I hear you on the cost and time—it really does feel like a side hustle sometimes. What’s worked for me (at least to slow down the new-cavity parade) is sticking to basics, but I buy the store-brand stuff. Electric toothbrush from a Black Friday sale, big pack of flossers, and just regular fluoride toothpaste. I skip mouthwash most days since my dentist said it’s not a game-changer for cavities anyway. I also started chewing sugar-free gum after meals, which is cheap and supposedly helps. Not perfect, but at least my wallet isn’t crying as much these days...
I also started chewing sugar-free gum after meals, which is cheap and supposedly helps.
Yeah, I’ve been doing the sugar-free gum thing too—my dentist said it’s actually solid for getting saliva going, which helps with acid. I’m with you on the mouthwash, though. Tried a fancy one and honestly didn’t notice much difference except my wallet got lighter. What’s made a dent for me is brushing before bed and, weirdly, cutting back on snacking. Less food sitting on my teeth between meals seems to help more than any product swap.
Cutting back on snacks made a bigger difference for me than any rinse or fancy toothpaste. I still chew gum after meals too. Honestly, mouthwash just feels like a money sink... Maybe helps with breath, but not much else in my case.
Cutting back on snacks definitely made a dent for me too, especially late-night ones. I used to be all about mouthwash—like, if it tingled, it had to be working, right? But honestly, I agree... it’s mostly just good for breath. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals is a habit I picked up from my dentist and it’s stuck. Never thought something so simple would help more than half the stuff in my bathroom cabinet.
Cutting back on snacks made a bigger difference than I expected, especially those after-dinner ones. I used to recommend mouthwash all the time, but over the years, I've seen that for most people, it doesn't do much beyond freshening breath—unless it's a prescription rinse or has fluoride. Chewing sugar-free gum is underrated, honestly. My own dentist pushed me to try it after meals and I was skeptical, but it's become a habit. It seems to help with dry mouth too, which surprised me.