Anyone NOT brush their teeth or their childrens?

[Koalamom]

I hear all about brushing teeth and stories non stop, but I was wondering if there is anyone out there that doesn't brush their teeth regularly. After changing to a traditional diet, I have much stronger teeth and no cavities and I dont brush my teeth regularly. I sometimes eat an apple to freshen my breath or to clean them before bed, and I give them to my daughter too. My daughter is 2 and has cavity free teeth and we hardly brush her teeth, just if she does get a hold of junk food during the day.

So anyone NOT brush their teeth?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I dont think anyone is going to admit here to not brushing teeth as in the past when that has happened they got flamed big time.

The yellow build up is decayed food and bacteria that causes bad breath and if left long it turns to tartar that needs to be scraped off using a metal scrape at the dentists.

[Koalamom]

I do hope that people do admit to not brushing if it is true. Weston Price found many groups of people with beautiful teeth and they didnt brush or floss. They had build up on their teeth and were fine.
Years ago when I had a crap diet, I wouldnt dare not brush, but now, we eat really plain and natural.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Having never been around anyone who ate really natural foods I dont know if they would have the same bad breath issues as someone who didnt eat that way.

It is really unpleasent to have a conversation with someone with morning breath or who dosnt brush in my experiance. I still have memories of the school bus when one of the kids would turn and speak to me and it would turn my stomach.

The kids didnt have bad teeth just very stinky breath. So I can see still having nice teeth without brushing.

[nichole]

I say eat healthy and brush!

[Maeve]

Originally Posted by nichole

I say eat healthy and brush!

I agree! And you can have nice teeth and still have them fall out later on. All that build up can lead to gum disease which can lead to tooth loss.

I would rather spend the extra few minutes a day and try to keep my teeth. Also, I have read that all that build up on teeth can cause other health problems (like heart issues).

[Nan'sMom]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

I hear all about brushing teeth and stories non stop, but I was wondering if there is anyone out there that doesn't brush their teeth regularly. After changing to a traditional diet, I have much stronger teeth and no cavities and I dont brush my teeth regularly. I sometimes eat an apple to freshen my breath or to clean them before bed, and I give them to my daughter too. My daughter is 2 and has cavity free teeth and we hardly brush her teeth, just if she does get a hold of junk food during the day. She does have a yellow build up around her teeth, but I have scraped it away to see what is underneath, and it is strong and white. So I leave it.

So anyone NOT brush their teeth?

Interesting, thanks for sharing this. We do try to follow a traditional foods type of diet but also brush twice a day, as dd1 has some ECC that we are keen on keeping under control/healing. Dd2 had some demineralization on her front teeth which has healed completely but I think the brushing played a part and I don't want to drop it.

I think read on another thread that you liked Ramiel Nagel's work. Are you close to 100% on a TF-type diet?

It sounds great not to have to fuss a 2 y.o. about teeth a lot. Does she object to brushing?

[La Rune]

We're (mostly) eating a traditional diet and DH doesn't brush his teeth much. I think I'd notice if he had breath issues ... he doesn't.

I finally nagged him enough to get him to a dentist a few months ago. He hadn't had a cleaning or brushed regularly in 4 years. No cavities, everything looks great, all the dentist had to say was "You should have had braces years ago." since his teeth are crooked.

I don't know ... he brushes maybe once a week? Eats lots of stuff like apples, celery, etc which seems to clean them. Uses toothpicks after meals.

[Maeve]

I have a serious question and I'm really curious, but why not brush your teeth?

[jeliphish]

Food is food is food....it still gets between your teeth and decays no matter how natural or traditional. I agree with a pp...eat health AND brush

[Nan'sMom]

Originally Posted by jeliphish

Food is food is food....it still gets between your teeth and decays no matter how natural or traditional. I agree with a pp...eat health AND brush

Actually not necessarily. In his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration Dr. Weston A. Price documented societies living on traditional diets who didn't brush their teeth and had no cavities.

[Amylcd]

Originally Posted by nichole

I say eat healthy and brush!

I agree.

My grandmother grew up ONLY eating the organic food grown on her fathers farm, nothing else at all (this was in the 30's... so that organic, home grown food was even healthier than it would be today). She and many of her siblings had their teeth start to fall out in their teens from lack of brushing. She preaches the importance of brushing to everyone now.

[Amylcd]

Originally Posted by Maeve

I have a serious question and I'm really curious, but why not brush your teeth?

I want to know too... what health benefit comes from not brushing?

[Maeve]

Originally Posted by Nan'sMom

Actually not necessarily. In his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration Dr. Weston A. Price documented societies living on traditional diets who didn't brush their teeth and had no cavities.

But cavities are not the only oral problems you can have. Gum disease leads to tooth loss, and that can happen to people who have no history of cavities.

I've heard of health problems related to not brushing, etc but never anything in favor of it.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by Amylcd

I want to know too... what health benefit comes from not brushing?

Well, it's certainly EASIER not to brush, and in the case of toddlers and children, it eliminates one source of power struggles (which can have negative consequences on the whole child, regardless of its impact on oral health.)

Also, certain toothpastes can be harmful, if they contain ingredients that the individual is allergic or sensitive to. Brushing with something like baking soda on a daily basis can wear down the enamel coating teeth. If you don't brush your teeth, you eliminate those concerns. Of course, you can also brush with plain water, or brush with an all natural toothpaste that's free of dangerous additives (which additives should be avoided will vary depending on who you ask.) I would sooner brush with plain water than use a toothpaste containing synthetic additives.

I've never seen anything that suggests it's actually beneficial to NOT brush the teeth, but I have seen things (such as Dr. Price's work) that suggests toothbrushing might not be necessary. And I've seen and heard plenty of other things stating that toothbrushing is absolutely essential.

I brush and floss my teeth once a day, with all natural, floride-free toothpaste. I encourage my children to do the same, but I don't force the issue. I certainly didn't force the issue when they were toddlers. One child did have dental carries as a toddler, but that was from drinking bottles of pasturized cow's milk, not from lack of toothbrushing. My kids who nursed past age 2 had very healthy baby teeth, at least until they started school and eating school snacks and lunches.

[Happiestever]

I sometimes use these stick things that I get at a muslim store. They help to remove the buildup and they are minty too (natural infusion). But I brush and floss regularly. Eating things like corn or meats off the bone get in between the teeth. SO gross! I love the feeling of a perfectly clean mouth.

[Koalamom]

I am gone for the day and come back to some very interesting posts. I am not against brushing your teeth, but I just wonder that if we eat well, if brushing and flossing like crazy is really the most important. I have quit flossing unless I eat popcorn and it gets wedged around my teeth, and I have noticed the gums grow longer between my teeth. I still brush especially if I go out, but as for bad breath and morning breath, I don't have it any more since changing my diet to a traditional one. My breath is sweet now.

And lets not act like we are shocked when we hear about people not always brushing their teeth. Like my husband hasn't flossed for over 10 years, and forgets to brush constantly. He has perfect teeth and gums. I hear many people talk about their one sibling that barely brushed and have great teeth. 3 of my 9 siblings were in that case and they are the ones that never have had cavities. Totally unfair. But they were also the ones that would beg to eat the skin off the chicken and would never eat the buns (white flour) and only eat the burger. I thought they were just gross as a kid, but here I am with old filings from childhood and they are still flaunting their pearly whites.

[mirlee]

Brushing teeth is never an option in this house. My cousin and my father in law are dentists. My mother in law used to be a hygenist.

I have known many people who didn't brush their teeth. One person, I really had a hard time even looking at. His teeth were literally rotting. He didn't eat a ton of sugar and didn't drink soda. There were black spots on the teeth, misformed teeth, and missing teeth. He wasn't even 30.

Sorry, there is no excuse to NOT brush teeth at least once a day. Just my personal opinion. I'm not slamming anyone. We are all grown ups and can take care of ourselves.

Oh, no cavities in dh, ds or myself.

[MoonStarFalling]

My husband doesn't brush. He has periodontal disease and will have dentures before long. I'm sure most of it was caused by diet but I wouldn't bet my teeth on it.

[Maeve]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

I am gone for the day and come back to some very interesting posts. I am not against brushing your teeth, but I just wonder that if we eat well, if brushing and flossing like crazy is really the most important. I have quit flossing unless I eat popcorn and it gets wedged around my teeth, and I have noticed the gums grow longer between my teeth. I still brush especially if I go out, but as for bad breath and morning breath, I don't have it any more since changing my diet to a traditional one. My breath is sweet now.

And lets not act like we are shocked when we hear about people not always brushing their teeth. Like my husband hasn't flossed for over 10 years, and forgets to brush constantly. He has perfect teeth and gums. I hear many people talk about their one sibling that barely brushed and have great teeth. 3 of my 9 siblings were in that case and they are the ones that never have had cavities. Totally unfair. But they were also the ones that would beg to eat the skin off the chicken and would never eat the buns (white flour) and only eat the burger. I thought they were just gross as a kid, but here I am with old filings from childhood and they are still flaunting their pearly whites.

I'm not shocked by people who occasionally forget, are too tired at night, or whatever to brush. I'm shocked by never brushing at all. I have never met anyone (afaik) who never brushed their teeth. I always thought it was one of those givens.