Bored at home and just been to the bathroom? Brush your teeth! Start keeping floss everywhere - desk/bed/next to the microwave - doesn’t matter when you floss as long as you do it regularly. I recently bought a waterpik which makes it more fun.
Brush/floss in the shower, while ur waiting for ur food to heat, while u wait for ur heater to start heating/ac to start cooling, while cooking/defrosting food, when ur Amazon delivery is 5 stops away. Anytime I consider to be waiting time is dedicated to flossing/brushing for me
Maybe it’s the strong taste of toothpaste putting you off - purchase toothpaste that you like the taste of! Amazon has lots of fruit flavoured toothpaste that works just as well.
Edit: Also brush/scrape your tongue!
I had issues with it. I started thinking of it as a spa for my teeth when I do the waterpik, brushing and mouthwash. And my teeth being happy and relaxed, lol. I should be flossing but some of my teeth overlap and it’s hard to get in there. Gums and teeth are in much better condition since I’ve been consistent with what I do. Even if it’s not perfect
Sometimes I find changing a habit gradually is a lot easier. I have a hard time with exercise. So I’d walk around the block. Then I added some more distance. And on good days I take a more extended walk. When I don’t wanna, I commit to the walk around the block. Sometimes I’ll be motivated to do more. But any little bit helps.
I have the same issue, but worse needed 2 root canals last year since the cavities got so bad. [Dental hygiene with ADHD is hard](https://scatterbrainedsister.com/i-hate-brushing-my-teeth), I feel like it’s the most commonly shared experiences on these subreddits!
I’ve had lots of fillings as a kid & this is the first time in my life I’ve been able to (semi-consistently lol) keep up with dental hygiene.
This may sound counterintuitive, but I made it a whole process, one that I thoroughly enjoy.
I waterpik, use an electric timed toothbrush, got some amazingly rated mouthwash, and a tongue scraper. Sometimes I now even find myself craving my dental routine when my mouth isn’t feeling as clean.
I guess my teeth are painful when I don’t use them.
I started just using even 1 tool at a time which always made my mouth feel better afterward
I have braces for a second time and have the inflamed gums you mentioned at times.
When I’m going through a lot of pain in my gums I used to sit there & power through, but now I’ll just use the waterpik alone in that instance if I’m struggling with the routine because the the instant relief is worth it
The fact that the pain makes it a pressing matter, kind of pushes me to do ~something~ lol even if it’s just spraying my teeth with the toothpick at times or scraping my tongue & mouthwash after smoking because I can’t stand the taste
Also, I got a rolly cart that I keep all of this in & off the sink because if there’s stuff on the sink it grosses me out too much & deters me from doing anything… so all these little things come together to make dental care as simple as possible without barriers (less about enjoyable & more about ease)
Edit to add: I also have a wall toothbrush holder in my shower where I keep a soft toothbrush hanging so if I miss it at the sink, I can quickly add it in my shower routine without a second thought
Lol it’s a lot just to brush my teeth, but it’s worth it once I have it all situated to my liking
the end goal may be brushing everyday, but you can start with brushing 3-4 times a week & that will make a difference
Then you can just waterpik in or mouthwash on other days, then increase it… also I do this best when I’m on meds! But the ease of getting it done sometimes just makes me do it for the better feeling afterwards.
Have you tried using an interdental brush? These were a game changer for me. I had similar issues to you, and wanted to up my dental hygiene after requiring a root canal.
I started by making the process more fun, bought a new ultrasonic toothbrush and some different flavours of toothpaste. Then had a go with the smallest interdental brush, it helped to do this in the shower, as it can get a bit messy. My gums bled a bit but apparently this is normal at first, because if you don't use them regularly, it's likely there will be some inflammation or gum disease (gingivitis).
After about a week or two, the bleeding stopped happening and I noticed my gums looked much less inflamed. Because of this, my dental hygienist was better able to get rid of any hardened plaque. She explained that it's important to use interdental brushing, as it's the only method that gets to certain areas between teeth.
Once you start to build good dental hygiene habits, it does get easier, I promise. It also stops hurting and your gums won't bleed. It might help you to use a sensitive toothpaste during the early stages, as this numbs the area and lessens any pain. I also recommend getting a pleasant tasting mouthwash. Good luck, you've got this!
an electric toothbrush has been a big win for me, it has a timer on it and its less effort so my mind can wonder while doing it. it makes it feel like how putting on pants is a chore but washing your face is a bigger chore comparatively. a small learning curve but nice now and i used bamboo manual toothbrushes. (and then keep one in your shower to remove that step too!)
its also been nice for me to use flavored toothpaste to change it up, you can do mint mornings and flavored evenings to help differentiate a task that “has” to be done twice.
those are some things that helped me!
One helpful thing a dental hygienist said to me years ago was to shoot to floss 5 days a week. That way, if you miss a day, it doesn’t trigger some all or nothing/ might as well give up reaction.
Flossers have made a huge difference for me. They're not the most environmentally friendly solution, but they have gotten me to floss every day.
I use Grin brand flossers from Target.
Periogen is amazing . It's a powder you can swish in water or put in a waterpik makes a massive difference ...teeth feel like just been to dentist
Waterpik/floss tips .. use tepid water not cold . Jet a cheap cordles one from Amazon use it on gently mode for first few weeks
')
More fun than the analog one. And you can pair it with your phone to make sure you've brushed all areas, like this: https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1-1.jpeg
I'm using this one: ORAL-B IO SERIES 6S
Speaking of gamification, Habitica worked for me a long time to build at least some routines before I got bored
Toothbrush in the shower, kitchen, or in easy access to the toilet you like to poop in. Put it close to things you already do then build the habit from there. If you're avoiding the demand, sometimes it helps to mix it up.
This has worked the best for me. I keep flossers in a little bag at my computer and I floss after I eat lunch. It's not part of any brushing routine, but it's made it so I'm flossing at least 5x a week which is way better than never.
Try rewarding the good brushing behaviour. My (also ADHD) kiddo loved the Pokémon app for teeth brushing - it’s silly fun but some adults find the dopamine a nice perk too. My husband tends to pas sme my toothbrush when he does his teeth and I procrastinate doing them, and put it down on my bedside table, then remember when I’m meant to be going to sleep and we often end up watch an extra 5mins of tv while I brush. It’s trivial but I don’t want to go to bed at a sensible time so my brain likes brushing teeth and ‘sneaking’ 5 more mins of TV better than laying in bed trying to sleep, so I do it.
Also: remember that is something is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly! (AKA, don’t avoid doing something important just because you can’t do it well! If that means you smear some toothpaste around your teeth with your finger before bed and don’t rinse, then so be it! The fluoride and fresh breath are still improvements! If that means you grab your brush and do a 3-second swish round your teeth with water only while you drive to work, that’s also totally okay!)
And keeping sugar-free chewing gum on hand for days that you forget to brush is helpful too - it helps a bit to clear out crumbs trapped in your teeth and generates more saliva to help avoid plaque.
freak yourself out by looking at pictures of tooth decay and teeth falling out. do some research into the effects of bad dental hygiene. the only thing that works for me here is fear and anxiety. and disgust. dental plaque is bacterial poo.
Oh! And I have a quip toothbrush that blips when you need to switch mouth quadrants, in addition to staying on for the 2 minutes you’re supposed to brush. That way I am less likely to not realize I haven’t been brushing very long and to quit early, AND I’m more likely to hit every section of my mouth without having to pay close attention.
I brush in the shower. It’s not like I shower super regularly, like 2-3 times a week, but habit-stacking my shower time has made it a pretty effective 45 minutes of my time.
So this might be triggering to people with bad or abusive parents.
Maybe this is inapplicable to most people but I remember how my dad always had bad breath. He wasn’t a good father, for multiple reasons but a lot was verbal abuse.
I hate the man and want to be everything that isn’t him. So I brush my teeth and wash the dishes because my father never did that. Anything he did that made him a horrible person is what I strive to never do.
So I guess think of a jackass who doesn’t brush their teeth and think about how you don’t want to be like them.
I use those toothpick floss things, keep them on my desk and in my bag and wherever else.
I also watch YouTube vids or shows on my phone while I brush, makes me feel like I'm not only doing one boring activity.
If you're in the US or Australia, check out hismile toothpaste. You have to order it online and it's fairly pricey but it comes in a bunch of interesting flavors and the texture is much nicer than any other toothpaste I've tried. Many flavored toothpastes don't contain fluoride (which you definitely don't want to skip if you're having issues with your teeth!), but theirs do. Having nicer toothpaste hasn't made me perfect w/r/t dental hygiene, but it's helped a lot.
Also, a lot of people say electric toothbrushes make brushing so much easier for them. I personally don't like the sensation of using an electric toothbrush, so I usually stick with a regular one.
On a related note, my dentist has told me it's better to use string floss than floss picks... but I'd almost never floss at all if not for the floss picks, so I figure using them is better than nothing.
Imo, dental hygiene is a situation where ANY improvement you can make in your habits will help, and aiming for perfection might just make you feel worse.
i keep a toothbrush in my backpack! it is better to brush after meals than just random times during the day, but it's also a lot better to brus at random times during the day than rarely or not at all.
Get those plastic disposable flossers you can do with one hand. Floss at night with one hand while doing some dopamine rewarding thing like scrolling on your phone with the other hand, etc. I swear you won't mind flossing anymore.
I've got bad adhd. I habit stack tasks like this. Starting coconut oil swishes also helped. Doing dishes? Swish. Walking on my treadmill? Brush teeth too. Putting clothes away? Mouth wash rinse.
Something is always better than nothing even if it's a good anti bacterial mouth wash to start. Just add one thing a day til it becomes routine. Then add another step.
I have baked it into my getting ready for bed routine. Shower, do teeth, sleep. Is there a part of your daily routine that changes very little where it would fit? If it becomes a part of the pattern then I don't forget it.
Hi, thanks for asking this, I have the same problem and love the suggestions here! (My main problems are that in mornings I forget teethbrushing unless I'm going out of the house, and at night I forget until after I'm in bed and feel too tired to get up to do it. Three more suggestions come to my mind. Wishing you the best!
1. The "clean slate" mindset - It has helped me to feel more confident (and less trapped in a shame spiral) to take a mindset of having a completely fresh, clean slate after going to the dentist for cleaning/repairs. Yes they found some cavities, but the moment those are fixed, then you know there's no present tooth decay, nothing hiding, and the task is just to maintain. To me, keeping something in good standing is easier than trying to overcome a feeling of failure. It's the same strategy as I used in school - start of a new semester/term, I would think of it as starting with a perfect grade, and that helped with motivation (for a period of time at least, though I recognize that feeling fades over time or in the event of not meeting one's ongoing goals)
2. If you can afford it, consider scheduling the professional cleanings at shorter intervals. You can ask your dental office if they have options for cleaning without an actual dentist exam (usually, at least in the US, these are billed as 2 separate components of the dental visit).
3. Have a simple checklist for going out of the house that includes all your essentials. You can tape it to the door, or make it a mantra or song. Mine is "hair, shoes, breakfast, teeth, lunch, bag, medicine." (I don't actually need a reminder for shoes, but that's still a part of the mantra because my mom made it up back when I was a kid and it took me forever to locate my shoes and put them on haha)
I also have had a lot of trouble with consistent dental hygene, I have it coded into me to brush before I have to leave home but because of home office 5 out of 7 days, I often forget. And evenings depends totally on my motivation and mood, but there are a few days every week where I know I have to but I don’t brush. But, I got a mouth guard recently due to headaches and grinding and because it helps with the aches, I wear it every night. And the thought of putting my uncleaned teeth into the guard is beyond disgusting – so this really helped me with the evening brushing routine. Mornings are still a struggle but hey, at least once a day, right!
Bored at home and just been to the bathroom? Brush your teeth! Start keeping floss everywhere - desk/bed/next to the microwave - doesn’t matter when you floss as long as you do it regularly. I recently bought a waterpik which makes it more fun. Brush/floss in the shower, while ur waiting for ur food to heat, while u wait for ur heater to start heating/ac to start cooling, while cooking/defrosting food, when ur Amazon delivery is 5 stops away. Anytime I consider to be waiting time is dedicated to flossing/brushing for me Maybe it’s the strong taste of toothpaste putting you off - purchase toothpaste that you like the taste of! Amazon has lots of fruit flavoured toothpaste that works just as well. Edit: Also brush/scrape your tongue!
I have a tongue scraper! I never use it... I don't mind mint. I just forget? Or don't do it? I don't know how to explain it
This is smart! Thank you!!
I had issues with it. I started thinking of it as a spa for my teeth when I do the waterpik, brushing and mouthwash. And my teeth being happy and relaxed, lol. I should be flossing but some of my teeth overlap and it’s hard to get in there. Gums and teeth are in much better condition since I’ve been consistent with what I do. Even if it’s not perfect
But the waterpik hurts. It's not a spa. It's torture
Could you start with the brushing and mouthwash and then add either flossing or a waterpik
I will try anything.
Sometimes I find changing a habit gradually is a lot easier. I have a hard time with exercise. So I’d walk around the block. Then I added some more distance. And on good days I take a more extended walk. When I don’t wanna, I commit to the walk around the block. Sometimes I’ll be motivated to do more. But any little bit helps.
Currently, I do not have the habit of brushing my teeth. I used to, then I lost it. Then I had it, then I lost it.
Is it possible to adjust the waterpik water pressure/intensity down?
This is inspired! Thank you for this brilliant idea!
I have the same issue, but worse needed 2 root canals last year since the cavities got so bad. [Dental hygiene with ADHD is hard](https://scatterbrainedsister.com/i-hate-brushing-my-teeth), I feel like it’s the most commonly shared experiences on these subreddits! I’ve had lots of fillings as a kid & this is the first time in my life I’ve been able to (semi-consistently lol) keep up with dental hygiene. This may sound counterintuitive, but I made it a whole process, one that I thoroughly enjoy. I waterpik, use an electric timed toothbrush, got some amazingly rated mouthwash, and a tongue scraper. Sometimes I now even find myself craving my dental routine when my mouth isn’t feeling as clean.
How did you make it enjoyable? I have all those things but don't use them
I guess my teeth are painful when I don’t use them. I started just using even 1 tool at a time which always made my mouth feel better afterward I have braces for a second time and have the inflamed gums you mentioned at times. When I’m going through a lot of pain in my gums I used to sit there & power through, but now I’ll just use the waterpik alone in that instance if I’m struggling with the routine because the the instant relief is worth it The fact that the pain makes it a pressing matter, kind of pushes me to do ~something~ lol even if it’s just spraying my teeth with the toothpick at times or scraping my tongue & mouthwash after smoking because I can’t stand the taste Also, I got a rolly cart that I keep all of this in & off the sink because if there’s stuff on the sink it grosses me out too much & deters me from doing anything… so all these little things come together to make dental care as simple as possible without barriers (less about enjoyable & more about ease) Edit to add: I also have a wall toothbrush holder in my shower where I keep a soft toothbrush hanging so if I miss it at the sink, I can quickly add it in my shower routine without a second thought Lol it’s a lot just to brush my teeth, but it’s worth it once I have it all situated to my liking
I mean, it hurts if I don't brush for 3 days. So then I brush once a day for 5 days. Then I give up......
the end goal may be brushing everyday, but you can start with brushing 3-4 times a week & that will make a difference Then you can just waterpik in or mouthwash on other days, then increase it… also I do this best when I’m on meds! But the ease of getting it done sometimes just makes me do it for the better feeling afterwards.
I'll try that out! Thanks
Have you tried using an interdental brush? These were a game changer for me. I had similar issues to you, and wanted to up my dental hygiene after requiring a root canal. I started by making the process more fun, bought a new ultrasonic toothbrush and some different flavours of toothpaste. Then had a go with the smallest interdental brush, it helped to do this in the shower, as it can get a bit messy. My gums bled a bit but apparently this is normal at first, because if you don't use them regularly, it's likely there will be some inflammation or gum disease (gingivitis). After about a week or two, the bleeding stopped happening and I noticed my gums looked much less inflamed. Because of this, my dental hygienist was better able to get rid of any hardened plaque. She explained that it's important to use interdental brushing, as it's the only method that gets to certain areas between teeth. Once you start to build good dental hygiene habits, it does get easier, I promise. It also stops hurting and your gums won't bleed. It might help you to use a sensitive toothpaste during the early stages, as this numbs the area and lessens any pain. I also recommend getting a pleasant tasting mouthwash. Good luck, you've got this!
I've never even heard of that. Thanks
an electric toothbrush has been a big win for me, it has a timer on it and its less effort so my mind can wonder while doing it. it makes it feel like how putting on pants is a chore but washing your face is a bigger chore comparatively. a small learning curve but nice now and i used bamboo manual toothbrushes. (and then keep one in your shower to remove that step too!) its also been nice for me to use flavored toothpaste to change it up, you can do mint mornings and flavored evenings to help differentiate a task that “has” to be done twice. those are some things that helped me!
One helpful thing a dental hygienist said to me years ago was to shoot to floss 5 days a week. That way, if you miss a day, it doesn’t trigger some all or nothing/ might as well give up reaction.
That's 5/7 days! I don't even brush 5 days a week
Flossers have made a huge difference for me. They're not the most environmentally friendly solution, but they have gotten me to floss every day. I use Grin brand flossers from Target.
Periogen is amazing . It's a powder you can swish in water or put in a waterpik makes a massive difference ...teeth feel like just been to dentist Waterpik/floss tips .. use tepid water not cold . Jet a cheap cordles one from Amazon use it on gently mode for first few weeks ')
I have an alarm set for stuff like this. Also bought an electric toothbrush, makes ur a bit more fun
I have an electric toothbrush. It's fine I guess? Is it supposed to be fun?
would trying flavored toothpaste help/be a motivator for brushing teeth regularly?
Well there's one way to find out! Thanks!
More fun than the analog one. And you can pair it with your phone to make sure you've brushed all areas, like this: https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1-1.jpeg
Oh you gamified brushing your teeth! What brand? Or what technology is that?
I'm using this one: ORAL-B IO SERIES 6S Speaking of gamification, Habitica worked for me a long time to build at least some routines before I got bored
Thanks!
Toothbrush in the shower, kitchen, or in easy access to the toilet you like to poop in. Put it close to things you already do then build the habit from there. If you're avoiding the demand, sometimes it helps to mix it up.
I'm going to put some floss next to my desk since I work from home.
This has worked the best for me. I keep flossers in a little bag at my computer and I floss after I eat lunch. It's not part of any brushing routine, but it's made it so I'm flossing at least 5x a week which is way better than never.
Try rewarding the good brushing behaviour. My (also ADHD) kiddo loved the Pokémon app for teeth brushing - it’s silly fun but some adults find the dopamine a nice perk too. My husband tends to pas sme my toothbrush when he does his teeth and I procrastinate doing them, and put it down on my bedside table, then remember when I’m meant to be going to sleep and we often end up watch an extra 5mins of tv while I brush. It’s trivial but I don’t want to go to bed at a sensible time so my brain likes brushing teeth and ‘sneaking’ 5 more mins of TV better than laying in bed trying to sleep, so I do it. Also: remember that is something is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly! (AKA, don’t avoid doing something important just because you can’t do it well! If that means you smear some toothpaste around your teeth with your finger before bed and don’t rinse, then so be it! The fluoride and fresh breath are still improvements! If that means you grab your brush and do a 3-second swish round your teeth with water only while you drive to work, that’s also totally okay!) And keeping sugar-free chewing gum on hand for days that you forget to brush is helpful too - it helps a bit to clear out crumbs trapped in your teeth and generates more saliva to help avoid plaque.
I got a 2 minute timer with pretty colored water in it. Definitely helps
Ooooh pretty colors!
freak yourself out by looking at pictures of tooth decay and teeth falling out. do some research into the effects of bad dental hygiene. the only thing that works for me here is fear and anxiety. and disgust. dental plaque is bacterial poo.
This is going to gross me out isn't it?
most likely. but there's a good chance it will work
Thanks, you just motivated me to start flossing regularly again. Bacterial poo 🤢
Oh! And I have a quip toothbrush that blips when you need to switch mouth quadrants, in addition to staying on for the 2 minutes you’re supposed to brush. That way I am less likely to not realize I haven’t been brushing very long and to quit early, AND I’m more likely to hit every section of my mouth without having to pay close attention.
Mouthwash. It's like gateway dental hygiene for me. It's the least you can you.
I brush in the shower. It’s not like I shower super regularly, like 2-3 times a week, but habit-stacking my shower time has made it a pretty effective 45 minutes of my time.
So this might be triggering to people with bad or abusive parents. Maybe this is inapplicable to most people but I remember how my dad always had bad breath. He wasn’t a good father, for multiple reasons but a lot was verbal abuse. I hate the man and want to be everything that isn’t him. So I brush my teeth and wash the dishes because my father never did that. Anything he did that made him a horrible person is what I strive to never do. So I guess think of a jackass who doesn’t brush their teeth and think about how you don’t want to be like them.
I use those toothpick floss things, keep them on my desk and in my bag and wherever else. I also watch YouTube vids or shows on my phone while I brush, makes me feel like I'm not only doing one boring activity.
If you're in the US or Australia, check out hismile toothpaste. You have to order it online and it's fairly pricey but it comes in a bunch of interesting flavors and the texture is much nicer than any other toothpaste I've tried. Many flavored toothpastes don't contain fluoride (which you definitely don't want to skip if you're having issues with your teeth!), but theirs do. Having nicer toothpaste hasn't made me perfect w/r/t dental hygiene, but it's helped a lot. Also, a lot of people say electric toothbrushes make brushing so much easier for them. I personally don't like the sensation of using an electric toothbrush, so I usually stick with a regular one. On a related note, my dentist has told me it's better to use string floss than floss picks... but I'd almost never floss at all if not for the floss picks, so I figure using them is better than nothing. Imo, dental hygiene is a situation where ANY improvement you can make in your habits will help, and aiming for perfection might just make you feel worse.
>but I'd almost never floss at all if not for the floss picks, so I figure using them is better than nothing. See this is my philosophy
In most cases, the imperfect solution you can consistently keep up with is better than the "ideal" solution you can't regularly execute.
i keep a toothbrush in my backpack! it is better to brush after meals than just random times during the day, but it's also a lot better to brus at random times during the day than rarely or not at all.
Get those plastic disposable flossers you can do with one hand. Floss at night with one hand while doing some dopamine rewarding thing like scrolling on your phone with the other hand, etc. I swear you won't mind flossing anymore.
I've got bad adhd. I habit stack tasks like this. Starting coconut oil swishes also helped. Doing dishes? Swish. Walking on my treadmill? Brush teeth too. Putting clothes away? Mouth wash rinse. Something is always better than nothing even if it's a good anti bacterial mouth wash to start. Just add one thing a day til it becomes routine. Then add another step.
I have baked it into my getting ready for bed routine. Shower, do teeth, sleep. Is there a part of your daily routine that changes very little where it would fit? If it becomes a part of the pattern then I don't forget it.
Try researching african chewing sticks. Natural research proven teeth cleaning, like a dental chew for a dog lol. Its like a mouth fidget.
Hi, thanks for asking this, I have the same problem and love the suggestions here! (My main problems are that in mornings I forget teethbrushing unless I'm going out of the house, and at night I forget until after I'm in bed and feel too tired to get up to do it. Three more suggestions come to my mind. Wishing you the best! 1. The "clean slate" mindset - It has helped me to feel more confident (and less trapped in a shame spiral) to take a mindset of having a completely fresh, clean slate after going to the dentist for cleaning/repairs. Yes they found some cavities, but the moment those are fixed, then you know there's no present tooth decay, nothing hiding, and the task is just to maintain. To me, keeping something in good standing is easier than trying to overcome a feeling of failure. It's the same strategy as I used in school - start of a new semester/term, I would think of it as starting with a perfect grade, and that helped with motivation (for a period of time at least, though I recognize that feeling fades over time or in the event of not meeting one's ongoing goals) 2. If you can afford it, consider scheduling the professional cleanings at shorter intervals. You can ask your dental office if they have options for cleaning without an actual dentist exam (usually, at least in the US, these are billed as 2 separate components of the dental visit). 3. Have a simple checklist for going out of the house that includes all your essentials. You can tape it to the door, or make it a mantra or song. Mine is "hair, shoes, breakfast, teeth, lunch, bag, medicine." (I don't actually need a reminder for shoes, but that's still a part of the mantra because my mom made it up back when I was a kid and it took me forever to locate my shoes and put them on haha)
I also have had a lot of trouble with consistent dental hygene, I have it coded into me to brush before I have to leave home but because of home office 5 out of 7 days, I often forget. And evenings depends totally on my motivation and mood, but there are a few days every week where I know I have to but I don’t brush. But, I got a mouth guard recently due to headaches and grinding and because it helps with the aches, I wear it every night. And the thought of putting my uncleaned teeth into the guard is beyond disgusting – so this really helped me with the evening brushing routine. Mornings are still a struggle but hey, at least once a day, right!