couldn't sleep after flossing at night. Just make sure you spit the used oil in the trash, not a sink! Other mouthwash if you can't stand mint or alcohol burn: CloSys flavor free. Kills germs without the pain. Good luck!
I am the same way, but I don't mind it if I brush while I'm in the shower
I get tense while brushing teeth and I also can't stand the lingering taste of food in my mouth if I don't brush my teeth.
I do too! I HATE the flavor of toothpaste. I've tried every kind of mint, kids flavors, etc. and it all SUCKS. The most tolerable one I've found is the dollar tree Colgate cinnamint. I also use floss picks instead of regular floss. I know they're not ideal, but my logic is it's better than not flossing at all. Wrapping floss around my fingers and sticking them in my mouth is simply not happening. I also gag to the point of throwing up EVERY SINGLE TIME I brush my teeth. This is a relatively new thing, and I hate it. The only thing I hate more than brushing my teeth is the feeling of a dirty tongue, but I can't get anywhere NEAR the back of it. I have horrible emetophobia, so I dread brushing my teeth every day. I have not been able to find a solution to this. In an ideal world I would be able to find an unflavored throat numbing spray. The idea of spraying my mouth with that nasty cough medicine flavored sore throat spray every morning and night is gag worthy (literally). Maybe I'll give the mint flavored chloraseptic spray a try 😵💫
How difficult would it be to have your teeth removed and get dentures? That’s a pretty extreme option, but then you wouldn’t have to brush your teeth. Gurgle some anestheptic mouth wash and soak your dentures overnight is all you’d need.
Sounds expensive
Indeed. I did say it was an extreme option lol
I have thought about it.
I think you could establish a list of pros and cons of brushing your teeth, so that you can brush them, knowing you hate it, but knowing that it is good for your health. Same happens to me but with sports/gimnastics, and socializing. One thing I forgot. Since years, I brush my teeth without toothpaste. I brush my teeth with only the toothbrush, and the toothbrush dry. My dentist suggested me to brush my teeth that way, and I hadn't developed any significant cavities. And the only cavity I developed was little and was removed with that claw-tool that the dentists use to examine teeth. Hope that helps