By Dr. David Bryant, DDS – Denver, Colorado
I’ll admit it, I’ve been watching those “get ready with me” posts where people share their skin care routines or hair routines. But what about your oral care routine? Patient after patient, year after year, I review home care routines and think we should give a try to taking the same approach for your mouth.
So here’s my challenge: if you’re already sharing your daily routines on social media and you follow my suggestions below, please tag me. I’d love to see how you make it work!
Step 1: Where’s your routine right now?
Let’s start honest:
- Minimal: Brushing once a day when you remember
- Basic: Brushing twice daily, flossing occasionally
- Consistent: Brushing and flossing twice daily
- Advanced: Using multiple tools and techniques
There’s no judgment here. During patient counseling, I always ask what motivates you. Are you a carrot person who responds to rewards (“If I floss every day this month, I’m treating myself to that pedicure”)? Or do you need the reality check (“Do you want to explain to your grandkids why you’re eating soup because you lost your teeth”)?
Either strategy works fine, and some people need both carrots and sticks to stay motivated. What matters for building a lasting routine is understanding what motivates you personally.
Step 2: Basic routine for most people
For about 80% of my patients, this works beautifully: brush in the morning after your coffee or morning meal, then brush and floss in the evening after your last meal.
The timing matters more than you think. Evening cleaning is crucial because when you sleep, your saliva production slows down. That’s what keeps you from drooling all over your pillow, but it also means any food particles left behind become an all-night buffet for cavity-causing bacteria.
Ready to level up from basic?
If you want to level up from basic, try flossing and brushing at BOTH sessions. Morning and evening, floss first then brush. Think of flossing as loosening debris, brushing as the final sweep.
Colorado bonus tip: Our dry climate already puts you at higher risk for dry mouth. Most of you carry water bottles everywhere. That’s not just good hydration, it’s oral health maintenance.
Step 3: Do you need more than basic?
Some people can choose to go beyond basic. But for these groups, going beyond basic isn’t optional:
If you have orthodontics (braces or clear aligners): This is “more than basic plus.” Not only do you need water flossing, you need to clean every single time you put food in your mouth before putting trays back on. Even snacks, even that midday coffee. Those plastic trays shrink-wrap food particles against your teeth, creating perfect cavity growing conditions. With braces, those brackets and wires trap everything.
If you’re pregnant: Hormonal changes can cause gingivitis even in previously healthy mouths. Extra cleaning helps you and improves birth outcomes.
If you have any prosthetics: Removable partials, nightguards, anything that goes in and out of your mouth needs special attention. Clean both the appliance and where it sits against your teeth.
If you have food impaction sites: Gaps, spaces, or areas where food gets stuck regularly. These need extra attention beyond basic care.
Step 4: The gold standard routine (for overachievers)
Ready to go all out? Here’s the premium setup:
The tools: Electric toothbrush, traditional floss, tongue scraper, water flosser
Why each tool matters:
- Electric toothbrush: Does the work for you, has pressure sensors to keep you from scrubbing (I worry about my overachievers damaging their gums)
- Traditional floss: Cleans between your teeth and slightly into the gums where the toothbrush and sun don’t reach
- Tongue scraper: Lots of surface area on your tongue harbors bacteria that leads to bad breath
- Water flosser: Use it in the shower because they’re messy when used correctly. You want that water pressure getting into gum pockets
Pro technique: Put a shot of Listerine Total Care (I like the purple flavor) in your water flosser. It feels refreshing and I tell myself it’s helping sterilize the unit, but honestly, by the time it’s diluted in all that water, it’s more wishful thinking than actual antimicrobial action. The real benefit is that fresh feeling.
Use the timers: Electric toothbrushes and water flossers come with built-in timers. Use them. They guide you to spend equal time in each quadrant of your mouth: upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left. Let it be a moving meditation, an oral care ritual.
The key with electric toothbrushes is to let the brush do the work. Hold it in place and move from area to area, but don’t scrub. Most models have pressure sensor features that will alert you if you’re pressing too hard.
Step 5: Water flosser decision tree
You should definitely get a water flosser if you have:
- Braces or clear aligners (hands down, everyone with orthodontics)
- Implants (cleaning around implants is crucial)
- Food trap areas or gaps between teeth
- Dexterity issues, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or limited hand mobility
- Any removable prosthetics or nightguards
- Gestational gingivitis during pregnancy
Water flosser reality check: Water flossers don’t replace floss. They are not a floss replacement. They are a great tool to use in addition to floss. I heard a quote that puts this in perspective: thinking a water flosser cleans your teeth is like thinking running around in the sprinklers is the same as taking a shower. You will likely rinse the surface debris, but there is a sticky biofilm that causes problems, and only physical flossing removes that.
Maintenance reality: Water flossers get gross if you don’t clean them properly. After use, disassemble, rinse thoroughly, and let dry. In Colorado’s dry climate, they’ll air dry if set upright. In humid climates, you need to actively dry them. And always check your manufacturer’s instructions for proper maintenance, because different models have different requirements.
Real floss vs. floss picks
I don’t hate those little disposable floss picks, they’re actually very useful. If you’re using them, great. I would never discourage people from using them, but I do encourage you to use real floss when possible. Real floss covers more tooth surface area and is more effective at disrupting plaque.
But here’s the thing: if it’s a choice between waiting to use real floss later or using a floss pick right now because you have it handy, use the pick. Do it. It’s better than nothing. Maybe you use picks for midday touch-ups and real floss for your thorough evening clean. We want to add in real floss frequency, but I’m never going to shame someone who uses the picks.
Step 6: Modification is key
One size doesn’t fit all. I’ve worked with patients to make flossing happen despite shoulder injuries, hand arthritis, and amputations. We find ways to adapt techniques for their specific situation.
- Keep floss or little floss picks by your TV remote or in your car’s glovebox. You’re going to sit down anyway, might as well floss while you watch
- Those little disposable floss picks aren’t perfect, but they’re better than nothing and super convenient. Use them for midday touch-ups, save string floss for thorough evening cleaning
- Some patients only commit to flossing during Netflix binges. Whatever works for you
- Look for wider handles on toothbrushes, and larger handled flossers can be more ergonomic for people with grip issues
Step 7: Building your custom routine
If you’re starting from minimal: Don’t jump to gold standard overnight. Add one habit at a time. Maybe upgrade to an electric toothbrush first, get comfortable, then add evening flossing.
If you’re inconsistent: Focus on consistency before adding complexity. I’d rather see you brush and floss regularly with basic tools than sporadically attempt elaborate routines.
If you’re ready to optimize: Add tools based on your specific needs using the decision tree above. Consider oral care immediately after eating if your lifestyle allows it.
Celebrating progress: If you come to your next cleaning having improved from flossing twice a week to five times a week, I’m celebrating that dramatic improvement, not criticizing the missing two days.
Step 8: Special additions
For sensitivity: We might add prescription fluoride toothpaste or custom desensitizing trays at specific times in your routine.
For whitening: Timing coordination with your cleaning routine prevents sensitivity issues.
For dry mouth: Extra hydration, specific rinses, maybe xylitol gum between cleanings.
The bottom line
Consistency beats perfection every time. Your oral health isn’t determined by what we do twice a year at cleanings. It’s what you do every day that matters.
We’re here to coach, guide, and customize a routine that works for YOUR mouth, YOUR lifestyle, YOUR challenges. This is literally what we discuss with every patient, every day. No judgment, just practical guidance.
Ready to optimize your routine or share it on social? Let’s talk about it at your next appointment. And if you post your “get ready with me” oral care routine using these tips, tag me. I love seeing how patients make these recommendations work in real life.