Hard or soft bristles? Do you like the ones that vibrate? Do you prefer the rubbery-grip handles or the hard plastic handles? Favorite colors or designs? Any brushing techniques you wish to share?

while i dont know from experience, ive heard the ones that tickle the gums WHILE brushing are enough to push any oral hygenist over the edge.

i have several toothbrushes... a traveling one, one for my bathroom, a couple to keep at people's houses just in case.

my traveling toothbrush is a particularly lovely oral b cross action vitalizer in purple.. i get compliments on it everywhere i go.

my home toothbrush is a fancier version of the vitalizer, it's silver with red accents. it's my nc-state-pride toothbrush. go wolfpack.

as for the random toothbrushes strewn about north carolina and tennessee, those are usually oral b indicators so i know when it's time to get a new one. i'm partial to pink and carolina blue.

i'm also a fan of hard bristles. don't you just feel more clean that way?











ps... have you tried the new finger-brush things? they're very handy and taste wonderful.

(Edited by simone at 5:15 pm on Jul. 13, 2004)

I just use whatever my dentist gives me every six months.

I was looking for a small child's toothbrush for backpacking a few weeks ago and discovered that they no longer exist. Now it's all this fancy pokemon/yugiyo/dinosaur/bigger than a kid's mouth crap with flashing lights, whistles and rotating heads. What the hell?

After about 20 minutes of searching, I almost bought a disposable pre-pasted toothbrush, but just opted for a brush cover for my usual one.

The thick, round comfort grips are nice. Medium bristles please. Brand wise, I go with the cheapest (every couple years when I buy a new one).

Miss September's Toothbrushing Technique

First: Select your toothbrush. I usually get mine from the dentist, and lately they've been giving me gold. I am currently using a Crest brush with a rubber-grip handle, small head, and angled bristles at the front to get those hard-to-reach places. Bristles are somewhere between hard and soft.

Second: Select your toothpaste. Personally, I chage both brand and kind of toothpaste everytime I buy a new tube. I have used whitening, baking soda, mint, cinnamon, basic toothpaste flavor, and pretty much every brand.

Third: Toothpaste on the brush. This is the easiest part. Put a small amount of toothpaste on the head of the brush. I angle the tube and put a thin layer of paste over the entire lenght of the head. I then wet the head with cold water and insert in my mouth.

Fourth: First I work the back teeth, upper and lower, and then move my way to the front. Don't forget to brush the back of the teeth! I use both a side-to-side and up-and-down motion, depending on mood. Brush approx. 2-3 minutes.

Fifth: Rinsing. This is where I find my technique truly differs from many. Spit out all the remaining paste foam from your mouth, and rinse off your brush in cool water. Then, re-brush your teeth using the wet toothbrush. This gets rid of any excess paste residue, and feels really good. Now is the time to brush your tongue if you do so.

Sixth: Clean off your brush for good, and put away. The rest is up to you. Some people use mouthwash, some people floss (but most just say they do), and some people carry on with the rest of their morning/night routine.

I imagined you saying this out loud and immediately had to start thinking about baseball.

good strategy, i'll try that.

I used to do it that way, but I would often knock the toothpaste off the toothbrush with the force of the running water. So now I wet the bristles and then apply the toothpaste.

How do you think Parrish brushes his teeth?

very sexily.

Definitely wet first, then paste. I always mash the paste down really well as I apply it to the brush. After covering 3/4 of the bristles with paste, I stop squeezing and use the remaining bristles to clean the remaining paste from inside the opening of the tube. No crust!

And good call on the brushing afterwards with the clean brush, MissS!

Up until a week ago, I only brushed once a day (at night). I had so many people tell me that was disgusting, that I'm now brushing after my morning cereal, too.

We should have some sort of gigantic message board slumber party so we can see everyone's toothbrushing technique.

I'll bring a Scooby Doo sleeping bag.

Do you have to turn every thread towards sex?

no dear, that's my job. and yours.

I almost did after the initial post, but I contained myself.

I tried to make it as sexual as possible. Toothbrushing can be a very erotic exercise.

A friend of mine (not me) likes to brush in the shower. He says that it's less messy and since he has a powerful showerhead, it feels nice to blast-rinse his mouth upon completion. A lot of people tell him that this is really gross. I just wondered what everyone thought, so I can tell him, my friend, if people think it's gross or not. Not that I think it would matter because I don't do it, my friend does.

(Edited by Bowl of Fire at 10:12 pm on Jul. 13, 2004)

I don't really see what's so gross about that. I mean, lots of people shave in the shower. Some people even pee in the shower...but that's gross.

Geez, you guys. A toothbrush is a toothbrush is a toothbrush. Is there really more than one brand? I'll use whatever kind.

But I buy several at a time, becuase when I travel, I just take an unopened toothbrush with me rather than taking my toothbrush from home (GROSS!). When the trip is over, that toothbrush goes in the trash.

"IT'S ALL PIPES!" --g.constanza

My boyfriend swallows his toothpaste which is just gross... I mean, it's all mingled with the crud that was around your gums. Ewww. If I swallow toothpaste I instantly retch.

Does anyone here brush their tongue? Oh.

My last boyfriend brushed his teeth in the shower. And like Carl, only did it once a day. I find both of these things to be extremely gross.

Does anyone else actually have cravings to brush their teeth? One year in high school I took a tooth brush to school b/c it got so bad. I'm glad I'm past that. But those disposable finger thingies sound really nice.

(Edited by iwantelvis at 8:38 am on Jul. 15, 2004)

I don't have a sonicare because they're too expensive, but they look cool, and my dentist told me to get one.

The commercials for those are soooooo Japanese. Rip! Zip! Brush! Ahhhhh!

Someone give me a link!

I find them to be very Fosse.

I tried one yesterday...they tasted pretty good, and felt even better. I don't know how effective it was as far as getting gunk off of my teeth, but my mouth tasted fresher for better makeouts with Mindy.

i've been meaning to ask if i can get involved with this.

three is better than two any day, ladies.

Real funny, SuperElk. Nerd.

yeah, man. E=MC Sex, n'shit.

Those things have got to be the biggest scam ever. Little wipes to wipe off your teeth between brushes? Are you f-ing kidding me? Use a Kleenex and mix in some gum or a mint.

They have these nifty little bumps on them, though...I think it's a good thing to throw in your purse, maybe.

your mouth was very fresh-even after pizza. but your mouth wasn't the only thing that was fresh!

and you don't have to ask to get involved. talking isn't necessary.

reowwwwwww, yes?

I don't remember my hands wandering, but I wouldn't put it past me. You should totally come to the party Saturday.

something about a guy brushin his teeth when he's just scrubbed his chode....doesn't sit well with me...


nothing like the word 'chode' to steer a thread away from makeout talk...

CHODE CHODE CHODE CHODE CHODE

You must be new here. MissSeptember and simone will make any thread about making out. Mix in mindylieu, and it's all over.